Do we begin again to commend ourselves? or need we, as some others, epistles of commendation to you, or letters of commendation from you?
Ver. 1. Do we begin again, &c.] As we had done before, 2 Corinthians 1:12 .
To commend ourselves] Quod magnificum referente alio fuisset, ipso qui gesserat recensente vanescit. (Plin.) "Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth," Proverbs 27:2. Laus proprio sordescit in ore. But the apostle was necessitated to it.
As some others, letters of commendation] As the false apostles, who carried it by testimonial; in giving whereof, many good people are much to blame. Beauty needs no letters of commendation, saith Aristotle; much less doth virtue, where it is known. If moral virtue could be seen with mortal eyes, saith Plato, it would soon draw all hearts to itself.