Devine Scripture

2 Corinthians 3:5

What does 2 Corinthians 3:5 mean?

A plain-English look at 2 Corinthians 3:5 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What 2 Corinthians 3:5 means

Paul guards against misunderstanding: he does not credit himself with adequacy. Left to himself, he cannot produce one true spiritual effect or claim anything as his own. All competence comes from God. This humility is not self-deprecation but sober truth. It dismantles pride and comforts the servant who feels weak. The apostle models how to hold confidence and dependence together—bold assurance in Christ paired with confessed insufficiency in self. Such posture keeps ministry honest and hopeful. God supplies what he commands, and he gets the glory for any real fruit. Recognizing our limits opens us to the limitless sufficiency of the One who calls and equips.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

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

KJV

King James Version · 1611

Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God;

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

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

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

Not as if we were able by ourselves to do anything for which we might take the credit; but our power comes from God;

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think anything, as of ourselves, but our sufficiency <FI>is<Fi> of God,

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

Not that we are sufficient to think any thing of ourselves, as of ourselves: but our sufficiency is from God.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

not that we are competent of ourselves to think anything as of ourselves, but our competency [is] ofGod;

Context

Verse 5 anchors Paul’s confidence (v. 4) in God’s enabling grace and clarifies that his adequacy is not self-derived. This sets up verse 6, where Paul identifies the specific commission God has given—ministry of the new covenant—and contrasts the letter and the Spirit. Those categories will then launch the extended comparison between old and new covenants’ glory in verses 7–11 and the unveiled boldness that flows from it in verses 12–18.

v.4And such confidence have we through Christ to God-ward:

v.5This passage

v.6who also made us sufficient as ministers of a new covenant; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.

Cross references

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

  • Exodus 4:10

    And Moses said unto Jehovah, Oh, Lord, I am not eloquent, neither heretofore, nor since thou hast spoken unto thy servant; for I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue.

  • John 15:5

    I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same beareth much fruit: for apart from me ye can do nothing.

  • James 1:17

    Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom can be no variation, neither shadow that is cast by turning.

  • 1 Corinthians 3:6

    I planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.

  • Luke 21:15

    for I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to withstand or to gainsay.

  • 1 Corinthians 15:10

    But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not found vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.

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