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2 Corinthians 3

New Testament Studies
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PARAGRAPH DIVISIONS OF MODERN TRANSLATIONS

USB4 NKJV NRSV TEV NJB
Ministers of the New Covenant Christ’s Epistle Our Ministry Servants of the New Covenant From Troas to Macedonia- The Apostolate:
It’s Importance
    (2:14-3:6)   (2:12-4:6)
3:1-3 3:1-3 3:1-3 3:1-3 3:1-3
  The Spirit, Not the Letter      
3:4-6 3:4-6 3:4-6 3:4-6 3:4-11
  Glory of the New Covenant The Ministry of the New Covenant    
3:7-11 3:7-18 3:7-11 3:7-11  
3:12-18   3:12-18 3:12-18 3:12-18

READING CYCLE THREE (see
“Bible
Interpretation Seminar”)

FOLLOWING THE ORIGINAL AUTHOR’S INTENT AT PARAGRAPH LEVEL

This is a study guide commentary, which
means that you are responsible for your own interpretation of the Bible. Each of us must walk in the
light we have. You, the Bible, and the Holy Spirit are priority in interpretation. You must not
relinquish this to a commentator.

Read the chapter in one sitting. Identify the subjects (reading cycle #3). Compare
your subject divisions with the five translations above. Paragraphing is not inspired, but it is
the key to following the original author’s intent, which is the heart of interpretation. Every
paragraph has one and only one subject.

  1. First paragraph
  2. Second paragraph
  3. Third paragraph, etc.

CONTEXTUAL INSIGHTS

A. The emphasis of this chapter is very similar to the emphasis of the Book of Hebrews. It is a comparison
between the Old Covenant and the New Covenant. How are sinful humans made right with God?

1. performance of the Mosaic Law

2. faith in the atoning work of God in Christ?

This comparison is used by Paul to defend his gospel and himself against the Jewish-oriented false teachers who have arrived in Corinth.

B. This chapter’s use of the term “spirit” is highly ambiguous. There has been much discussion over
2 Cor. 3:6,8,17, and 18. Are they relating to the “Holy Spirit” or the concept of “the spiritual”? There seems to be an
intentional fluidity between the two. The new age is the age of the Spirit (cf. Jer. 31:31-34; Ezek. 36:22-38), which
inaugurates a spiritual relationship with God versus a legal, performance-based relationship.

 Special Topic: Spirit in the NT

C. Paul’s use of the term “law” (see Special Topic at 1 Cor. 9:9)

1. law = wrath; Rom. 3:20; 4:15; Gal. 3:10-13; Col. 2:14

2. law = spiritually good; Rom. 7:14

3. contrast between Rom. 1:5; 2:13; Gal. 3:12; and Rom. 3:2 or 8:7; 2 Cor. 3:6; Gal. 3:21

4. Paul uses Abraham and Moses as two typological symbols of the relationship between “faith” and “law”

The Law is good. It is from God. It served, and continues to serve, a divine purpose (cf. Rom. 7:7,12,14,22,25). It can not bring peace or salvation. James Stewart in his book A Man in Christ, shows Paul’s paradoxical thinking and writing:

“You would naturally expect a man who was setting himself to construct a system of thought and doctrine to fix as rigidly as possible the meanings of the terms he employed. You would expect him to aim at precision in the phraseology of his leading ideas. You would demand that a word, once used by your writer in a particular sense should bear that sense throughout. But to look for this from Paul is to be disappointed. Much of his phraseology is fluid, not rigid. . .’The law is holy,’ he writes, ‘I delight in the law of God after the inward man’ (cf. Rom. 7:12-13) but it is clearly another aspect of nomos that makes him say elsewhere, ‘Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law’ (cf. Gal. 3:13)” (p. 26).

D. Paul uses three major metaphors in this chapter:

1. letters, 2 Cor. 3:1-3

a. letters of recommendation, 2 Cor. 3:1

b. they are letters, 2 Cor. 3:2

c. OT tablets, 2 Cor. 3:3

2. Old and New Covenants, 2 Cor. 3:6-11

a. written versus spiritual, 2 Cor. 3:3,6

b. kills versus gives life, 2 Cor. 3:6

3. veil, 2 Cor. 3:7, 12-16

a. Moses, 2 Cor. 3:12

b. Jews of Paul’s day, 2 Cor. 3:14

c. believers, 2 Cor. 3:14-16

WORD AND PHRASE STUDY

÷2 CORINTHIANS  3:1-3

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 2 CORINTHIANS  3:1-3
  1Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, as some, letters of commendation to you or from you? 2You are our letter, written in our hearts, known and read by all men; 3being manifested that you are a letter of Christ, cared for by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.

