2 Corinthians 3:4

And such trust have we through Christ to God-ward:

2 Corinthians 3:4, King James Version

2 Corinthians 3:4 in other translations

BSB	Such confidence before God is ours through Christ.
WEB	Such confidence we have through Christ toward God,
ASV	And such confidence have we through Christ to God-ward:
YLT	and such trust we have through the Christ toward God,
DARBY	And such confidence have we through the Christ towards God:
BBE	And this is the certain faith which we have in God through Christ:
Webster	And such trust we have through Christ toward God.

What does 2 Corinthians 3:4 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

4. And--Greek, "But." "Such confidence, however (namely, of our 'sufficiency,' 2Co 3:5, 6; 2Co 2:16--to which he reverts after the parenthesis--as ministers of the New Testament, 'not hinting,' 2Co 4:1), we have through Christ (not through ourselves, compare 2Co 3:18) toward God" (that is, in our relation to God and His work, the ministry committed by Him to us, for which we must render an account to Him). Confidence toward God is solid and real, as looking to Him for the strength needed now, and also for the reward of grace to be given hereafter. Compare Ac 24:15, "hope toward God." Human confidence is unreal in that it looks to man for its help and its reward.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes

Verse 4. And such trust have we. Such confidence have we that we are appointed by God, and that he accepts our work. Such evidence have we in the success of our labours--such irrefragable proof that God blesses us--that we have trust, or confidence, that we are sent by God, and are owned by him in our ministry. His confidence did not rest on letters of introduction from men, but in the evidence of the Divine Presence, and the Divine acceptance of his work.

Through Christ. By the agency of Christ. Paul had no success which he did not trace to him; he had no joy of which he was not the source; he had no confidence, or trust in God, of which Christ was not the author; he had no hope of success in his ministry which did not depend on him.

To Godward. Toward God; in regard to God. προςτονθεον. Our confidence relates to God. It is confidence that he has appointed us, and sent us forth; and confidence that he will still continue to own and to bless us.

(*) "trust"

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Verse 4 Such trust have we - We have the fullest conviction that God has thus accredited our ministry; and that ye are thus converted unto him, and are monuments of his mercy, and proofs of the truth of our ministry.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 2 Corinthians 3:1-11

Even the appearance of self-praise and courting human applause, is painful to the humble and spiritual mind. Nothing is more delightful to faithful ministers, or more to their praise, than the success of their ministry, as shown in the spirits and lives of those among whom they labour. The law of Christ was written in their hearts, and the love of Christ shed abroad there. Nor was it written in tables of stone, as…

Read the full comment on 2 Corinthians 3:1-11 →

2 Corinthians 3:4 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ΠεποίθησινPepoithēsinConfidenceG4006

δὲdenowG1161

τοιαύτηνtoiautēnsuchG5108

ἔχομενechomenwe haveG2192

διὰdiathroughG1223

τοῦtou<the>G3588

ΧριστοῦChristouChristG5547

πρὸςprostowardG4314

τὸνton<the>G3588

θεόν·theonGod;G2316

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for 2 Corinthians 3:4

Philippians 1:6
Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:
Ephesians 3:12
In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him.
1 Thessalonians 1:8
For from you sounded out the word of the Lord not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith to God-ward is spread abroad; so that we need not to speak any thing.
Exodus 18:19
Hearken now unto my voice, I will give thee counsel, and God shall be with thee: Be thou for the people to God-ward, that thou mayest bring the causes unto God:
2 Corinthians 2:14
Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

such.
2:14; Php 1:6
God-ward.
Ex 18:19; 1Th 1:8

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

2 Corinthians 3:3
Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart.
2 Corinthians 3:4
And such trust have we through Christ to God-ward:
2 Corinthians 3:5
Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God;

Read all of 2 Corinthians 3

2 Corinthians 3:4 in other languages

Spanish Reina-Valera 1909	Y tal confianza tenemos por Cristo para con Dios:
French Bible J.N. Darby 1885	Or nous avons une telle confiance par le Christ envers Dieu:
German Elberfelder 1871	Solches Vertrauen aber haben wir durch Christum zu Gott:
Latin Clementine Vulgate	Fiduciam autem talem habemus per Christum ad Deum: