Understanding the Two Covenants

In 2 Corinthians 3:5–6, Paul clarifies our calling:

“God… has made us able ministers of the new covenant—not of the letter but of the Spirit: for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.”

This distinction between “letter” and “Spirit” reveals the difference between the two covenants. Hebrews 8:13 says that by establishing a “new” covenant, the first became “old,” decaying and ready to vanish.

God has made us ministers of the new covenant, not the old. The word “covenant” (Greek: diatheke) also means “testament.” If we are ministers of the new, we cannot be ministers of the old, and Paul makes this distinction clear by contrasting “the letter” (which kills) with “the Spirit” (which gives life).

What Is ‘the Letter’?
Paul identifies “the letter” as that which was “written and engraven in stones”—the Ten Commandments (2 Cor. 3:7; see Exod. 34:28–30). Though glorious, this ministry of death was temporary and inferior to the ministry of the Spirit.

God’s covenant at Sinai was based on these commandments (Deut. 4:12–13; 5:1–22), but they could never produce righteousness. Paul says the law is holy and good (Rom. 7:12), but it cannot give life (Gal. 3:21). Why? Because the law is spiritual, but we are carnal (Rom. 7:14).

Why the Old Covenant Failed
The law demanded righteousness, but the people were enslaved to sin. The letter carved in stone condemned sin but could not transform the sinner. This fundamental mismatch rendered the old covenant ineffective. Hebrews 8:7–9 explains the fault wasn’t with the law, but with the people who couldn’t keep it.

So God promised a new covenant:

“I will put my laws into their mind and write them in their hearts…” (Heb. 8:10)

The old covenant described righteousness externally. The new covenant imparts righteousness internally by the Spirit. Now, God’s own life is written into the believer’s heart.

The Nature of Righteousness
Righteousness is not learned by repetition or habits—it’s a condition of the heart. The law describes righteousness, but only Christ can give it. As Paul says:

“The righteousness of God without the law is manifested…” (Rom. 3:21)

This righteousness is found in Christ, not in the letter of the law. He is the reality the law pointed to—the living law. In Him, we receive God’s own nature and no longer need external rules to govern our conduct.

Illustrations That Clarify
Newton’s Law of Gravity: Newton’s words describe gravity, but the reality of gravity is not in the words. Likewise, the commandments describe righteousness, but cannot produce it.

The Photograph: A man in love with a photograph can never find true fulfillment until he meets the person it represents. The law is like that photo—it points to Christ but isn’t the reality itself.

The law served to reveal sin and restrain evil. It was given “because of transgressions, till the seed should come” (Gal. 3:19). Its job was to act as a schoolmaster, bringing us to Christ (Gal. 3:24), but once faith has come, we are no longer under that schoolmaster (Gal. 3:25).

The Role of the Law Today
The law is not abolished but redefined in light of Christ.

“Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: we establish the law.” (Rom. 3:31)

The commandments still reflect God's will—but for the lawless and disobedient (1 Tim. 1:9–10). The righteous no longer live under its letter because they’ve received the life it described. Christ lives in them, fulfilling the law from within (Rom. 8:4; 1 John 2:6).

Conclusion: Ministers of the Spirit, Not the Stone
We are not called to preach lifeless rules carved in stone. We are ministers of Christ, the living fulfillment of the law. In Him, righteousness is no longer demanded—it is given. Believers don’t obey because of threats or commands, but because God’s nature dwells in them.

The old covenant restrained sinners. The new covenant transforms them.
Christ is now all and in all (Col. 3:11).