“Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men:”
You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everybody — the Corinthians are living epistles inscribed on Paul's heart (and readable by all). This inversion is brilliant: the Corinthians' transformed lives are Paul's credential. He needs no external letters because the community is his authentication.
Church Fathers on 2 Corinthians 3:2
“You are our epistle.” What means this, “you are?” 'Did we need to be commended to others, we should have produced you before them instead of an epistle.' And this he said in the former Epistle. “For the seal of mine Apostleship are you.” 1 Corinthians 9:2 But he does not here say it in this manner, but in irony so as to make his question, “Do we need epistles of commendation?” more cutting. And in allusion to the false apostles, he added, “as do some, [epistles of…
Nicene & Post-Nicene / Ante-Nicene Fathers translations · public domain
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