3. Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared<\/em> ] The Corinthians ‘fell short in no gift,’ but were ‘enriched by Christ in all utterance and in all knowledge,’ 1Co 1:7<\/span>. These were notorious facts that could not be gainsaid, capable of being ‘known of all men.’<\/p>\n to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us<\/em> ] i.e. brought into existence through our instrumentality. It can hardly be said that St Paul has varied the figure of speech here. The Corinthians are an epistle. Of that epistle Christ is the author; the thoughts and sentiments are His. St Paul (cf. 1Co 3:5<\/span>; 1Co 3:7 ; 1Co 3:9<\/span>; 1Co 4:1<\/span>; 2Co 6:1<\/span>) is the instrument by which the epistle was written. Its characters were preserved by no visible or perishable medium, but by the invisible operation of the Spirit. It was graven, not on stone, but on human hearts. And it was recognized wherever St Paul went as the attestation of his claim to be regarded as a true minister of Christ, and this equally in his own consciousness (see last verse) and in that of all Churches which he visited. Dean Stanley remarks on the number and variety of the similes with which this chapter is crowded.<\/p>\n ink<\/em> ] A black pigment of some kind was used by the ancients for all writings of any length. For shorter writings recourse was frequently had to waxen tablets. See Jer 36:18<\/span>; 2Jn 1:12<\/span>; 3Jn 1:13<\/span>, and articles Atramentum, Tabulae, Stilus, Liber, in Smith’s Dictionary of Antiquities<\/em>.<\/p>\n the Spirit of the living God<\/em> ] St Paul never seems to lose sight of the fact that Christianity is a communication of life, the life of Him who alone is the fountain of life. See note on 1Co 15:1<\/span>, and Rom 8:2<\/span>; Rom 8:10<\/span>. Cf. also Joh 1:4<\/span>; Joh 5:26<\/span>; Joh 5:40<\/span>; Joh 14:6<\/span>; 2Ti 1:10<\/span>; 1Pe 2:5<\/span>.<\/p>\n not in tables of stone<\/em> ] See Exo 24:12<\/span>; Exo 34:1<\/span>; Deu 9:9-11<\/span>; Deu 10:1<\/span>. Here the Apostle first hints at what is to be the subject of the next section of the Epistle, the inferiority of the law to the Gospel. There is a slight incongruity thus introduced into the simile. One does not write with ink<\/em> on tables of stone<\/em>. But the Apostle, in the pregnant suggestiveness of his style, neglects such minor considerations when he has a great lesson to convey. Dean Stanley refers us to Eze 11:19<\/span>; Eze 36:26-27<\/span> and also suggests that the form of the expression ‘tables of the heart,’ may be derived from Pro 3:3<\/span>; Pro 7:3<\/span>, not however from the LXX., which there has a different translation of the Hebrew word.<\/p>\n of the heart<\/em> ] Most recent editors read ‘in fleshy tables<\/em>, namely, hearts<\/em>.’ All the old English versions, however, follow the Vulgate here. It is extremely difficult to decide between the two readings, which depend upon the absence or presence of a single letter in the Greek. It should be noted here that the word translated fleshy<\/em> does not mean carnal<\/em>, i.e. governed<\/em> by the flesh, but made of flesh<\/em>.<\/p>\n Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared – <\/B>You are made manifest as the epistle of Christ; or you, being made manifest, are the epistle, etc. They had been made manifest to be such by their conversion. The sense is, it is plain, or evident, that ye are the epistle of Christ.<\/P> To be the epistle of Christ – <\/B>That which Christ has sent to be our testimonial. He has given this letter of recommendation. He has converted you by our ministry, and that is the best evidence which we can have that we have been sent by him, and that our labor is accepted by him. Your conversion is his work, and it is his public attestation to our fidelity in his cause.<\/P> Ministered by us – <\/B>The idea here is, that Christ had employed their ministry in accomplishing this. They were Christs letter, but it had been prepared by the instrumentality of the apostles. It had not been prepared by him independently of their labors, but in connection with, and as the result of those labors. Christ, in writing this epistle, so to speak, has used our aid; or employed us as amanuenses (copyists).