2 Coríntios 3
Leon Morris · Citado em PreceptAustin
2 Coríntios 3:1-4
Morris - The false teachers had ingratiated themselves to the Christian church by showing recommendations from other churches and, no doubt, would request such letters from Corinth when they decided to leave. But Paul reminds them that he needed no such letters. The Corinthian believers themselves were his "epistles," for they were his own children in the faith. (Defender's Study Bible) Murray Harris: Since he had just spoken of the distinctive role of apostles (2Cor 2:14–16) and of his divine commission and authority (2Co 2:17; note also 2Co 1:12 and 1Co 4:15, 16; 11:1; 14:18; 15:10), some might say, “Paul, once again you are indulging in your notorious habit of self-commendation.” (Expositor's Bible Commentary). Alfred Plummer says are we beginning "is a sort of echo of the supposed criticism; ‘He is beginning to belaud himself again.’ The πάλιν (again) plainly shows that St Paul is aware that this charge of self-praise had been made. He alludes to it again 2Co 4:5, 5:12, 6:4....whoever started it, it was accepted as true by some of the Corinthians. (2 Corinthians 3) Are we beginning (757) (archomai from archo = to be first) in the present tense, active voice means to be first and so to rule over or be the leader of. The passive voice in this verse signifies to make a beginning (used this way also in Mt 4:17; Mk 1:45; Lk 3:23, Jn 13:5; Acts 1:1) In this section Paul is picking up on an earlier testimony he had given in this letter which apparently was being distorted by his opponents as an example of Paul's arrogant self-commendation... But thanks be to God, Who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place. 15 For we are a fragrance (sweet savor or smell) of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing 16 For (see adequacy in 2Co 3:5,6+) to the one an aroma from death to death, to the other an aroma from life to life. And who is adequate for these things? 17 For we are not like many, peddling the word of God, but as from sincerity, but as from God, we speak in Christ in the sight of God. (2 Co 2:14-17+) Comment: Notice how Paul begins in 2Co 2:14 - Not with himself but with thanks to God and Christ, emphasizing that he was but a vessel for God's ministry. The secular use of the verb "leads us in triumph" (thriambeuo) presented a powerful picture of a victorious general, home from the wars, leading a triumphal procession through the streets of Rome, preceded by the captives and spoils of war and followed by the general riding in a chariot with a slave holding a jeweled crown over his head, all of this pomp and pagentry followed by the victorious army. In 2Cor 2:15 note that the fragrance alludes to the aroma of the OT burnt offerings, which when offered in sincere repentance and faith, were described as a soothing aroma to God (Ge 8:21; Lev 1:9; cp Eph 5:2-note). This has its NT parallel in the offering of our surrendered lives to God (Ro 12:1-note), veritable "spiritual sacrifices" which are pleasing to God (cp Micah 6:8). Beloved, do not let emissaries of the evil one discourage or distract you from God's calling on your life, for Spirit-filled, Word-centered, God-glorifying, Christ-exalting preaching, teaching and living out of God's truth is never in vain (Isa 55:10,11, Ga 6:7-note Ga 6:8-note Ga 6:9-note Ga 6:10-note), and will always bear fruit in the soul of the hearers, either fruit for eternal life (Mt 7:17-note, Lk 8:15 Mt 13:23 Mk 4:20 Jn 15:5,8, 16 Ro 7:4-note) or fruit for eternal destruction (Mt 3:10 Lk 3:9 13:9 Mt 7:19-note Ro 7:5-note). Marvin
2 Coríntios 3:18
Morris comments that "We, like Moses when he entered the tabernacle to speak with God (Ex 34:34+), also come into His presence with open (that is, unveiled) faces when we read His Word, which both reveals us for what we are, like a mirror (compare Jas 1:23, 24+, Jas 1:25+), and also reveals to us the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ. In so doing, we (like Moses) can begin to reflect His own image in our lives and even our countenances, from one degree of glory to another. And just as we are changed "from glory to glory," we also receive "grace upon grace" (Jn 1:16+). Thus, we are gradually being restored to the full image of God in which we were created (Ge 1:26,27), being "renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him" (Col 3:10+), for we indeed are predestined "to be conformed to the image of his Son" (Ro 8:29+). (Defender's Study Bible) Warren