Note 8 at 2 Cor. 3:5: Paul had just been boasting of the fruit of his ministry as proof of his apostleship and authority. This might lead someone to think that Paul was operating in pride, so he sets the record straight.

Paul declares that what he has done and is going to do will be done through dependence upon Christ and His sufficiency. God is all that is needed, adequate and enough to meet the task. This verse could be translated, "We do not think ourselves sufficient to gain wisdom by our own reasoning, or able of ourselves to do anything for which we might take credit, but our ability comes from God alone" (Con, Bas, Knox). Some further scriptures that teach man's total dependence and God's sufficiency are: 2 Chronicles 20:12; Jeremiah 10:23; John. 15:5; 2 Corinthians 9:8; 12:9; Philippians 4:13; 1 Timothy 1:12.