2 Corinthians 3:2

You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everyone. Ye are our Epistle written in our hearts, knowen and read of all men. Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men: You yourselves are our letter of recommendation, written on our hearts, to be known and read by all. You are our letter, written in our hearts, known and read by all people, You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everyone. You are our letter [of recommendation], written in our hearts, recognized and read by everyone. You are our letter, written in our hearts, known and read by all men; You are our letter, having been written in our hearts, known and read by all men, You yourselves are our letter, inscribed on our hearts, known and read by everyone. But you are our letter, and you are in our hearts for everyone to read and understand. You yourselves are our letter of recommendation, written on our hearts, known and read by everyone. *Ye* are our letter, written in our hearts, known and read of all men, No, you yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts. It is known and read by all people. Yee are our epistle, written in our hearts, which is vnderstand, and read of all men, You are our epistle written in our hearts, well-known and read by all men: You yourselves are the letter we have, written on our hearts for everyone to know and read. You are our letter, inscribed on our hearts, known and read by all people, You are our letter, having been inscribed in our hearts, being known and being read by all men, Ye are our epistle, written in our hearts, known and read of all men; You yourselves are our letter, whose writing is in our heart, open for every man's reading and knowledge; You are our letter, written in our hearts, known and read by all men; You are our letter, written in our hearts and known and read by everyone.1 Corinthians 9:2;">[xr] But you yourselves are our epistle, written in our hearts, and known and read of every man. Ye are our epistle, written on our hearts, and known and read by every man. Ye are our epistle written in our heartes, whiche is vnderstande and read of all men: Ye are our epistle, written in our hearts, known and read of all men; You are our letter, written in our hearts, known and read by all men; Ye are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by all men: Our letter of recommendation is yourselves--a letter written on our hearts and everywhere known and read. Ye ben oure pistle, writun in oure hertis, which is knowun and red of alle men, You are our epistle, written in our hearts, known and read of all men; Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read by all men: You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everyone, You are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read by all men; The only letter of recommendation we need is you yourselves. Your lives are a letter written in our hearts; everyone can read it and recognize our good work among you. You are our letter. You are written in our hearts. You are known and read by all men. You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, to be known and read by all; Our letter, ye, are, inscribed in our hearts, noted and read by all men: You are our epistle, written in our hearts, which is known and read by all men: You yourselves are our letter of recommendation, written on your hearts, to be known and read by all men; Ye are oure pistle written in oure hertes which is vnderstonde and reed of all men our letter ye are, having been written in our hearts, known and read by all men, You are our letter, having been written in our hearts, known and read by all men, Ye are oure epistle wrytten in oure hertes: which is vnderstonde and red of all me, you are my epistle, your conversion being writ in. my heart, known and read by all men: Nope! Y'all are our letter of recognition that has been read by everyone.

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everyone.

King James Version (1611)
Ye are our Epistle written in our hearts, knowen and read of all men.

King James Version
Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men:

English Standard Version
You yourselves are our letter of recommendation, written on our hearts, to be known and read by all.

New American Standard Bible
You are our letter, written in our hearts, known and read by all people,

New Century Version
You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everyone.

Amplified Bible
You are our letter [of recommendation], written in our hearts, recognized and read by everyone.

New American Standard Bible (1995)
You are our letter, written in our hearts, known and read by all men;

Legacy Standard Bible
You are our letter, having been written in our hearts, known and read by all men,

Berean Standard Bible
You yourselves are our letter, inscribed on our hearts, known and read by everyone.

Contemporary English Version
But you are our letter, and you are in our hearts for everyone to read and understand.

Complete Jewish Bible
You yourselves are our letter of recommendation, written on our hearts, known and read by everyone.

Darby Translation
*Ye* are our letter, written in our hearts, known and read of all men,

Easy-to-Read Version
No, you yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts. It is known and read by all people.

Geneva Bible (1587)
Yee are our epistle, written in our hearts, which is vnderstand, and read of all men,

George Lamsa Translation
You are our epistle written in our hearts, well-known and read by all men:

Good News Translation
You yourselves are the letter we have, written on our hearts for everyone to know and read.

