2 Corinthians 3
2 Corinthians 3 contrasts the glory of the Old Covenant, symbolized by the law of Moses, with the surpassing glory of the New Covenant in Christ. Paul emphasizes the transformational work of the Spirit, highlighting that believers are now ministers of a new covenant not of the letter but of the Spirit, which brings life rather than condemnation.
2 Corinthians 3:1-5 (NKJV) Do we begin again to commend ourselves? Or do we need, as some others, epistles of commendation to you or letters of commendation from you? You are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read by all men; clearly you are an epistle of Christ, ministered by us, written not with ink but by the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of flesh, that is, of the heart. And we have such trust through Christ toward God. Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God,
Paul begins by addressing questions about his and his fellow workers' credibility, asserting that they do not need written recommendations. Instead, he presents the Corinthian believers themselves as living "letters," evidence of his ministry's authenticity and effectiveness. These living letters are written by the Spirit on human hearts, showcasing a dynamic and internal transformation wrought by God, in contrast to the static written law of the Old Covenant. This highlights the idea that true ministry is not validated by external approval but by the internal work of the Spirit.
2 Corinthians 3:6 (NKJV) who also made us sufficient as ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.
Paul clarifies that their ministry is under the New Covenant, which is of the Spirit and not of the letter (law). He contrasts the letter, which brings death due to the impossibility of fulfilling the law perfectly, with the Spirit, which imparts life. This life-giving ministry of the Spirit points to the transformative power of the gospel, which enables believers to live in righteousness through the Spirit rather than through adherence to the law.
2 Corinthians 3:7-11 (NKJV) But if the ministry of death, written and engraved on stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of the glory of his face, which glory was passing away, how will the ministry of the Spirit be more glorious? For if the ministry of condemnation has glory, the ministry of righteousness exceeds much more in glory. For even what was made glorious had no glory in this respect, because of the glory that excels. For if what is passing away was glorious, what remains is much more glorious.
Paul reflects on the glory of Moses' ministry, which involved the giving of the law, referred to as the "ministry of death" because it brought awareness of sin and condemnation. Despite its glory, it was temporary and fading, symbolized by Moses' veiled face. In contrast, the ministry of the Spirit is permanent, unveiling a superior and enduring glory. This ministry brings righteousness and life, starkly differing from the condemnation of the old covenant. The new covenant's glory is so surpassing that it renders the old as having no glory by comparison, emphasizing the complete and transformative newness brought by Christ.
2 Corinthians 3:12-13 (NKJV)
Therefore, since we have such hope, we use great boldness of speech—unlike Moses, who put a veil over his face so that the children of Israel could not look steadily at the end of what was passing away.
In these verses, Paul draws a sharp contrast between the ministry of the New Covenant and the Old Covenant. He points out that the confidence and hope in the eternal and transformative nature of the New Covenant allow him and other ministers to preach with great boldness and openness. This contrasts with Moses, who veiled his face to prevent the Israelites from seeing the fading glory, a symbol of the temporary and ultimately insufficient nature of the Old Covenant. By veiling the transitory glory, Moses might have aimed to shield the people from doubts about the covenant's efficacy. In stark contrast, the New Covenant’s glory, enabled by the Spirit, does not fade and thus does not need to be hidden, allowing ministers like Paul to speak plainly and openly about its truths.
2 Corinthians 3:14-16 (NKJV)
But their minds were blinded. For until this day the same veil remains unlifted in the reading of the Old Testament, because the veil is taken away in Christ. But even to this day, when Moses is read, a veil lies on their heart. Nevertheless, when one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.
In these verses, Paul discusses the spiritual blindness of the Israelites, particularly those who continue to adhere to the Old Covenant without recognizing Christ as the fulfillment of its promises. He uses the metaphor of a veil, similar to the one Moses wore, to illustrate that just as the veil prevented the Israelites from seeing the temporary nature of the glory on Moses' face, a figurative veil remains over their minds when they read the Old Testament. This veil prevents them from understanding the true meaning of the scriptures and seeing that Christ has fulfilled the law and the prophets. The veil, Paul explains, is only removed when one turns to Christ, at which point the spiritual blindness is lifted, and the individual can fully understand and embrace the truths of the New Covenant, leading to spiritual freedom and enlightenment.
2 Corinthians 3:17-18 (NKJV) Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.
Paul concludes by identifying the Lord (Jesus) with the Spirit, emphasizing that true freedom comes through the Spirit. This liberty is a freedom from the law's condemnation and the sin it exposed. Believers, unlike Moses, who veiled his face, can now behold the glory of the Lord with unveiled faces, reflecting and being transformed into God's image. This transformation is a progressive, ongoing process carried out by the Holy Spirit, moving believers from one degree of glory to another, continually enhancing their likeness to Christ.