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2 Corinthians 3

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1¶ Do 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:

3[Forasmuch 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;

6¶ 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.

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.

12¶ Seeing 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.

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2 Corinthians 3:1-11 Verses 1-11

Even the appearance of self-praise and courting human applause, is painful to the humble and spiritual mind. Nothing is more delightful to faithful ministers, or more to their praise, than the success of their ministry, as shown in the spirits and lives of those among whom they labour. The law of Christ was written in their hearts, and the love of Christ shed abroad there. Nor was it written in tables of stone, as the law of God given to Moses, but on the fleshy (not fleshly, as fleshliness denotes sensuality) tables of the heart, Eze 36:26. Their hearts were humbled and softened to receive this impression, by the new-creating power of the Holy Spirit. He ascribes all the glory to God. And remember, as our whole dependence is upon the Lord, so the whole glory belongs to him alone. The letter killeth: the letter of the law is the ministration of death; and if we rest only in the letter of the gospel, we shall not be the better for so doing: but the Holy Spirit gives life spiritual, and life eternal. The Old Testament dispensation was the ministration of death, but the New Testament of life. The law made known sin, and the wrath and curse of God; it showed us a God above us, and a God against us; but the gospel makes known grace, and Emmanuel, God with us. Therein the righteousness of God by faith is revealed; and this shows us that the just shall live by his faith; this makes known the grace and mercy of God through Jesus Christ, for obtaining the forgiveness of sins and eternal life. The gospel so much exceeds the law in glory, that it eclipses the glory of the legal dispensation. But even the New Testament will be a killing letter, if shown as a mere system or form, and without dependence on God the Holy Spirit, to give it a quickening power.

2 Corinthians 3:12-18 Verses 12-18

It is the duty of the ministers of the gospel to use great plainness, or clearness, of speech. The Old Testament believers had only cloudy and passing glimpses of that glorious Saviour, and unbelievers looked no further than to the outward institution. But the great precepts of the gospel, believe, love, obey, are truths stated as clearly as possible. And the whole doctrine of Christ crucified, is made as plain as human language can make it. Those who lived under the law, had a veil upon their hearts. This veil is taken away by the doctrines of the Bible about Christ. When any person is converted to God, then the veil of ignorance is taken away. The condition of those who enjoy and believe the gospel is happy, for the heart is set at liberty to run the ways of God's commandments. They have light, and with open face they behold the glory of the Lord. Christians should prize and improve these privileges. We should not rest contented without knowing the transforming power of the gospel, by the working of the Spirit, bringing us to seek to be like the temper and tendency of the glorious gospel of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, and into union with Him. We behold Christ, as in the glass of his word; and as the reflection from a mirror causes the face to shine, the faces of Christians shine also.

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Arts of The: Engraver 2 Corinthians 3:7

Now if the ministry of death, which was engraved in letters on stone, came with such glory that the Israelites could not gaze at the face of Moses because of its fleeting glory,

Blessing: Spiritual, from God 2 Corinthians 3:5

Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim that anything comes from us, but our competence comes from God.

Blindness: Spiritual 2 Corinthians 3:14, 15

But their minds were closed. For to this day the same veil remains at the reading of the old covenant. It has not been lifted, because only in Christ can it be removed. / And even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts.

Butterflies 2 Corinthians 3:18

And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into His image with intensifying glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

Butterfly 2 Corinthians 3:18

And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into His image with intensifying glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

Christian Minister: Character and Attributes of 2 Corinthians 3:6–10

And He has qualified us as ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. / Now if the ministry of death, which was engraved in letters on stone, came with such glory that the Israelites could not gaze at the face of Moses because of its fleeting glory, / will not the ministry of the Spirit be even more glorious?

Christian Minister: Success Attending: Paul 2 Corinthians 3:2, 3

You yourselves are our letter, inscribed on our hearts, known and read by everyone. / It is clear that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.

Christian Minister: Their Calling Glorious 2 Corinthians 3:7–11

Now if the ministry of death, which was engraved in letters on stone, came with such glory that the Israelites could not gaze at the face of Moses because of its fleeting glory, / will not the ministry of the Spirit be even more glorious? / For if the ministry of condemnation was glorious, how much more glorious is the ministry of righteousness!

Christlikeness 2 Corinthians 3:18

And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into His image with intensifying glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

Countenance: Transfigured 2 Corinthians 3:7, 13

Now if the ministry of death, which was engraved in letters on stone, came with such glory that the Israelites could not gaze at the face of Moses because of its fleeting glory, / We are not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face to keep the Israelites from gazing at the end of what was fading away.

Covenant of Grace 2 Corinthians 3:6

And He has qualified us as ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

Freedom 2 Corinthians 3:17

Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.

Freedom in Christ 2 Corinthians 3:17

Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.

Glorification 2 Corinthians 3:18

And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into His image with intensifying glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

Glory of the Gospel Exceeds That of the Law 2 Corinthians 3:9, 10

For if the ministry of condemnation was glorious, how much more glorious is the ministry of righteousness! / Indeed, what was once glorious has no glory now in comparison to the glory that surpasses it.

Glory of the Gospel, Exceeds That of the Law 2 Corinthians 3:9, 10

For if the ministry of condemnation was glorious, how much more glorious is the ministry of righteousness! / Indeed, what was once glorious has no glory now in comparison to the glory that surpasses it.

God is a Spirit 2 Corinthians 3:17

Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.

God's Glory 2 Corinthians 3:18

And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into His image with intensifying glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

Going to Jail 2 Corinthians 3:17

Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.

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Righteousness See [535]JUSTIFICATION. Covenant A contract or agreement between two parties. In the Old… Freedom The law of Moses pointed out the cases in which… Christ Anointed, the Greek translation of the Hebrew word rendered "Messiah"… Spirit (Heb. ruah; Gr. pneuma), properly wind or breath. In 2… Letter In Rom. 2:27, 29 means the outward form. The "oldness… Moses Drawn (or Egypt. mesu, "son;" hence Rameses, royal son). On… Stone Stones were commonly used for buildings, also as memorials of… Glory (Heb. kabhod; Gr. doxa). (1.) Abundance, wealth, treasure, and hence… Death May be simply defined as the termination of life. It… Lord There are various Hebrew and Greek words so rendered. (1.)… Hope One of the three main elements of Christian character (1… Face Means simply presence, as when it is recorded that Adam… Life Generally of physical life (Gen. 2:7; Luke 16:25, etc.); also…