Note 1 at 2 Cor. 3:1: Many commentators believe that Paul is continuing his statement in verse 17 of chapter 2. Paul had just said that he speaks in sincerity in God's sight and does not corrupt the Word of God. To some it may sound like boasting so Paul continues, "Does this sound as if we were again boasting about ourselves? Could it be that, like some other people, we need letters of recommendation to you or from you?" (TEV)

We must remember that Paul was the one who led these Corinthians to faith in Christ. There had been a "father-son" relationship between Paul and the Corinthians. What had happened? Paul was having to come to his own defense as he would have with people who didn't know him. Certainly, this should have made the Corinthians feel ashamed.

Note 2 at 2 Cor. 3:1: An "epistle of commendation" was a letter written to commend to the attention of the church a person as being reputable, worthy and desirable in his Christian service. The letter was basically a favorable statement concerning the character or qualifications of that person. Letters of commendation were common in the first century (Oxyrhychus papyri 1.32). New Testament examples of commending individuals by letters occur in Acts 15:25f.; 18:27 (Apollos), 1 Cor. 16:10f. (Timothy); Rom.16:1 (Phoebe with the verb "sunistemi"); Col. 4:10 (Mark); 2 Cor. 8:22f. (Titus and his companion) [Word Pictures in the N.T., Vol. 1V, p. 220].

Certainly Paul needed no such recommendation to or from the Corinthians. They should have been giving him the honor and respect he so richly deserved.