Ministers of a New Covenant
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.
The Glory of the New Covenant
(Exodus 34:29-35)
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.
King James Bible
Text courtesy of BibleProtector.com.
Ministers of a New Covenant
1 Are we beginning again to commend ourselves? Or do we need, as do some, letters of commendation to you or from you? 2 You are our letter, written in our hearts, known and read by all men; 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.
4 Such confidence we have through Christ toward God; 5 not that we are sufficient of ourselves, to account anything as from ourselves; but our sufficiency is from God; 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.
The Glory of the New Covenant
(Exodus 34:10–35)
7 But 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: 8 won’t service of the Spirit be with much more glory? 9 For if the service of condemnation has glory, the service of righteousness exceeds much more in glory. 10 For most certainly that which has been made glorious has not been made glorious in this respect, by reason of the glory that surpasses. 11 For if that which passes away was with glory, much more that which remains is in glory.
12 Having therefore such a hope, we use great boldness of speech, 13 and not as Moses, who put a veil on his face, that the children of Israel wouldn’t look steadfastly on the end of that which was passing away. 14 But 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. 15 But to this day, when Moses is read, a veil lies on their heart. 16 But whenever one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. 18 But 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.
Ministers of a New Covenant
1 Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, like some people, letters of recommendation to you or from you? 2 You yourselves are our letter, inscribed on our hearts, known and read by everyone. 3 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.
4 Such confidence before God is ours through Christ. 5 Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim that anything comes from us, but our competence comes from God. 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.
The Glory of the New Covenant
(Exodus 34:10–35)
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, 8 will not the ministry of the Spirit be even more glorious? 9 For if the ministry of condemnation was glorious, how much more glorious is the ministry of righteousness! 10 Indeed, what was once glorious has no glory now in comparison to the glory that surpasses it. 11 For if what was fading away came with glory, how much greater is the glory of that which endures!
12 Therefore, since we have such a hope, we are very bold. 13 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.
14 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. 15 And even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts. 16 But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.
17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 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.
Ministers of a New Covenant
1Do we begin again to recommend ourselves, except we need, as some, letters of recommendation unto you, or from you? 2our letter ye are, having been written in our hearts, known and read by all men, 3manifested that ye are a letter of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God, not in the tablets of stone, but in fleshy tablets of the heart,
4and such trust we have through the Christ toward God, 5not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think anything, as of ourselves, but our sufficiency is of God, 6who also made us sufficient to be ministrants of a new covenant, not of letter, but of spirit; for the letter doth kill, and the spirit doth make alive.
The Glory of the New Covenant
(Exodus 34:29-35)
7and if the ministration of the death, in letters, engraved in stones, came in glory, so that the sons of Israel were not able to look stedfastly to the face of Moses, because of the glory of his face -- which was being made useless, 8how shall the ministration of the Spirit not be more in glory? 9for if the ministration of the condemnation is glory, much more doth the ministration of the righteousness abound in glory; 10for also even that which hath been glorious, hath not been glorious -- in this respect, because of the superior glory; 11for if that which is being made useless is through glory, much more that which is remaining is in glory.
12Having, then, such hope, we use much freedom of speech, 13and are not as Moses, who was putting a vail upon his own face, for the sons of Israel not stedfastly to look to the end of that which is being made useless, 14but their minds were hardened, for unto this day the same vail at the reading of the Old Covenant doth remain unwithdrawn -- which in Christ is being made useless -- 15but till to-day, when Moses is read, a vail upon their heart doth lie, 16and whenever they may turn unto the Lord, the vail is taken away. 17And the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty; 18and we all, with unvailed face, the glory of the Lord beholding in a mirror, to the same image are being transformed, from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.
2 Corinthians 3
Living Letters of Christ
¹ Do we need, like some others, to present letters of recommendation to you—or to carry letters from you to prove our ministry? Surely not! ² You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everyone. ³ You show that you are a letter from Christ, delivered by us, not written with ink but by the Spirit of the living God. It’s not etched on stone tablets, but on the human heart.*
⁴ Such confidence we have through Christ before God. ⁵ Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our competence comes from God. ⁶ He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant—not of the letter, but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life!*
The Glory of the New Covenant
⁷ Now, if the ministry that brought death—engraved on stones—came with glory, so much so that the Israelites couldn’t even look steadily at the face of Moses because of its glory (though it was fading), ⁸ how much more glorious will the ministry of the Spirit be! ⁹ If the ministry that brought condemnation was glorious, how much more glorious is the ministry that brings righteousness!*
¹⁰ Indeed, what was once glorious now has no glory at all because of the surpassing glory of the new covenant. ¹¹ For if what was fading away came with glory, how much greater is the glory of what lasts!*
Boldness Through Christ
¹² Therefore, since we have such a hope, we are very bold! ¹³ We are not like Moses, who put a veil over his face to keep the Israelites from seeing the end of what was passing away. ¹⁴ But their minds were made dull, for to this day the same veil remains when the old covenant is read. It has not been removed, because only in Christ is it taken away.
¹⁵ Even to this day, whenever Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts. ¹⁶ But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away! ¹⁷ Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. ¹⁸ And we all, who with unveiled faces reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into His image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.*
Footnotes:
•3:3: In this verse, Paul contrasts the old covenant, which was physically engraved on stone (the Ten Commandments), with the new covenant, which is spiritually written on the hearts of believers.
•3:6: “The letter kills, but the Spirit gives life” refers to the inability of the law (the “letter”) to grant life or righteousness. Only through the Holy Spirit does one receive true life and transformation.
•3:9: The “ministry that brings condemnation” refers to the old covenant, which revealed human sin but could not save. The new covenant, through Christ, offers righteousness and reconciliation with God.
•3:11: The glory of the old covenant was temporary and fading, while the new covenant’s glory is eternal and surpassing. Paul emphasizes the permanence and greater magnificence of the new covenant.
•3:7: The Israelites couldn’t look at Moses’ face because of the radiance of God’s glory reflected there after he received the law on Mount Sinai. Yet even that glory was fading, symbolizing the transient nature of the old covenant.
•3:14: The veil is a metaphor for spiritual blindness. Just as Moses wore a literal veil, the hearts and minds of many are veiled when they rely on the law rather than faith in Christ.
•3:18: Transformation “into His image” refers to the sanctification process—whereby believers grow to reflect the character of Christ. This transformation is ongoing and culminates in the believer’s ultimate glorification in eternity.