3:1 The grammatical form of both questions in 2 Cor. 3:1 expects a “no” answer. It is hard to know if Paul
is being sarcastic or heart broken.

▣ “to commend” This word is a compound of “to place” and “together,” which is used metaphorically to
demonstrate, to frame together, or to recommend.

  1. to demonstrate (cf. Rom. 3:5; 5:8; 2 Cor. 7:11; Gal. 2:18)
  2. to endure (cf. Col. 1:17)
  3. to commend (cf. Rom. 16:1; 2 Cor. 3:1; 4:2; 5:12; 6:4; 10:12,18; 12:11)

▣ “as some” Paul uses this term often in 2 Corinthians because of the conflict with the aggressive
false teachers from Palestine who tried to elevate themselves by contrasting themselves to Paul and his
background and his gospel (cf. 2 Cor. 3:2; 2:17; 10:2). He also used the same expression in a negative sense
in 1 Corinthians to relate to the actions and beliefs of some church members (cf. 2 Cor. 4:18; 15:12).

▣ “letters of commendation” The early church adopted the procedure of letters of recommendation to
assure the orthodoxy and trustworthiness of itinerant ministers (cf. Acts 18:27; Rom. 16:1; 1 Cor. 16:3,15-18;
Phil. 2:29-30; 3 John 1:12).

3:2 “You are our letter, written in our hearts,” Paul is asserting that he does not need a letter to recommend
himself to this church (or from this church), because he is its spiritual founder as Christ is its savior and Lord.
They were his flesh-and-blood letter (cf. 2 Cor. 3:3).

The phrase “written in our hearts” is a PERFECT PASSIVE PARTICIPLE. Paul loved this church.
They were permanently in his heart and mind. The PASSSIVE VOICE implies that God/Christ/Spirit is the agent
(cf. 2 Cor. 3:3), which produces Paul’s love.

Special Topic: The Heart

▣ “known and read” There is a sound play between these two Greek words
(i.e., ginōskomenē and anaginōskomenē, cf. 2 Cor. 1:13). Both
are PRESENT PASSIVE PARTICIPLES.

▣ “by all men” This is the use of the term “all” where it is not inclusive (cf. Rom. 11:26). This is
obviously a hyperbole, so common in Jewish literature (cf. Matt. 5:29-30,38-42; 6:24; 7:3-5; 23:23-24).

3:3 “being manifested” See note at 2 Cor. 2:14.

▣ “you are a letter of Christ” Believers are meant to clearly reveal Christ by their motives, words,
and actions. How we live reflects on His reputation!

▣ “cared for by us” See
Special Topic: Servant Leadership

▣ “the Spirit of the living God” The terminology referring to the Triune God is very fluid. The Spirit
is often referred to as the Spirit of Jesus (cf. Rom. 8:9; 2 Cor. 3:17; Gal. 4:6; 1 Pet. 1:11; see
Special Topic: Jesus and the Spirit).
Here the same type of fluidity is directed toward the Father. The title “living God” is a play on YHWH, which is from
the Hebrew VERB “to be” (cf. Exod. 3:14; see
Special Topic: Names for Deity, D.). The
descriptive title is common for the Father in the NT (cf. Matt. 16:16; 26:63; Acts 14:15; Rom. 9:26; 2 Cor. 6:16; 1 Thess. 1:9;
1 Tim. 3:15; 4:10; Heb. 3:12; 9:14; 10:31; 12:22; Rev. 7:2). In the OT the pagan idols were lifeless. They could not respond
or they were dead part of the year (i.e., the winter) following the fertility cycles of nature. YHWH was the only truly
alive, always-alive God!

