2 Corinthians 2:16–3:6

¹⁶To the one we are an aroma that brings death;^v to the other, an aroma that brings life. And who is equal to such a task?^{w 17}Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit.^x On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity,^y as those sent from God.^z

3Are we beginning to commend ourselves^a again? Or do we need, like some people, letters of recommendation^b to you or from you? ²You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everyone.^{c 3}You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God,^d not on tablets of stone^e but on tablets of human hearts.^f

⁴Such confidence^g we have through Christ before God. ⁵Not that we are competent in ourselves^h to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God.^{i 6}He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant^j—not of the letter^k but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.^l