The Epistles · Chapter 3 of 13

2 Corinthians 3

Paul answers those demanding letters of commendation by pointing to the Corinthians themselves as his living letter, written by the Spirit on human hearts. He contrasts the old covenant engraved on stone, glorious yet fading, with the new covenant of the Spirit that gives life. Moses veiled a fading glory; in Christ the veil is lifted, and believers are changed from glory to glory.

What happens in 2 Corinthians 3

Paul asks whether he needs commendation letters, then declares the Corinthians are his epistle, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God on the heart. Such confidence comes through Christ, for his adequacy is from God, who made him a minister of the new testament, not of the letter that kills but of the Spirit that gives life. He compares two ministries. If the ministry of death, engraved on stones, came with glory so bright Israel could not gaze at the fading radiance of Moses' face, how much more glorious is the ministry of the Spirit, which he calls a ministration of righteousness exceeding the older ministration of condemnation.

Because he holds such hope, Paul speaks plainly, unlike Moses who veiled his fading brightness. A veil still lies on hearts when Moses is read, but turning to the Lord removes it. Where the Spirit is, there is liberty, and beholding the Lord's glory believers are changed from glory to glory.

2 Corinthians 3 in context

Written after painful conflict with the Corinthian church, this chapter defends Paul's ministry against opponents who traveled with impressive credentials. Drawing on Exodus 34, where Moses' face shone and was veiled, Paul argues that the covenant he serves outshines the one given at Sinai.

It is among the New Testament's fullest meditations on old and new covenant glory.

Main themes of 2 Corinthians 3

Living lettersPaul needs no parchment recommendation because transformed lives vouch for his work. The Corinthians are Christ's letter, inscribed by the Spirit on the heart rather than on stone. Genuine ministry is measured not by credentials but by people changed from the inside out.

The letter and the SpiritThe written law, holy and glorious, could only expose sin and pronounce condemnation, so Paul calls it a ministration of death. The Spirit of the new covenant does what stone could never do: gives life and writes righteousness within, exceeding the older glory.

The veil removedMoses hid a fading radiance behind a veil, and Paul sees a veil still lying over hearts that read the old covenant apart from Christ. Only turning to the Lord lifts it, granting liberty and an unveiled face that beholds and reflects God's glory.

This is a letter to the early church, and to you, teaching how to live the new life in Christ. As you read, receive it as personal instruction from the Spirit.

2 Corinthians 3 (KJV)

1Do we begin again to commend ourselves? or need we, as some others, epistles of commendation to you, or letters of commendation from you? 2Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men: 3Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart. 4And such trust have we through Christ to God-ward: 5Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God; 6Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life. 7But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away: 8How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious? 9For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory. 10For even that which was made glorious had no glory in this respect, by reason of the glory that excelleth. 11For if that which is done away was glorious, much more that which remaineth is glorious. 12Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech: 13And not as Moses, which put a vail over his face, that the children of Israel could not stedfastly look to the end of that which is abolished: 14But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in Christ. 15But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart. 16Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away. 17Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. 18But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the LORD.

Verses to carry from 2 Corinthians 3

“Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.”2 Corinthians 3:6

“Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.”2 Corinthians 3:17

“But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the LORD.”2 Corinthians 3:18

Thematic connection

How 2 Corinthians 3 points to Jesus

Christ stands at the center of every contrast Paul draws. The Corinthians are the epistle of Christ, written by his Spirit; the confidence Paul carries is his through Christ toward God. Most strikingly, Paul says the veil that lay over Israel's understanding is done away in Christ, and that when the heart turns to the Lord the veil is removed.

He identifies the Lord with the life-giving Spirit and promises that all who behold the glory of the Lord with unveiled face are progressively changed into his same image, from glory to glory. Christ is thus both the end of the old covenant's fading brightness and the living glory into whose likeness his people are being remade.

Questions about 2 Corinthians 3

What does Paul mean that the letter kills but the Spirit gives life?

He is not dismissing Scripture but describing what the written law can accomplish on its own. Engraved on stone, it reveals God's righteous demand and thereby exposes and condemns sin, leaving the sinner under a sentence of death. The Spirit of the new covenant writes God's will inwardly and imparts the very life the law could only require, doing what mere commandment never could.

How are believers changed from glory to glory?

Paul pictures an unveiled face beholding the Lord's glory as in a mirror. Rather than a single moment, the change is ongoing: as we gaze upon Christ, the Spirit gradually conforms us to his image, moving us from one degree of glory to another. Transformation here is not self-improvement but the reflected work of the Spirit of the Lord upon a heart turned toward him.

Reflection

Consider what people read when they read your life. Paul was content to let changed hearts be his credential. Where do you seek approval on paper when God is writing something deeper within? Turn your face toward the Lord today and let his glory, not your reputation, be what shows.

A prayer from 2 Corinthians 3

Lord, take away every veil that keeps me from seeing you. Write your life on my heart by your Spirit, and change me into your image from glory to glory, that others may read Christ in me.

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