▣ “not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts” This seems to relate to the giving of the law in
Exod. 31:18 and to the promise of a New Covenant (cf. Jer. 31:31-34 and Ezek. 36:22-38). This is an obvious contrast
between the Old Covenant as external law versus the New Covenant as internal (i.e., new heart, new mind, and new spirit,
cf. Ezek. 11:19; 36:26).

÷2 CORINTHIANS  3:4-6

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 2 CORINTHIANS  3:4-6
4Such confidence we have through Christ toward God. 5Not that we are adequate in ourselves to consider anything as coming from ourselves, but our adequacy is from God, 6who also made us adequate as servants of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

3:4 “confidence” This is another Pauline term used mostly in 2 Corinthians . It comes from the same Greek
root as faith, trust, believe (i.e., peithō and pistis, pisteuō). It basically means trust,
confidence, or reliance.

  1. positive context:
    1. Paul’s travel plans, 2 Cor. 1:15
    2. Paul’s confidence in God through Christ, 2 Cor. 3:4
    3. Paul’s confidence in Titus, 2 Cor. 8:22
    4. Paul’s confidence in Christ, Eph. 3:12
  2. negative context:
    1. Paul wants to be gentle with them, 2 Cor. 10:2
    2. Paul’s reluctant comparison of his credentials with the false teachers, Phil. 3:4

3:5 “Not that we are adequate in ourselves” The Greek term hikanos is common in the NT and is used in two senses.

  1. as a large number of something (cf. 2 Cor. 11:30), even time
  2. fit, appropriate (cf. 2 Cor. 2:6), competent, qualified, able, or adequate

The second sense is used here. Paul expresses his sense of unworthiness using this term in 1 Cor. 15:9.
He also asserts that gospel ministers are not worthy in themselves in 2 Cor. 2:16 and 3:5.

Yet, even as we are inadequate in ourselves, God has called us and empowered us as His
representatives (cf. 2 Cor. 3:6; 2 Tim. 2:2). We are adequate in Him (cf. Col. 1:12).

▣ “to consider” This is the term logizomai, which is used thirty-four times by Paul, but
less than seven in the rest of the NT (cf. 2 Cor. 3:5; 5:19; 10:2,7; 11:5; 12:6). It reflects Paul’s logical
presentation of truths and then as encouragement to think through the issues clearly.

The term is a major theological word because of:

  1. its use in the Septuagint for personalized truth (cf. the New International Dictionary of NT Theology, vol. 3, p. 823)
  2. its use in Gen. 15:6, which Paul uses to justify OT righteousness based on a free gift of God through faith (cf. Rom. 4:3)
  3. it may have been a technical term used by Sophists in their rhetorical presentations (see Bruce W. Winter, Philo and
    Paul Among the Sophists    )

Modern believers should also carefully consider what they believe about the faith and why. Our
mental and verbal abilities are part of the image of God in mankind. We must worship God with our minds
(cf. LXX Deut. 6:5; Matt. 22:37). We need to be able to give an account of the hope that is in us (cf. 1 Pet. 3:15).
We must think through our faith beliefs for our own stability and for evangelism.

3:6 “servants of a new covenant” Wow, wow! Surprising to Jewish people, a “new” covenant (cf. Jer. 31:31-34;
Ezek. 36:22-36). Jesus used this terminology at the Last Supper (i.e., Matt. 26:28; Mark 14:24; Luke 22:20)

▣ “not of the letter but of the Spirit” There is a series of comparisons.

  1. written versus spiritual, 2 Cor. 3:3 and 6
  2. letter versus Spirit, 2 Cor. 3:6
  3. old service versus spiritual service, 2 Cor. 3:7
  4. the service connected with condemnation versus the service connected with right-standing, 2 Cor. 3:9
  5. what has passed away versus what is permanent, 2 Cor. 3:11
  6. the veil remains unlifted versus the veil is removed, 2 Cor. 3:14

Paul is contrasting the old and new covenants, but really heart faith (cf. Rom. 2:29; 7:6)
versus head faith (i.e., legalism, human performance, self-righteousness).

