2 Corinthians 3

King James Version

Full text for 2 Corinthians Chapter 3

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.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

Paul asserts that the Corinthian believers are his living letter of commendation, written by the Spirit of God on their hearts. He contrasts the Old Covenant, a ministration of death and condemnation, with the New Covenant, a ministration of the Spirit that gives life and righteousness. This new covenant far exceeds the old in glory, removing the veil that obscured understanding and granting liberty and transformation through the Spirit.

Medium Summary

Paul begins by stating that he does not require letters of commendation, as the Corinthian believers themselves are his living epistle, written by the Spirit of God on their hearts, demonstrating Christ's work through him. He emphasizes that his sufficiency for this ministry comes from God, who has made him an able minister of the New Testament. This new covenant is of the Spirit, which gives life, contrasting sharply with the Old Covenant, which was a ministration of the letter that killed and brought condemnation. Though the Old Covenant had glory, seen in Moses' veiled face, its glory was temporary and inferior. The ministration of the Spirit and righteousness, however, far exceeds in glory and is permanent. Paul explains that the veil over Moses' face symbolized the blindness of Israel's understanding of the Old Testament, which is only removed through Christ. Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty, allowing believers to behold the Lord's glory with unveiled faces and be transformed into His image.

Long Summary

Paul opens by addressing the need for commendation, asserting that he and his fellow ministers do not require external letters, as the Corinthian believers themselves serve as their living epistle. This epistle is not written with ink on stone, but by the Spirit of the living God on the fleshy tables of their hearts, making them a manifest declaration of Christ's work through Paul's ministry. Paul humbly states that his trust and sufficiency for this ministry are not from himself but entirely from God. It is God who has qualified them as ministers of the New Testament, emphasizing a ministry not of the letter, which kills, but of the Spirit, which gives life. He then draws a profound comparison between the Old and New Covenants. The Old Covenant, described as the 'ministration of death' and 'ministration of condemnation' written on stone, possessed a certain glory, so much so that the Israelites could not look steadfastly at Moses' face due to its radiance. However, this glory was destined to fade. Paul argues that if the temporary ministration of death was glorious, the ministration of the Spirit and righteousness must be far more glorious and enduring. The former glory was eclipsed by the surpassing glory of the latter, which remains. This superior hope empowers Paul to speak with great plainness, unlike Moses, who veiled his face to prevent the Israelites from seeing the end of the fading glory. Paul explains that a spiritual veil remains over the minds of those who read the Old Testament without Christ, preventing them from understanding its true meaning; this veil is removed only in Christ. He reiterates that even today, when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts, but when one turns to the Lord, that veil is taken away. The chapter concludes by declaring that the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. Believers, with unveiled faces, are able to behold the glory of the Lord as in a mirror, and are progressively transformed into the same image, from glory to glory, by the Spirit of the Lord.

Core Concepts

  • Epistles of ChristThe Corinthian believers are presented as living letters, written by the Spirit of God on their hearts, serving as a testimony to Paul's ministry and Christ's work.
  • Sufficiency from GodPaul emphasizes that his ability and effectiveness in ministry do not come from himself but are entirely derived from God, who makes ministers able.
  • Ministration of the Spirit vs. LetterA central contrast is drawn between the Old Covenant ('the letter'), which brings death and condemnation, and the New Covenant ('the Spirit'), which gives life and righteousness.
  • Glory of the CovenantsThe Old Covenant, though glorious, had a fading glory, while the New Covenant of the Spirit possesses an excelling and enduring glory that far surpasses the former.
  • The Veil and BlindnessThe veil over Moses' face symbolizes the spiritual blindness of Israel, preventing them from understanding the Old Testament's true meaning, a veil removed only through Christ.
  • Liberty in the SpiritWhere the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom from the bondage of the law and spiritual blindness, leading to open access to God's glory.
  • Transformation by the SpiritBelievers, beholding the Lord's glory with unveiled faces, are progressively changed into His image from one degree of glory to another by the Spirit of the Lord.