Devine Scripture

2 Corinthians 3:4

What does 2 Corinthians 3:4 mean?

A plain-English look at 2 Corinthians 3:4 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What 2 Corinthians 3:4 means

Having pointed to the Spirit’s work, Paul explains the ground of his assurance: through Christ he has confidence before God. His boldness is not self-made or based on results alone; it comes through Christ’s mediation and merits. This keeps his heart Godward. He neither boasts in himself nor shrinks back in fear. Christ-centered confidence frees a minister to speak plainly and to rely on God’s evaluation rather than human applause. It also reminds the church that the gospel’s power does not originate in the messenger. Confidence that rests on Christ honors God and steadies the soul for service, even when critics question one’s standing or demand human credentials.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

And such confidence have we through Christ to God-ward:

KJV

King James Version · 1611

And such trust have we through Christ to God-ward:

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

And such confidence have we through Christ to God-ward:

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And this is the certain faith which we have in God through Christ:

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

and such trust we have through the Christ toward God,

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And such confidence we have, through Christ, towards God.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

And such confidence have we through the Christ towardsGod:

Context

After establishing that the Corinthians are Christ’s letter written by the Spirit, verse 4 names the source of Paul’s ministerial confidence: Christ, before God. This prepares for verse 5’s denial of self-sufficiency and verse 6’s assertion that God made them competent as ministers of the new covenant. The movement is deliberate: from evidence (changed lives) to foundation (confidence through Christ) to explanation (sufficiency from God), paving the way for the covenant contrast that follows.

v.3being made manifest that ye are an epistle of Christ, ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in tables that are hearts of flesh.

v.4This passage

v.5not that we are sufficient of ourselves, to account anything as from ourselves; but our sufficiency is from God;

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Exodus 18:19

    Hearken now unto my voice, I will give thee counsel, and God be with thee: be thou for the people to God-ward, and bring thou the causes unto God:

  • Philippians 1:6

    being confident of this very thing, that he who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Jesus Christ:

  • Ephesians 3:12

    in whom we have boldness and access in confidence through our faith in him.

  • 2 Corinthians 2:14

    But thanks be unto God, who always leadeth us in triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest through us the savor of his knowledge in every place.

  • 1 Thessalonians 1:8

    For from you hath sounded forth the word of the Lord, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but in every place your faith to God-ward is gone forth; so that we need not to speak anything.

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