2 Corinthians
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2 Corinthians 3
2 Corinthians 3
1Are we beginning again to commend ourselves? or need we, as do some, epistles of commendation to you or from you?
1Do we begin again to commend ourselves? or need we, as some others, epistles of commendation to you, or letters of commendation from you?
Commentary · verse 1
2Ye are our epistle, written in our hearts, known and read of all men; 3being made manifest that ye are an 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 tables that are hearts of flesh.
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.
Commentary · verses 2-3
Paul stated the believers in Corinth were not only Paul's epistle, but an epistle of Christ ministered through Paul by the Holy Spirit, which was grace. Notice, Paul's emphasis in these verses was believers towards believers.
Doctrines on this passage
4And such confidence have we through Christ to God-ward: 5not that we are sufficient of ourselves, to account anything as from ourselves; but our sufficiency is from God; 6who also made us sufficient as ministers of a new covenant; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.
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.
Commentary · verses 4-6
Paul was confident that the church in Corinth was a work of God. Paul contrasted the previous dispensation with the current: The letter (flesh/physical) kills; the Spirit (grace) gives life. These verses stated the Holy Spirit from God was showing through believers towards other believers.
7But if the ministration of death, written, and engraven on stones, came with glory, so that the children of Israel could not look stedfastly upon the face of Moses for the glory of his face; which glory was passing away: 8how shall not rather the ministration of the spirit be with glory?
9For if the ministration of condemnation hath glory, much rather doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory.
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.
Commentary · verses 7-9
If the Law (words written on stone) brought glory through Moses then how much more glory will be here now with grace (words written on the heart via the Holy Spirit)? The Law condemned and brought glory but Righteousness (through the Spirit) brings exceeding glory. Paul began contrasting the way God flowed through believers to other believers in the Dispensation of the Law and the current Dispensation of Grace.
10For verily that which hath been made glorious hath not been made glorious in this respect, by reason of the glory that surpasseth.
11For if that which passeth away was with glory, much more that which remaineth is 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.
Commentary · verses 10-11
That which was done away was the Law. It was only meant for a specific group of people. That which remained (the Covenant that was meant for everyone) was the Holy Spirit. Remember though, the Law will be brought back during the seven year tribulation, which is the "70th Week of Daniel": Daniel 9:24-27.
12Having therefore such a hope, we use great boldness of speech, 13and are not as Moses, who put a veil upon his face, that the children of Israel should not look stedfastly on the end of that which was passing away: 14but their minds were hardened: for until this very day at the reading of the old covenant the same veil remaineth, it not being revealed to them that it is done away in Christ.
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.
Commentary · verses 12-14
Paul continued contrasting the previous dispensation with the current dispensation. Moses put a veil on his face not because of his lack of fellowship with God, but because of his lack of fellowship with the rest of Israel. Christ removed the veil for believers towards God...
15But unto this day, whensoever Moses is read, a veil lieth upon their heart.
15But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart.
Commentary · verse 15
…however, the veil remains on the unbelievers' hearts.
16But whensoever it shall turn to the Lord, the veil is taken away.
17Now the Lord is the Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.
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.
Commentary · verses 16-17
However, the moment an unbeliever chooses to accept Jesus the veil is removed. The veil is spiritual and its removal allows the believer to operate in liberty, freedom, openness.
18But we all, with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are transformed into the same image from glory to glory, even as from the Lord the Spirit.
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.
Commentary · verse 18
"But we all..." showed this verse was contrasted with the condition that existed in the previous dispensation. In that dispensation, Moses was open to God, but not to other believers. The Holy Spirit through us is "the glory of the Lord" in this verse. So, this verse stated that all of us believers ought to be open and have fellowship with other believers to the point we behold the glory of the Lord (the Holy Spirit) through each other.
This verse did not state we "are" looking into a mirror, but "as in a mirror," which meant when we look at other believers it ought to be like we are looking in a mirror because we ought to see the Holy Spirit coming through other believers towards us as the Holy Spirit is flowing through us towards other believers. This continual interaction with the Holy Spirit through other believers is the "glory to glory" that will transform us into Righteousness. The verse ended with a direct statement that this was "even as from the Lord the Spirit." The rest of the context for this verse began in 2 Corinthians 4...
Theme of Chapter 3: Paul contrasted the previous dispensation with the current dispensation. The words of the previous dispensation were etched in stone and resulted in the necessity of a veil between God and man. The words of this dispensation are written on the hearts of believers and removed the veil between God and man, and ought to result in the veil being removed between believers. Believers ought to be transformed by continual fellowship with the Holy Spirit through other believers.
Paul asked if the believers, including himself, were so immature that letters of praise were needed to build up their confidence.