2 Cor 3:1-3

In many local churches there is a tradition whereby people who move from one location to another can bring a letter of commendation written by their former church and addressed to their new church.  The letter says they were members in good standing and should be welcomed immediately.  It is efficient in that the new church need not wait for a period of time until the prospective members can be examined in their walk with Christ and fitness for service.

That is what Paul is talking about here.  He is wondering why, after his faithful ministry in Corinth, he should need to provide proof of that faithfulness through a letter of commendation.  The truth is they should be his letter of commendation!  They should already know by experience the quality of his life and ministry.  And ultimately they were epistles that recommended Christ, written as a result of Paul’s ministry, that was being read by people all over the world.  This letter of commendation, written on Paul’s heart, should have been all the commendation they needed of his integrity. Certainly they should not have been questioning his decision not to come and see them.  They should have assumed it was for good reason and that Paul could be trusted.

We may not understand the need for a letter of recommendation.  But it does make sense according to Scripture.  In 2 Corinthians this term, used 3 times in v1, is used 6 more times in the letter.  Consider what these passages teach us as servants of God.

o   4:2: Paul’s ministry was not commended by twisting God’s word that men might enjoy it more, but by his accurate, truthful handling of the word.

o   5:12: Paul hoped the Corinthians would tell the truth from their hearts about his ministry.  He did not want to commend himself.

o   6:4-10: Paul’s ministry was commended, not by the usual success stories (how many people, how big his organization, etc.) but by his patience, tribulations and constant need.

o   7:11: The Corinthian church was commended by the way they responded to Paul’s severe letter, doing the right thing with great zeal.

o   10:12: Paul did not commend his ministry by comparing himself to others.

o   10:18: Ultimately it is not the one who commends himself who is truly commendable in ministry but the one the Lord commends.

Finally, in the matter of commendation, let us remember that even God has given a letter of recommendation for Himself.  Do you wonder if God truly loves you?  The answer has been made clear in that God commended His own love toward us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 

We should be careful in ministry.  We should not depend simply on what people say about themselves but on testimony from those we know to be trustworthy.  The bottom line for the believer is that we are to be a letter of commendation for Christ, commending Him to the world around us.  When people read your life what do they think of Christ?Hi