<\/P> Written not with ink – <\/B>Paul continues and varies the image in regard to this epistle, so that he may make the testimony borne to his fidelity and success more striking and emphatic. He says, therefore, that that it was not written as letters of introduction are, with ink – by traces drawn on a lifeless substance, and in lines that easily fade, or that may become easily illegible, or that can be read only by a few, or that may be soon destroyed.<\/P> But with the Spirit of the living God – <\/B>In strong contrast thus with letters written with ink. By the Spirit of God moving on the heart, and producing that variety of graces which constitute so striking and so beautiful an evidence of your conversion. If written by the Spirit of the living God, it was far more valuable, and precious, and permanent than any record which could be made by ink. Every trace of the Spirits influences on the heart was an undoubted proof that God had sent the apostles; and was a proof which they would much more sensibly and tenderly feel than they could any letter of recommendation written in ink.<\/P> Not in tables of stone – <\/B>It is generally admitted that Paul here refers to the evidences of the divine mission of Moses which was given by the Law engraved on tablets of stone, compare 2Co 3:7<\/span>. Probably those who were false teachers among the Corinthians were Jews, and had insisted much on the divine origin and permanency of the Mosaic institutions. The Law had been engraved on stone by the hand of God himself; and had thus the strongest proofs of divine origin, and the divine attestation to its pure and holy nature. To this fact the friends of the Law, and the advocates for the permanency of the Jewish institutions, would appeal. Paul says, on the other hand, that the testimonials of the divine favor through him were not on tablets of stone. They were frail, and easily broken. There was no life in them (compare 2Co 3:6<\/span> and 2Co 3:7<\/span>); and valuable and important as they were, yet they could not be compared with the testimonials which God had given to those who successfully preached the gospel.<\/P> But in fleshly tables of the heart – <\/B>In truths engraved on the heart. This testimonial was of more value than an inscription on stone, because:<\/P> (1) No hand but that of God could reach the heart, and inscribe these truths there.<\/P> (2) Because it would be attended with a life-giving and living influence. It was not a mere dead letter.<\/P> (3) Because it would be permanent. Stones, even where laws were engraved by the finger of God, would moulder and decay, and the inscription made there would be destroyed. But not so with that which was made on the heart. It would live forever. It would abide in other worlds. It would send its influence into all the relations of life; into all future scenes in this world; and that influence would be seen and felt in the world that shall never end. By all these considerations, therefore, the testimonials which Paul had of the divine approbation were more valuable than any mere letters of introduction, or human commendation could have been; and more valuable even than the attestation which was given to the divine mission of Moses himself.<\/P><\/p>\n Verse 3<\/span>. Manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ<\/B><\/I>] Ye are in our hearts, and Christ has written you there; but yourselves are the epistle of Christ<\/I>; the change produced in your hearts and lives, and the salvation which you have received, are as truly the work of Christ as a letter dictated and written by a man in his work.<\/P> <\/P> Ministered by us<\/B><\/I>] Ye are the writing, but Christ used me as the pen<\/I>; Christ dictated<\/I>, and I wrote; and the Divine characters are not made with ink, but by the Spirit of the living God<\/I>; for the gifts and graces that constitute the mind that was in Christ are produced in you by the Holy Ghost.<\/P> <\/P> Not in tables of stone<\/B><\/I>] Where men engrave contracts, or record events; but in fleshly tables of the heart<\/I>-the work of salvation taking place in all your affections, appetites, and desires; working that change within<\/I> that is so signally manifested without<\/I>. See the parts of this figurative speech:<\/P> 1. Jesus Christ dictates<\/I>.<\/P> 2. The apostle writes<\/I>.<\/P> 3. The hearts<\/I> of the Corinthians are the substance on which the writing is made. And,<\/P> 4. The Holy Spirit produces that influence<\/I> by which the traces<\/I> are made, and the mark becomes evident.