2 Corinthians 3:1, Letters of Commendation

2 Corinthians 3:1 Do we begin again to commend ourselves? or need we, as some others, epistles of commendation to you, or letters of commendation from you?

The Apostle Paul begins this chapter with the question, “Do we begin again to commend ourselves?” This again does not imply that he had commended himself previously. Rather, it simply means that he had been accused of doing so, and now he anticipates the repetition of such a charge against him. [William MacDonald]

The “some others” to whom Paul is here referring are the false teachers of 2:17. They came to Corinth with epistles of commendation, perhaps from Jerusalem. And possibly when they left Corinth, they carried with them letters of commendation from the assembly there. Letters of commendation were used in the early church by Christians travelling from one place to the other. The apostle does not at all seek to discourage such a practice in this verse. Instead, he is stating rather subtly that the only thing these false teachers had to commend them was the letter they carried! Otherwise, they had no credentials to offer. [William MacDonald]

Thank God for His grace protecting His servants. Amen.