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2 Corinthians 3:5

Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God;

KJV

οὐχ ὅτι ἀφ’ ἑαυτῶν ἱκανοί ἐσμεν λογίσασθαί τι ὡς ἐξ ἑαυτῶν, ἀλλ’ ἡ ἱκανότης ἡμῶν ἐκ τοῦ θεοῦ,

Greek NT

non quod sufficientes simus cogitare aliquid a nobis, quasi ex nobis : sed sufficientia nostra ex Deo est :

Vulgate

not that we are sufficient of ourselves, to account anything as from ourselves; but our sufficiency is from God;

ASV

Not that we are sufficient to think any thing of ourselves, as of ourselves: but our sufficiency is from God.

Douay-Rheims

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In the original Greek

15 distinct Greek words appear in this verse.

εἰμί
eimi
verb · 2461×
θεός
theos
noun · 1311×
λογίζομαι
logizomai
verb · 40×
οὐ
ou
particle · 1626×
τὶς
tis
indefinite_pronoun · 527×
ἀλλά
alla
conjunction · 636×
ἀπό
apo
preposition · 640×
ἐκ
ek
preposition · 915×
ἑαυτοῦ
eautou
reflexive_pronoun · 316×
ἡμεῖς
emeis
pronoun · 862×
ἱκανός
ikanos
adjective · 40×
ἱκανότης
ikanotes
noun · 1×
o
article · 19778×
ὅτι
oti
conjunction · 1299×
ὡς
os
adverb · 502×

Textual variants

2 variant units attested by manuscript witnesses and modern critical editions.

minor
SBLGNT: ἀφ᾽ ἑαυτῶν ἱκανοί ἐσμεν | WH/Treg/NIV: ἀφ᾽ ἑαυτῶν ἱκανοί ἐσμεν | RP: ἱκανοί ἐσμεν ἀφ᾽ ἑαυτῶν
  • ἀφ᾽ ἑαυτῶν ἱκανοί ἐσμενSBLGNT
  • ἀφ᾽ ἑαυτῶν ἱκανοί ἐσμενWestcott-Hort, Tregelles, Reader's GNT (NA27)
  • ἱκανοί ἐσμεν ἀφ᾽ ἑαυτῶνRobinson-Pierpont
source: sblgnt-apparatus
minor
SBLGNT: αὑτῶν | WH/Treg/NIV: αὑτῶν | RP: ἑαυτῶν
  • αὑτῶνSBLGNT
  • αὑτῶνWestcott-Hort, Tregelles, Reader's GNT (NA27)
  • ἑαυτῶνRobinson-Pierpont
source: sblgnt-apparatus

Themes

Historic Christian voices

6 passages from patristic writers, Reformers, and church catechisms citing this verse.

Without grace, can man know anything? Without God's grace, can man do or wish any good? Without grace, can man love God above all things? Without grace, can man keep the commandments of the Law? Without grace, can he merit eternal life? Without grace, can man prepare himself for grace? Without grace, can he rise from sin? Without grace, can man avoid sin? Having received grace,…
We believe that God created human beings from the dust of the earth and made and formed them in his image and likeness—good, just, and holy; able by their will to conform in all things to the will of God. But when they were in honor they did not understand it and did not recognize their excellence. But they subjected themselves willingly to sin and consequently to death and the…
In this matter we teach that there is a threefold condition or state of man. Man in his first estate before the fall was endowed with free will, so that he could either remain in goodness or decline to evil. However, he declined to evil, and has involved himself and the entire human race in sin, as has been said already. Man in his second estate, after the fall, is not deprived…

Cross-references

  • 1Chr 15:26 — And it came to pass, when God helped the Levites that bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD, that they offered seven bullocks and seven rams.
  • 1Chr 29:14 — But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able to offer so willingly after this sort? for all things come of thee, and of thine own have we given thee.
  • 1Cor 3:6 — I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.
  • 1Cor 3:10 — According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.
  • 1Cor 12:3 — Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.
  • 1Cor 15:10 — But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.
  • 1Cor 15:10 — But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.
  • 1Kgs 3:9 — Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people?
  • 1Sam 17:45 — Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou
  • 1Tim 1:12 — And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry;
  • 2Chr 1:10 — Give me now wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this people: for who can judge this thy people, that is so great?
  • 2Cor 1:9 — But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead:
  • 2Cor 2:16 — To the one we are the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things?
  • 2Cor 2:16 — To the one we are the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things?
  • 2Cor 4:7 — But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.
  • 2Cor 4:7 — But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.
  • 2Cor 10:4 — (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
  • 2Cor 12:9 — And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon m
  • 2Cor 12:9 — And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon m
  • Acts 3:12 — And when Peter saw it, he answered unto the people, Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this? or why look ye so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk?
  • Acts 20:19 — Serving the LORD with all humility of mind, and with many tears, and temptations, which befell me by the lying in wait of the Jews:
  • Deut 1:12 — How can I myself alone bear your cumbrance, and your burden, and your strife?
  • Exod 3:11 — And Moses said unto God, Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt?
  • Exod 4:10 — And Moses said unto the LORD, O my LORD, I am not eloquent, neither heretofore, nor since thou hast spoken unto thy servant: but I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue.
  • Gal 6:3 — For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.
  • Gen 41:16 — And Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, It is not in me: God shall give Pharaoh an answer of peace.
  • Jas 1:17 — Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.
  • Jer 1:6 — Then said I, Ah, Lord GOD! behold, I cannot speak: for I am a child.
  • John 15:5 — I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
  • Judg 16:20 — And she said, The Philistines be upon thee, Samson. And he awoke out of his sleep, and said, I will go out as at other times before, and shake myself. And he wist not that the LORD was departed from h
  • Luke 21:15 — For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist.
  • Luke 24:49 — And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.
  • Matt 10:19 — But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak.
  • Neh 7:5 — And my God put into mine heart to gather together the nobles, and the rulers, and the people, that they might be reckoned by genealogy. And I found a register of the genealogy of them which came up at
  • Phil 2:13 — For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
  • Phil 2:13 — For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
  • Phil 4:13 — I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
  • Ps 18:32 — It is God that girdeth me with strength, and maketh my way perfect.
  • Ps 119:125 — I am thy servant; give me understanding, that I may know thy testimonies.
  • Rom 1:5 — By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name: