The Meaning of 2 Corinthians 3:5 Explained

2 Corinthians 3:5

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

YLT: not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think anything, as of ourselves, but our sufficiency is of God,

Darby: not that we are competent of ourselves to think anything as of ourselves, but our competency is of God;

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

Discover 2 Corinthians 3:5

CONTEXT: What is the Context of 2 Corinthians 3:5?

MEANING: What does 2 Corinthians 3:5 Mean?

WORDS: What do the individual words in 2 Corinthians 3:5 mean?

RELATIONS: What do the major concepts mean in 2 Corinthians 3:5?

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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

What does 2 Corinthians 3:5 Mean?

Verse Meaning

Paul did not want his readers to confuse this confidence with the confidence that comes from feeling adequate or self-sufficient. Our service is really God working through us rather than we serving Him. God is the one who makes us adequate servants. Paul was contrasting God-confidence with self-confidence.

Context Summary

2 co 3:1-6 - The Savor Of The Knowledge Of Christ
Paul, in 2 Corinthians 2:14-16, imagines himself as part of his Master's procession passing through the world. First he is a captive in Christ's conquering train; then he is one of the incense-bearers, scattering fragrant perfume; then he conceives of his life as being in itself that perfume. As the captives in a triumphal procession would be divided into two bodies, of which one company was doomed to die while the other was spared, so inevitably all who come in contact with Christ, either directly in the preaching of the gospel or indirectly in the lives of His people, are influenced either for evil or for good.
The Apostle fancies himself challenged to furnish letters of commendation and he repudiates the claim. "No," he cries, "the lives and testimonies of those whom I have won for God, are all the credentials that I require!" Every Christian should be a clearly written and legible tractlet, circulating for the glory of God. Men will not read the evidences for Christianity as contained in learned treatises, but they are keen to read us. God alone can suffice us to sustain this searching scrutiny. [source]

Chapter Summary: 2 co 3

1  Lest their false teachers should charge him with vain glory,
2  he shows the faith of the Corinthians to be a sufficient commendation of his ministry
6  Whereupon entering a comparison between the ministers of the law and of the gospel,
12  he proves that his ministry is so far the more excellent,
17  as the gospel of life and liberty is more glorious than the law of condemnation

Greek Commentary for 2 Corinthians 3:5

Of ourselves [απ εαυτων]
Starting from ourselves (reflexive pronoun). [source]
As from ourselves [ως εχ αυτων]
He says it over again with preposition εχ — ex (out of). He has no originating power for such confidence. Sufficiency (ικανοτης — hikanotēs). Old word, only here in N.T. [source]
Sufficiency [ικανοτης]
Old word, only here in N.T. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for 2 Corinthians 3:5