<\/P> Here is not only an allusion to making inscriptions on stones, where one dictates<\/I> the matter, and another cuts<\/I> the letters; (and probably there were certain cases where some colouring matter<\/I> was used to make the inscription the more legible<\/I>; and when the stone was engraved, it was set up in some public place, as monuments, inscriptions, and contracts were, that they might be seen, known<\/I>, and read of all men<\/I>\ud83d\ude09 but the apostle may here refer to the ten commandments<\/I>, written by the finger of God upon two tables of stone<\/I>; which writing was an evidence of the Divine mission of Moses, as the conversion of the Corinthians was an evidence of the mission of St. Paul. But it may be as well to take the words in a general sense, as the expression is not unfrequent either in the Old Testament, or in the rabbinical writers. See Schoettgen<\/I>.<\/P><\/p>\n He had told them before that they were his epistle, his epistle recommendatory, the change which God had wrought in their hearts did more recommend him than all the epistles in the world could; but here he tells them that they were <\/P> the epistle of Christ, <\/B>it was Christ that wrote his law in their hearts, (which writing was that which commended the apostle, who himself had but a ministration in the work), nor was it a writing <\/P> with ink, <\/B>but the impression of <\/P> the Spirit of the living God.<\/B> An epistle <\/P> not written<\/B> in tables of stone, but in <\/P> the fleshy tables of the heart:<\/B> he alludeth to the writing of the law, which was written in <\/P> tables of stone, <\/B>Exo 31:18<\/B><\/span>, and also to the promises, Eze 11:19<\/span>; Eze 36:26<\/span>. That work of grace in the hearts of these Corinthians, which recommended the apostle, was wrought by Christ, and the apostles were but ministers in the working of it; it was a work more admirable than the writing of the law in tables of stone, and this work (he saith) was <\/P> manifestly declared.<\/B> <\/P> <\/p>\n 3. declared<\/B>The letter iswritten so legibly that it can be “read by all men” (2Co3:2<\/span>). Translate, “Being manifestly shown to be an Epistle ofChrist”; a letter coming manifestly from Christ, and “ministeredby us,” that is, carried about and presented by us as its(ministering) bearers to those (the world) for whom it is intended:Christ is the Writer and the Recommender, ye are the letterrecommending us. <\/P> written not with ink, butwith the Spirit of the living God<\/B>Paul was the ministering penor other instrument of writing, as well as the ministering bearer andpresenter of the letter. “Not with ink” stands in contrastto the letters of commendation which “some” at Corinth (2Co3:1<\/span>) used. “Ink” is also used here to include alloutward materials for writing, such as the Sinaitic tables of stonewere. These, however, were not written with ink, but “graven”by “the finger of God” (Exo 31:18<\/span>;Exo 32:16<\/span>). Christ’s Epistle (Hisbelieving members converted by Paul) is better still: it is writtennot merely with the finger,<\/I> but with the “Spirit<\/I>of the living God<\/I>“; it is not the “ministration ofdeath” as the law, but of the “living<\/I> Spirit”that “giveth life” (2Co3:6-8<\/span>). <\/P> not in<\/B>not on<\/I>tables (tablets) of stone, as the ten commandments were written (2Co3:7<\/span>). <\/P> in fleshy tables of theheart<\/B>ALL the bestmanuscripts read, “On [your] hearts<\/I> [which are] tables offlesh.” Once your hearts were spiritually what the tables of thelaw were physically, tables of stone, but God has “taken awaythe stony heart out of your flesh, given you a heart of flesh”(fleshy,<\/I> not fleshly,<\/I> that is, carnal; hence it iswritten, “out of your flesh<\/I>” that is, your carnal<\/I>nature), Eze 11:19<\/span>; Eze 36:26<\/span>.Compare 2Co 3:2<\/span>, “As ye areour Epistle written in our hearts,” so Christ has in the firstinstance made you “His Epistle written with the Spirit in (on)your hearts.” I bear on my heart, as a testimony to all men,that which Christ has by His Spirit written in your heart [ALFORD].(Compare Pro 3:3<\/span>; Pro 7:3<\/span>;Jer 31:31-34<\/span>). This passageis quoted by PALEY [HorPaulin<\/I>] as illustrating one peculiarity of Paul’s style,namely, his going off at a word into a parenthetic reflection:<\/I>here it is on the word “Epistle.” So “savor,” 2Co2:14-17<\/span>.