▣ “the letter kills” This seems to relate to the primary purpose of the Mosaic law. It was given
not to give life, but to accentuate and reveal our sinfulness (cf. Rom. 7:9-11; Gal. 3:10). The Law brings
condemnation (cf. Rom. 5:13), wrath (cf. Rom. 4:15), and death (cf. Rom. 7:19; 2 Cor. 3:6). See George E.
Ladd’s A Theology of the New Testament, pp. 495-510. The place of the law is also clearly seen in
Rom. 3:20; 5:20; 10:4; Gal. 3:24-25. The relationship between the NT believer and the OT Law has been a
greatly confused issue. It seems to me, based on all the passages of the NT, that the Christian is not
under OT law (cf. Rom. 6:14; Gal. 5:18). This is not because the OT law has passed away, but because the
NT Christian fulfills the OT law in God’s love relationships with us seen in believers’ love for others
(cf. Rom. 13:8-10; Gal. 5:14). The purpose of the law is to bring fallen mankind to Christ, so as to redeem
them. However, just because the OT law is not a means of salvation does not mean it is not God’s will for
humanity in society (cf. Matt. 5:17; Rom. 8:4).

Special Topic: Paul’s Views of the Mosaic Law

▣ “the Spirit gives life” This context does not provide a hermeneutical method! This paragraph does not
relate to the historical-grammatical method of biblical hermeneutics versus the allegorical method. It relates
primarily to the distinction between the purpose of the OT and the purpose of the NT.

Even more to the point, the role of heart-felt faith in God’s resources (cf. John 6:63) versus
trusting in human resources (i.e., knowledge, works, racial standing). The key is God’s love, Christ’s work,
and the Spirit’s enabling. Notice that both the killing of the letter and life-giving of the Spirit are both
PRESENT ACTIVE INDICATIVES.

Special Topic: Personhood of the Spirit

÷2 CORINTHIANS  3:7-11

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 2 CORINTHIANS  3:7-11
  7But if the ministry of death, in letters engraved on stones, came with glory, so that the sons of Israel could not look intently at the face of Moses because of the glory of his face, fading as it was, 8how will the ministry of the Spirit fail to be even more with glory? 9For if the ministry of condemnation has glory, much more does the ministry of righteousness abound in glory. 10For indeed what had glory, in this case has no glory because of the glory that surpasses it. 11For if that which fades away was with glory, much more that which remains is in glory.

3:7 “if” This is a FIRST CLASS CONDITIONAL SENTENCE which is assumed to be true from the
author’s perspective or for his literary purposes.

▣ “the ministry of death, in letters engraved on stones” The purpose of the law was to show sinfulness
(cf. Gal. 3:24). This section, 2 Cor. 3:7-18, is a rabbinical Midrash on Exod. 34:23-35. There is a threefold
use of “the veil” metaphor:

  1. Moses
  2. contemporary Jews
  3. believers

The old covenant is written by the finger of God on tablets of stone on Mt. Sinai (cf. Exodus 19-20).
The new covenant, also written by God, is on the hearts of faithful followers (cf. Jer. 31:31-34; Ezek. 36:22-38).
The first is characterized by obedience to an external code, but the second, obedience to an internal relationship.

▣ “came with glory” See
Special Topic: Glory (OT)

▣ “could not look intently at the face of Moses because of the glory of his face, fading as it was” This
relates to Exod. 34:30-35. There has been much discussion about this passage. Some think Moses veiled his face to keep
the Israelites from seeing the fading glory (cf. 2 Cor. 3:7,13). Others, however, think that Moses veiled his face
because the Israelites could not stand the glory of God because of their sins.

3:8 This verse is contrasting the ministry of Moses, which reflected God’s glory with the ministry of the
Spirit who shares the Father’s glory.

3:9 “if” This is another FIRST CLASS CONDITIONAL SENTENCE which is assumed to be true
from the author’s perspective or for his literary purposes.

▣ “the ministry of condemnation” What a strong, shockingly negative way to describe the Old Covenant.

▣ “the ministry of righteousness” The OT produced condemnation for most of the children of Abraham. The NT
produces righteousness for all the children of Adam if only they will trust in God’s finished work in Christ and
the wooing of the Spirit.

Special Topic: Righteousness

▣ “abound” This is a PRESENT ACTIVE INDICATIVE of perisseuuō, which
emphasizes its ongoing nature. See fuller note at 2 Cor. 1:5.