Lexham English Bible
You are our letter, inscribed on our hearts, known and read by all people,

Literal Translation
You are our letter, having been inscribed in our hearts, being known and being read by all men,

American Standard Version
Ye are our epistle, written in our hearts, known and read of all men;

Bible in Basic English
You yourselves are our letter, whose writing is in our heart, open for every man's reading and knowledge;

Hebrew Names Version
You are our letter, written in our hearts, known and read by all men;

International Standard Version
You are our letter, written in our hearts and known and read by everyone.1 Corinthians 9:2;">[xr]

Etheridge Translation
But you yourselves are our epistle, written in our hearts, and known and read of every man.

Murdock Translation
Ye are our epistle, written on our hearts, and known and read by every man.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
Ye are our epistle written in our heartes, whiche is vnderstande and read of all men:

English Revised Version
Ye are our epistle, written in our hearts, known and read of all men;

World English Bible
You are our letter, written in our hearts, known and read by all men;

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
Ye are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by all men:

Weymouth's New Testament
Our letter of recommendation is yourselves--a letter written on our hearts and everywhere known and read.

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Ye ben oure pistle, writun in oure hertis, which is knowun and red of alle men,

Update Bible Version
You are our epistle, written in our hearts, known and read of all men;

Webster's Bible Translation
Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read by all men:

New English Translation
You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everyone,

New King James Version
You are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read by all men;

New Living Translation
The only letter of recommendation we need is you yourselves. Your lives are a letter written in our hearts; everyone can read it and recognize our good work among you.

New Life Bible
You are our letter. You are written in our hearts. You are known and read by all men.

New Revised Standard
You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, to be known and read by all;

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Our letter, ye, are, inscribed in our hearts, noted and read by all men:

Douay-Rheims Bible
You are our epistle, written in our hearts, which is known and read by all men:

Revised Standard Version
You yourselves are our letter of recommendation, written on your hearts, to be known and read by all men;

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
Ye are oure pistle written in oure hertes which is vnderstonde and reed of all men

Young's Literal Translation
our letter ye are, having been written in our hearts, known and read by all men,

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Ye are oure epistle wrytten in oure hertes: which is vnderstonde and red of all me,

Mace New Testament (1729)
you are my epistle, your conversion being writ in. my heart, known and read by all men:

Simplified Cowboy Version
Nope! Y'all are our letter of recognition that has been read by everyone.

Contextual Overview

¹Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, like some, letters of recommendation to you or from you? ¹ Doe wee begin againe to commend our selues? or need wee, as some others, Epistles of commendation to you, or letters of commendation from you? 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? ¹ Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, as some do, letters of recommendation to you, or from you? ¹ Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, as some, letters of commendation to you or from you? ¹ Are we starting to brag about ourselves again? Do we need letters of introduction to you or from you, like some other people? ¹Are we starting to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, like some [false teachers], letters of recommendation to you or from you? [No!] ¹ Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, as some, letters of commendation to you or from you? ¹Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, as some, letters of commendation to you or from you? ¹Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, like some people, letters of recommendation to you or from you?

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

are: 1 Corinthians 3:10, 1 Corinthians 9:1, 1 Corinthians 9:2

in: 2 Corinthians 7:3, 2 Corinthians 11:11, 2 Corinthians 12:15, Philippians 1:7

known: Romans 1:8, 1 Corinthians 9:2, 1 Thessalonians 1:8

Reciprocal: Deuteronomy 27:3 - thou shalt Acts 18:27 - the brethren 1 Corinthians 3:6 - God Philemon 1:19 - how thou

Cross-References

Psalms 58:4
They have venom like the venom of a snake,like the deaf cobra that stops up its ears,

Psalms 58:4
Their poison is like the poison of a snake; Like a deaf cobra that stops its ear,

Psalms 58:4
Their poison is like the poison of a serpent: they are like the deaf adder that stoppeth her ear;

Psalms 58:4
They have venom like the venom of a serpent, like the deaf adder that stops its ear,

Psalms 58:4
They are like poisonous snakes, like deaf cobras that stop up their ears

Psalms 58:4
Their venom is like that of a snake, like a deaf serpent that does not hear,

Psalms 58:4
Their poison is like the venom of a serpent; They are like the deaf horned viper that stops up its ear,