<\/P><\/p>\n Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared<\/strong>,…. But lest it should be thought that the apostle attributed too much to himself, by saying that the Corinthians were our epistle; here he says, they were “manifestly declared”<\/p>\n to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us<\/strong>; so that the apostles and ministers of the word were only amanuenses, Christ was the author and dictator; yea, he himself is the very matter, sum, substance, and subject of the epistle; he is formed in the hearts of his people in conversion, his image is stamped, his grace is implanted, his word, his Gospel dwells richly, his laws and ordinances are written here; he also is the exemplar, believers are but copies of him, in grace and duty, in sufferings, in the likeness of his death and resurrection: and they are “manifestly declared” to be so, by the impresses of Christ’s grace upon them; by the fairness of the copy; by the style and language of the epistle; by their likeness to Christ; by their having not the form only, but the power of godliness; and by their lives and conversations: now in writing these epistles, the ministers of the Gospel are only instruments, “ministered by us”. They are made use of to show the sinner the black characters which are written upon him, and that what is written in him, and to be read by him, by the light of nature is not sufficient for salvation; they are employed as instruments in drawing the rough draught of grace in conversion, and in writing the copy over again, fairer and fairer; being the happy means blessed by God, for the building up of souls in faith and holiness, in spiritual knowledge and comfort. These epistles are<\/p>\n not written with ink<\/strong>; of nature’s power, or of rhetorical eloquence and moral persuasion;<\/p>\n but with the Spirit of the living God<\/strong>: every grace that is implanted in the soul is wrought there by the Spirit of God; or he it is that draws every line, and writes every word and letter; he begins, he carries on and finishes the work of grace on the soul; and that as “the Spirit of the living God”: hence saints become the living epistles of Christ; and every letter and stroke of his making, is a living disposition of the soul in likeness to him; and such are written among the living in Jerusalem, and shall live and abide for ever as the epistles of Christ: again, the subjects of these epistles, or that on which they are written, are<\/p>\n not tables of stone<\/strong>; such as the law was written upon, on Mount Sinai: of these tables there were the first and second; the first were the work of God himself, the latter were hewed by Moses, at the command of God, Ex 32:16<\/span> the former being broken when he came down from the mount, which by the Jewish writers are said to be miraculously made, and not by the means and artifice of men l; yea, that they were made before the creation of the world m, and which, they commonly say, were made of sapphire; [See comments on 2Co 3:7]<\/span> these, as the latter, were two stones, which, Jarchi says n, were of an equal size; and were, as Abarbinel says o, in the form of small tables, such as children are taught to write upon, and therefore are so called: some pretend to give the dimensions of them, and say p, that they were six hands long, and as many broad, and three thick; nay, even the weight of them, which is said q to be the weight of forty “seahs”, and look upon it as a miracle that Moses should be able to carry them; on these stones were written the ten commands; and the common opinion of the Jewish writers is, that five were written on one table, and five on the other; this is the opinion of Josephus r, Philo s, and the Talmudic writers t; and the tables are said to be written on both sides, Ex 32:15<\/span>. Some think that the engraving of the letters perforated and went through the tables, so that, in a miraculous manner, the letters were legible on both sides; others think, only the right and left hand of the tables are meant, on which the laws were written, five on a side, and which folded up like the tables or pages of a book; though others are of opinion, that they were written upon, both behind and before, and that the law was written twice, both upon the fore part and back part of the tables, yea, others say four times; and some think the phrase only intends the literal and mystical, the external and internal sense of the law: however, certain it is, as the apostle here suggests, that the law was written on tables of stone, which may denote the firmness and stability of the law; not as in the hands of Moses, from whence the tables fell and were broken, but as in the hands of Christ, by whom they are fulfilled; or else the hardness of man’s heart, his stupidity, ignorance of, and not subject to the law of God:<\/p>\n but fleshly tables of the heart<\/strong>: alluding to Eze 36:26<\/span> and designs not carnal hearts, but such as are made soft and tender by the Spirit of God. The table of the heart is a phrase to be met with in the books of the Old Testament; see Pr 3:3<\/span> and very frequently in the writings of the Jews u.