It is apparent that some of Paul’s opposition were suggesting, or would have suggested he pretentiously recommended himself. To the contrary, Paul said later, “For not he who commends himself is approved, but whom the Lord commends” (10:18). Any commendation of the apostles that Paul brought forth ultimately came from God. Also, it is apparent that those among the Corinthians who Paul later labels as “false apostles” (11:13) had come to the Corinthians with “letters of commendation.” Such letters written by men do not necessarily validate the person bringing them. Paul and the other apostles needed no such letters.

More importantly and effectively, Paul’s letter was the converted Corinthians. Such was “written in our hearts, known and read by all men.” The fact that the Corinthians were converted by Paul’s preaching of the gospel, and that such a change was observable by the surrounding community, was sufficient as a commending letter. Such was written on Paul’s heart. He had great love and care for the Corinthians as he considered them to be his “beloved children” (1 Corinthians 4:14).

Furthermore, Paul points out that their conversion was a work of Christ accomplished through the apostles’ ministry. The epistle ministered was not written by lifeless ink, but by “the Spirit of the living God.” The “false apostles” may have been men who held on to the Mosaic law. Paul shows the superiority, and validity of his ministry in that the letter of his ministry was “not on tablets of stone but on tablets of flesh, that is, of the heart.” This introduced his further, and more detailed comparison of the ministry of the old covenant, and the new (3:4-18).