Luke 7:6 Worthy [ἱκανός]
Lit., sufficient. Compare Matthew 3:11, “worthy to bear and 2 Corinthians 3:5, “not that we are sufficient ( ἱκανοί )but our sufficiency ( ἱκανότης ) is of God.” It is also used in the sense of much, many, long. See Luke 7:12; Luke 8:27, Luke 8:32; Luke 20:9; Acts 9:23. [source]
Acts 21:23 We have [εισιν ημιν]
“There are to us” (dative of possession as in Acts 18:10). Apparently members of the Jerusalem church. Which have a vow on them (ευχην εχοντες απ — euchēn echontes aph' -- or επ εαυτων — eph' heautōn). Apparently a temporary Nazarite vow like that in Numbers 6:1-21 and its completion was marked by several offerings in the temple, the shaving of the head (Numbers 6:13-15). Either Paul or Aquila had such a vow on leaving Cenchreae (Acts 18:18). “It was considered a work of piety to relieve needy Jews from the expenses connected with this vow, as Paul does here” (Page). The reading απ εαυτων — aph' heautōn would mean that they had taken the vow voluntarily or of themselves (Luke 12:57; 2 Corinthians 3:5), while επ εαυτων — eph' heautōn means that the vow lies on them still. [source]
Acts 21:23 Which have a vow on them [ευχην εχοντες απ]
Apparently a temporary Nazarite vow like that in Numbers 6:1-21 and its completion was marked by several offerings in the temple, the shaving of the head (Numbers 6:13-15). Either Paul or Aquila had such a vow on leaving Cenchreae (Acts 18:18). “It was considered a work of piety to relieve needy Jews from the expenses connected with this vow, as Paul does here” (Page). The reading απ εαυτων — aph' heautōn would mean that they had taken the vow voluntarily or of themselves (Luke 12:57; 2 Corinthians 3:5), while επ εαυτων — eph' heautōn means that the vow lies on them still. [source]
Romans 15:23 Many [ἱκανῶν]
See on worthy, Luke 7:6. The primary meaning is sufficient, and hence comes to be applied to number and quantity; many, enough, as Mark 10:46; Luke 8:32; Acts 9:23, etc. So, long, of time (Acts 8:11; Acts 27:9). Worthy, i.e., sufficient for an honor or a place (Mark 1:7; Luke 7:6; 1 Corinthians 15:9). Adequate (2 Corinthians 2:16; 2 Corinthians 3:5). Qualified (2 Timothy 2:2). Here the sense might be expressed by for years enough. [source]
2 Corinthians 3:6 Who also made us sufficient for such confidence [ος και ικανωσεν ημας]
Late causative verb from ικανος — hikanos (2 Corinthians 3:5) first aorist active indicative, “who (God) rendered us fit.” In N.T. only here and Colossians 1:12. [source]
2 Thessalonians 3:9 Not because we have not the right [ουχ οτι ουκ εχομεν εχουσιαν]
Paul is sensitive on his right to receive adequate support (1 Thessalonians 2:6; 1 Corinthians 9:4 where he uses the same word εχουσιαν — exousian in the long defence of this right, 1 Corinthians 9:1-27). So he here puts in this limitation to avoid misapprehension. He did allow churches to help him where he would not be misunderstood (2 Corinthians 11:7-11; Philemon 4:15.). Paul uses ουχ οτι — ouch hoti elsewhere to avoid misunderstanding (2 Corinthians 1:24; 2 Corinthians 3:5; Philemon 4:17). [source]
2 Timothy 2:2 Among many witnesses [δια πολλων μαρτυρων]
Plutarch has δια — dia in this sense and Field (Ot. Norv.) suggests that it is a legal phrase “supported by many witnesses.” Not mere spectators, but testifiers. See Paul‘s use of δια — dia 1 Thessalonians 4:2; 2 Corinthians 2:4; Romans 2:27; Romans 14:20. Paul in 1 Corinthians 15:1-8 gives many witnesses of the resurrection of Christ. Commit thou (παρατου — parathou). Second aorist middle imperative of παρατιτημι — paratithēmi (1 Timothy 1:18) to deposit, same metaphor as παρατηκη — parathēkē in 2 Timothy 1:12, 2 Timothy 1:14. “Deposit thou.” Faithful “Trustworthy,” “reliable,” as in 1 Timothy 1:12 of Paul himself. Able (ικανοι — hikanoi). Capable, qualified, as in 1 Corinthians 15:9; 2 Corinthians 2:16; 2 Corinthians 3:5. Others also Not necessarily “different,” but “others in addition.” This is the way to pass on the torch of the light of the knowledge of God in Christ. Paul taught Timothy who will teach others who will teach still others, an endless chain of teacher-training and gospel propaganda. [source]
2 Timothy 2:2 Faithful [πιστοις]
“Trustworthy,” “reliable,” as in 1 Timothy 1:12 of Paul himself. Able (ικανοι — hikanoi). Capable, qualified, as in 1 Corinthians 15:9; 2 Corinthians 2:16; 2 Corinthians 3:5. Others also Not necessarily “different,” but “others in addition.” This is the way to pass on the torch of the light of the knowledge of God in Christ. Paul taught Timothy who will teach others who will teach still others, an endless chain of teacher-training and gospel propaganda. [source]
2 Timothy 2:2 Able [ικανοι]
Capable, qualified, as in 1 Corinthians 15:9; 2 Corinthians 2:16; 2 Corinthians 3:5. [source]

What do the individual words in 2 Corinthians 3:5 mean?

Not that from ourselves sufficient we are to reckon anything as of but the sufficiency of us [is] of - God
οὐχ ὅτι ἀφ’ ἑαυτῶν ἱκανοί ἐσμεν λογίσασθαί τι ὡς ἐξ ἀλλ’ ἡ ἱκανότης ἡμῶν ἐκ τοῦ Θεοῦ

ὅτι  that 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: ὅτι  
Sense: that, because, since.
ἑαυτῶν  ourselves 
Parse: Reflexive Pronoun, Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Plural
Root: ἑαυτοῦ  
Sense: himself, herself, itself, themselves.
ἱκανοί  sufficient 
Parse: Adjective, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: ἱκανός  
Sense: sufficient.
ἐσμεν  we  are 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 1st Person Plural
Root: εἰμί  
Sense: to be, to exist, to happen, to be present.
λογίσασθαί  to  reckon 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Infinitive Middle
Root: λογίζομαι  
Sense: to reckon, count, compute, calculate, count over.
τι  anything 
Parse: Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun, Accusative Neuter Singular
Root: τὶς  
Sense: a certain, a certain one.
ἱκανότης  sufficiency 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Feminine Singular
Root: ἱκανότης  
Sense: sufficient, ability or competency to do a thing.
ἡμῶν  of  us 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Genitive 1st Person Plural
Root: ἐγώ  
Sense: I, me, my.
ἐκ  [is]  of 
Parse: Preposition
Root: ἐκ 
Sense: out of, from, by, away from.
τοῦ  - 
Parse: Article, Genitive Masculine Singular
Root: ὁ  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
Θεοῦ  God 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Masculine Singular
Root: θεός  
Sense: a god or goddess, a general name of deities or divinities.

What are the major concepts related to 2 Corinthians 3:5?

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