<\/p>\n l R. Levi ben Gersom in Pentateuch, fol. 113. 2. m Zohar in Exod. fol. 35. 1. n Perush in Exod. xxxi. 18. o In Pentateuch, fol. 209. 2. & 211. 3. p T. Hieres Shekalim, fol. 49. 4. Shemot Rabba, c. 47. fol. 143. 2. Bartenora in Misn. Pirke Abot, c. 5. sect. 6. q Targum Jon. in Exod. xxxi. 18. & in Deut. xxxiv. 12. r Antiqu. l. 3. c. 5. sect. 8. s De Decalogo, p. 761, 768. t T. Hieros. Shekalim, fol. 49. 4. Shemot Rabba, sect. 47. fol. 143. 2. Zohar in Exod. fol. 35. 1. u Vid. Targum Jon. in Dent. vi. 5, & in Cant. iv. 9.<\/p>\n An epistle of Christ <\/B> ( <\/SPAN><\/span>). He turns the metaphor round and round. They are Christ’s letter to men as well as Paul’s.<\/P> Not with ink <\/B> ( <\/SPAN><\/span>). Instrumental case of <\/SPAN><\/span>, black. Plato uses <\/SPAN><\/span> for ink as here. See also 2John 1:12<\/span>; 3John 1:13<\/span>.<\/P> Of stone <\/B> (<\/SPAN><\/span>). Composed of stone (<\/SPAN><\/span> and ending –<\/SPAN><\/span>).<\/P> Of flesh <\/B> (<\/SPAN><\/span>). “Fleshen” as in 1Cor 3:1<\/span>; Rom 7:14<\/span>. <\/P> <\/p>\n An epistle of Christ ministered by us [ ] <\/SPAN><\/span>. An epistle written by Christ through our ministry; that is, you, as the converted subjects of our ministry, are an epistle of Christ. Others explain : an epistle of which Christ forms the contents, thus making the apostles the writers. For the expression ministered by us, compare ch. 8 19, 20; 1Pe 1:12<\/span>. <\/P> Ink [] <\/SPAN><\/span>. From melav black. Only here, 2 John 12<\/span> (see note), and 3Jo 1:13<\/span>. <\/P> The Spirit. Instead of ink. <\/P> Fleshy tables of the heart [ ] <\/SPAN><\/span>. The best texts read kardiaiv the dative case in apposition with tables. Render, as Rev., tables which are hearts of flesh. Compare Eze 11:19<\/span>; Jer 17:1<\/span>; Jer 31:33<\/span>. For of flesh, see on Rom 7:14<\/span>.<\/P> <\/p>\n <\/strong><\/p>\n 1) “Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of<\/strong> Christ,”<\/strong> (phaneroumenoi hoti este epistole Christou) “being manifested that you all are an epistle of Christ;”<\/p>\n AN EPISTLE OF CHRIST<\/strong><\/p>\n A missionary in India was so feeble mentally that he could not learn the language. After some years he asked to be recalled, frankly saying that he had not sufficient intellect for the work. A dozen missionaries, however, petitioned his Board not to grant his request, saying that his goodness gave him a wider influence among the heathen than any other missionary at the station. A convert, when asked, “What is it to be a Christian?” replied, “it is to be like Mr ——-naming the good missionary. He was kept in India. He never preached a sermon, but when he died hundreds of heathen, as well as many Christians, mourned him, and testified to his holy life and character.<\/p>\n -S. S. Chronicle<\/p>\n 2) “Ministered by us,”<\/strong> (diakonetheisa huph’ hemon) ministered by us,” in a common service manner; instrumentally, Paul had begotten to spiritual life the Corinthian brethren thru the gospel, 1Co 4:15<\/span>.<\/p>\n 3) “Written not with ink,”<\/strong> (engegrammene ou melani) not having been inscribed by (with) ink,” as the Hebrew letters and scrolls were written.<\/p>\n 4) “But with the Spirit of the living God:”<\/strong> (alla pneumati theou zontos) “But (in contrast) by (the) Spirit of a living God,” or by the living Spirit – God upon their hearts when they “believed unto righteousness,” Joh 6:63<\/span>; Rom 10:10<\/span>; 2Co 3:6<\/span>.<\/p>\n 5) “Not in tables of stone”,<\/strong> (ouk en plaksin lithinais) not in stony tablets” or tables made of stone, like the old law – the law of Moses was written.<\/p>\n 6) “But in fleshly tables of the heart,”<\/strong> (all’ en plaksin kardiais sarkinais) “but in tablets (which are) fleshly hearts;” when we were made partakers of his Divine Nature, in and thru the second birth, the new birth, the Spirit birth, Joh 3:6<\/span>; 2Pe 1:4<\/span>.