2 Corinthians 3:5 — Meaning and Application

King James Version

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

2 Corinthians 3:5

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Understanding the surrounding verses prevents misinterpretation:

{Forasmuch as ye are} manifestly declared to be the 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 fleshy tables of the heart.

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

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

Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life. {giveth life: or, quickeneth}

But if the ministration of death, written {and} engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which {glory} was to be done away:

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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?"

2 Corinthians 3:2

"Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men:"

2 Corinthians 3:3

"{Forasmuch as ye are} manifestly declared to be the 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 fleshy tables of the heart."

2 Corinthians 3:4

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

2 Corinthians 3:6

"Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life. {giveth life: or, quickeneth}"

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