Psalms 58:4
They have venom like the venom of a serpent; Like a deaf cobra that stops up its ear,

Psalms 58:4
Their poison is like the poison of a snake; Like a deaf cobra that stops its ear,

Psalms 58:4
Their poyson is euen like the poyson of a serpent: like ye deafe adder that stoppeth his eare.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Ye are our epistle,.... Here a reason is given why they stood in no need of letters of commendation, to or from the church at Corinth, because that church was their living epistle, and which was much preferable to any written one. The apostle calls them their epistle in the same sense, as they are said to be his "work in the Lord, and the seal of his apostleship", 1 Corinthians 9:1 they were so as persons regenerated by the Spirit and grace of God, in whose conversion he was an instrument; now it was the work of conversion in them, which was the epistle said to be

written in our hearts; some think it should be read, "in your hearts"; and so the Ethiopic version reads it; and it looks as if it should be so read, from the following verse, and from the nature of the thing itself; for the conversion of the Corinthians was not written in the heart of the apostle, but in their own; and this was so very notorious and remarkable, that it was

known and read of all men; everyone could read, and was obliged to acknowledge the handwriting; it was so clear a case, what hand the apostle, as an instrument, had in the turning of these persons from idols to serve the living God; and which was so full a proof of the divinity, efficacy, truth, and sincerity of his doctrine, that he needed no letters from any to recommend him.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Ye are our epistle - compare 1 Corinthians 9:2. This is a most beautiful and happy turn given to the whole subject. The sense is plain. It is, that the conversion of the Corinthians, under the faithful labors of the apostle, was a better testimonial of his character and fidelity than any letters could be. To see the force of this, it must be remembered:

1. That Corinth was an exceedingly dissolute and abandoned place (see the introduction to the First Epistle);
2. That a large number of them had been converted, and a church organized;
3. That their conversion, and the organization of a church in such a city were events that would be known abroad; and,
4. That it had been accomplished entirely under the labor of Paul and his companions.

To their knowledge of him, therefore, and to his success there, he could confidently appeal as a testimonial of his character. The characteristics of this commendatory epistle, he proceeds immediately to state. The general sense is, that they were the letter of recommendation which God had given to him; and that their conversion under his ministry was the public testimonial of his character which all might see and read.

Written in our hearts - A few mss. and versions read thus, “your hearts;” and Doddridge has adopted this reading, and supposes that it means that the change produced not only in their external conduct, but in their inward temper, was so great, that all must see that it was an unanswerable attestation to his ministry. But there is not sufficient authority for changing the text; nor is it necessary. The sense is, probably, that this letter was. as it were, written on his heart. It was not merely that Paul had a tender affection for them, as Clarke supposes; nor was it that he regarded them as “a copy of the letter of recommendation from Christ written in his heart,” according to the fanciful conceit of Macknight; but Paul’s idea seems to have been this. He is speaking of the testimonial which he had from God. That testimonial consisted in the conversion of the Corinthians. This he says was written on his heart. It was not a cold letter of introduction, but it was such as, while it left him no room to doubt that God had sent him, also affected his feelings, and was engraved on his soul. It was to him, therefore, far more valuable than any mere letter of commendation or of introduction could be. It was a direct testimonial from God to his own heart of his approbation, and of his having appointed him to the apostolic office. All the difficulty, therefore, which has been felt by commentators in this passage, may be obviated by supposing that Paul here speaks of this testimonial or epistle as addressed to himself, and as satisfactory to him, In the other characteristics which he enumerates, he speaks of it as suited to be a letter commendatory of himself to others.

Known and read of all men - Corinth was a large, splendid, and dissipated city. Their conversion, therefore, would be known afar. All people would hear of it; and their reformation, their subsequent life under the instruction of Paul, and the attestation which God had given among them to his labors, was a sufficient testimonial to the world at large, that God had called him to the apostolic office.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 2 Corinthians 3:2. Ye are our epistle — I bear the most ardent love to you. I have no need to be put in remembrance of you by any epistles or other means; ye are written in my heart - I have the most affectionate remembrance of you.

Known and read of all men — For wherever I go I mention you; speak of your various gifts and graces; and praise your knowledge in the Gospel.