2 Corinthians Chapter 3 — The Glory of the New Covenant
Paul explains that the believers themselves are his letters of recommendation, written by the Spirit on human hearts rather than on stone tablets.
1Are we beginning again to commend ourselves? Or do we need, as do some, letters of commendation to you or from you?
2You are our letter, written in our hearts, known and read by all men,
3being revealed that you are a letter of Christ, served by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tablets of stone, but in tablets that are hearts of flesh.
4Such confidence we have through Christ toward God,
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 servants of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.
7But if the service of death, written engraved on stones, came with glory, so that the children of Israel could not look steadfastly on the face of Moses for the glory of his face, which was passing away,
8won’t service of the Spirit be with much more glory?
9For if the service of condemnation has glory, the service of righteousness exceeds much more in glory.
10For most certainly that which has been made glorious has not been made glorious in this respect, by reason of the glory that surpasses.
11For if that which passes away was with glory, much more that which remains is in glory.
12Having therefore such a hope, we use great boldness of speech,
13and not as Moses, who put a veil on his face so that the children of Israel wouldn’t look steadfastly 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 remains, because in Christ it passes away.
15But to this day, when Moses is read, a veil lies on their heart.
16But whenever someone turns 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.
18But we all, with unveiled face seeing the glory of the Lord as in a mirror, are transformed into the same image from glory to glory, even as from the Lord, the Spirit.
WEB Translation
Notable Verses
2 Corinthians 3:3
“being revealed that you are a letter of Christ, served by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tablets of stone, but in tablets that are hearts of flesh.”
This verse establishes the core metaphor of the chapter regarding the internal work of God within the believer.
2 Corinthians 3:6
“who also made us sufficient as servants of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.”
This serves as a pivotal distinction between legalistic adherence to the law and the life-giving nature of the Spirit.
2 Corinthians 3:17
“Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.”
This is a key declaration of the spiritual freedom and presence found through the Holy Spirit.
Chapter Summary
In 2 Corinthians Chapter 3, Paul defends his ministry by pointing to the lives of the Corinthian believers as evidence of God's work. He distinguishes between the Old Covenant, written on stone tablets, and the New Covenant, written on human hearts by the Holy Spirit. Paul argues that while the old covenant had glory, it was temporary and led to condemnation. In contrast, the new covenant brings life and has a surpassing, permanent glory. He references the veil Moses wore to hide the fading glory of the law, noting that a similar veil remains over the hearts of those who do not recognize Christ. However, when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed. The chapter concludes by asserting that the Spirit brings liberty and that believers are being transformed into the image of the Lord with increasing glory.
Frequently Asked Questions
Paul suggests that he does not need written documents to prove his authority to the Corinthians. Instead, he views the transformed lives of the believers themselves as a living letter from Christ that validates his ministry.
He describes the Old Covenant as a service of death written on stone, whereas the New Covenant is a service of the Spirit written on hearts. While the Old Covenant had glory, Paul argues the New Covenant possesses a much greater and more permanent glory.
Paul references the veil Moses used to cover his face after receiving the law to hide its fading glory. He explains that a spiritual veil remains over the hearts of those who read the old covenant without Christ, but it is removed when they turn to the Lord.
Study Note
Paul's contrast between 'tablets of stone' and 'tablets of human hearts' is an intentional allusion to the prophetic language used in the books of Jeremiah and Ezekiel.
Related Chapters
Exodus 34
This chapter provides the historical context for Paul's reference to Moses' shining face and the use of the veil.
Jeremiah 31
Paul’s discussion of the law written on hearts fulfills the prophecy found in Jeremiah regarding a new covenant.
Romans 8
Both chapters emphasize the life-giving nature of the Spirit in contrast to the condemnation of the law.
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