<\/p>\n 3. Ye are the Epistle of Christ Pursuing the metaphor, he says that the Epistle of which he speaks was written by Christ, inasmuch as the faith of the Corinthians was his work. He says that it was ministered by him, as if meaning by this, that he had been in the place of ink and pen. In fine, he makes Christ the author and himself the instrument, that calumniators may understand, that it is with Christ that they have to do, if they continue to speak against him (365) with malignity. What follows is intended to increase the authority of that Epistle. The second clause, (366) however, has already a reference to the comparison that is afterwards drawn between the law and the gospel. For he takes occasion from this shortly afterwards, as we shall see, to enter upon a comparison of this nature. The antitheses here employed — ink and Spirit, stones and heart — give no small degree of weight to his statements, by way of amplification. For in drawing a contrast between ink and the Spirit of God, and between stones and heart, he expresses more than if he had simply made mention of the Spirit and the heart, without drawing any comparison. <\/p>\n Not on tables of stone He alludes to the promise that is recorded in Jer 31:31<\/span>, and Eze 37:26<\/span>, concerning the grace of the New Testament. <\/p>\n I will make, says he, a new covenant with them, not such as I had made with their fathers; but I will write my laws upon their hearts, and engrave them on their inward parts. Farther, I will take away the stony heart from the midst of thee, and will give thee a heart of flesh, that thou mayest walk in my precepts. (Eze 36:26<\/span>.) <\/p>\n Paul says, that this blessing was accomplished through means of his preaching. Hence it abundantly appears, that he is a faithful minister of the New Covenant — which is a legitimate testimony in favor of his apostleship. The epithet fleshly is not taken here in a bad sense, but means soft and flexible, (367) as it is contrasted with stony, that is, hard and stubborn, as is the heart of man by nature, until it has been subdued by the Spirit of God. (368) <\/p>\n (365) “ De son apostre;” — “Against his apostle.” <\/p>\n (366) “ Le dernier membre de la sentence;” — “The last clause of the sentence.” <\/p>\n (367) “ Vn cœur docile et ployable, ou aisé à ranger;” — “A heart that is teachable and flexible, or easy to manage.” <\/p>\n (368) “ Jusques à ce qu’il soit donté et amolli par le sainct Esprit;” — “Until it has been tamed and softened by the Holy Spirit.” <\/p>\n (3) Forasmuch, as ye are manifestly declared.<\/strong>The metaphor appears to shift its ground from the subjective to the objective. It is not only as written in his heart, but as seen and known by others, that they (the Corinthians) are as a letter of commendation. They are as a letter which Christ had written as with the finger of God. That letter, he adds, was ministered by us. He had been, that is, as the amanuensis<\/em> of that letter, but Christ was the real writer.<\/p>\n Written not with ink.<\/strong>Letters were usually written on papyrus, with a reed pen and with a black pigment (atramentum<\/em>) used as ink. (Comp. 2Jn. 1:12<\/span>.) In contrast with this process, he speaks of the Epistle of Christ as written with the Spirit of the living God. It is noteworthy that the Spirit takes here the place of the older finger of God in the history of the two tables of stone in Exo. 31:18<\/span>. So a like substitution is found in comparing If I with the finger of God cast out devils, in Luk. 11:20<\/span>, with If I by the Spirit of God, in Mat. 12:28<\/span>. Traces of the same thought are found in the hymn in the Ordination service, in which the Holy Spirit is addressed as the finger of Gods hand.<\/p>\n Not in tables of stone.<\/strong>The thought of a letter written in the heart by the Spirit of God brings three memorable passages to St. Pauls memory:(1) the heart of flesh of Eze. 11:19<\/span>; Eze. 36:26-27<\/span>; (2) the promise that the law should be written in the heart, which was to be the special characteristic of the new covenant (Jer. 31:31-33<\/span>); and (3) the whole history of the circumstances of the first, or older, covenant; and, from this verse to the end of the chapter, thought follows rapidly on thought in manifold application of the images thus suggested.<\/p>\n But in fleshy tables of the heart.<\/strong>The better MSS. give in tables<\/em> (or, tablets<\/em>), which are hearts of flesh,<\/em> reproducing the words of Eze. 11:19<\/span>. The thought of the letter begins to disappear, and that of a law written on tablets takes its place, as one picture succeeds another in a dissolving view.<\/p>\n 3<\/strong>. <\/strong> The italic phrase interpolated by our translators, forasmuch as ye are<\/strong>, seems unnecessary. <\/p>\n Manifestly declared<\/strong> Rather, being manifested, <\/em> referring to ye <\/strong> in the previous verse. They were known and read by the world as being conspicuously Christ’s commendatory letter of St. Paul, their founder, to the world. This is a beautiful enlargement of the figure of an epistle<\/strong>, in previous verse. <\/p>\n Epistle of Christ<\/strong> As Christ is real author of the Church, so he is real furnisher of the epistle<\/strong>; and thus does Christ authenticate his apostolic mission by the most powerful of credentials. Let those pseudo-Christians meet that. <\/p>\n Ministered by us<\/strong> The Church was made by Christ under the human ministry of the apostle. He flings in this phrase to remind them that Christ’s epistle inures to the honour of his ministry. This living epistle of Christ is written not<\/strong>, as the credentials of the emissaries from Jerusalem were, with ink<\/strong>. The figure, as pushed by the lively fancy of our apostle, becomes very delicately subtile. The names of members may be written on the Church register with ink<\/strong>; but Christ writes, with the Spirit<\/strong>; the Christian being himself <\/em> the inscription; and he writes this live inscription on the Christian’s own heart. And St. Paul supplements the figure by adding that this living inscription is written, not<\/strong>, like the decalogue, in tables of stone<\/strong>, as the Judaizers may be figured as an inscription to be written; but<\/strong>, like true sons of a gospel of the heart, in fleshly tables of the heart<\/strong>.<\/p>\n 2Co 3:3<\/span><\/em><\/strong>. <\/strong>Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared<\/em><\/strong><\/strong> The sense of St. Paul here is plainly this: that he needed no letters of commendation to them; but that their conversion, and the gospel written, not with ink, but with the Spirit of God in the tables of their hearts, by his ministry, and not in tables of stone; was as clear an evidence and testimony to them of his mission from Christ, as the law written in tables of stone was an evidence of Moses’s mission: so that he [St. Paul] needed no other recommendation. This is what we are to understand by the verse; unless we will make the tables of stone <\/em>to have no signification here. But to say, as he does, that the Corinthians, being written upon in their hearts, not with ink, but with the Spirit of God, by his instrumentality, was Christ’s commendatory letter of him.<\/em>This being a pretty bold expression, liable to the exception of the captious part of the Corinthians, to obviate all imputation of vanity or vain-glory herein, he immediately subjoins what follows in the next verse. <\/p>\n 2Co 3:3<\/span> . ] attaches itself in construction to , to which it furnishes a more precise definition, and that in elucidative reference to what has just been said : since you are being manifested to be an epistle of Christ<\/em> , i.e.<\/em> since it does not remain hid, but becomes (continually) clear to every one that you, etc. Comp. on the construction, 1Jn 2:19<\/span> .<\/p>\n ] genitivus auctoris<\/em> (not of the contents<\/em> in opposition to Chrysostom, Oecumenius, Theophylact): a letter composed<\/em> (dictated) by Christ<\/em> . Fritzsche, l.c.<\/em> p. 23, takes the genitive as possessive<\/em> , so that the sense without figure would be: homines Christiani estis<\/em> . But in what follows the whole origin<\/em> of the Epistle is very accurately set forth, and should the author<\/em> not be mentioned not in that case be placed in front? Theodoret already gives the right vie.<\/p>\n is here not again specially letter of recommendation<\/em> (2Co 3:2<\/span> ), but letter<\/em> in general; for through the characteristic: “you are an epistle of Christ, drawn up by us,” etc., the statement above. “you are our letter Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible <\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n