Special Topic: Abound

3:10
NASB  ”For indeed what had glory, in this case has not glory because of the glory that surpasses it”
NKJV  ”For even what was made glorious had no glory in this respect because of the glory that excels”
NRSV  ”Indeed, what once had glory has lost its glory because of the greater glory”
TEV  ”We may say that because of the far brighter glory now the glory that was so bright in the past is gone”
NJB  ”Indeed, what was once considered glorious has lost all claim to glory, by constrast with the glory which transcends it”

The OT is characterized as “had glory” (PERFECT PASSIVE INDICATIVE). It was surely
from God and reflected God. However, the fuller revelation is in Christ, the glory of the NT (PERFECT PASSIVE PARTICIPLE).
This comparison of YHWH’s covenants is also developed in the book of Hebrews.

The DEFINITE ARTICLE “to” (NOMINATIVE, NEUTER, SINGULAR) is used as
a grammatical place holder for “the old covenant” (most English translations have “what”). It is characterized in this context as

  1. “written on tablets of stone,” 2 Cor. 3:3,7
  2. “the letter,” 2 Cor. 3:6
  3. “the ministry of death,” 2 Cor. 3:7
  4. “the ministry of condemnation,” 2 Cor. 3:9

Special Topic: Glory (OT)

▣ “surpasses” This is an intensified term from “over” or “beyond” and “to throw.” Paul uses
it here and in 2 Cor. 9:14 (i.e., “The surpassing grace of God”). He also uses both perisseuō
and huperballō in 2 Cor. 11:23, where he compares his background and ministry with the credentials
of the false teachers. Paul speaks with intense feelings and hyperbolic vocabulary!

Special Topic: Paul’s Use of Huper Compounds

3:11 “if” This is another FIRST CLASS CONDITIONAL SENTENCE.

▣ “that which fades away” This is the term katargeō, which is used so often by Paul
in his Corinthian letters (cf. 1 Cor. 1:28; 2:6; 6:13; 13:8,10,11; 15:24,26; 2 Cor. 3:7,11,13,14).

Special Topic: Null and Void (kartageō)

▣ “that which remains is in glory” The contrast is not between that which is from God or has
God’s glory, but which has the greater glory and the abiding glory. The answer is the New Covenant in Christ,
the New Age of the Spirit, and the now complete predestined eternal plan of redemption (cf. Acts 2:22-24; 3:18-21; 4:28; 13:29-41).

Special Topic: YHWH’s Eternal Redemptive Plan

÷2 CORINTHIANS  3:12-18

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 2 CORINTHIANS  3:12-18
  12Therefore having such a hope, we use great boldness in our speech, 13and are not like Moses, who used to put a veil over his face so that the sons of Israel would not look intently at the end of what was fading away. 14But their minds were hardened; for until this very day at the reading of the old covenant the same veil remains unlifted, because it is removed in Christ. 15But to this day whenever Moses is read, a veil lies over their heart; 16but whenever a person 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, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.

3:12 “Therefore having such a hope” This seems to relate to eschatological glory (cf. 2 Cor. 3:11).

Special Topic: Hope

▣ “we use great boldness in our speech” See
Special Topic: Boldness (parrhēsia)

Special Topic: Human Speech

3:13 This verse refers to verse 7, which is an allusion to Exod. 34:29-35. In the OT the reason
for Moses wearing a veil is the fear of what his glowing face might cause to the Israelites (cf. Exod. 34:30).
Paul interprets the reason so as to accentuate his depreciation of the Old Covenant. As Moses’ face fades, so too,
Moses covenant!

Paul makes several comparisons between Moses’ covenant and Jesus’ covenant.

  1. the Lord of Exodus = the Spirit of Jesus
  2. only Moses could approach God intimately versus all believers in Christ can approach God
  3. Moses’ glory faded versus Jesus’ glory never fades
  4. Moses’ followers cannot see Christ in the OT versus Jesus’ followers through the Spirit can correctly interpret the OT in light of Christ
  5. Moses brought the bondage of performance versus Christ brings the freedom of grace
  6. the letter of the Mosaic Law brings death versus the Spirit of the New Covenant brings life, life eternal, life abundant
  7. Moses’ covenant was unable to produce a righteous people versus Jesus’ covenant does produce righteous people
    (both objectively in justification and subjectively in sanctification)

3:14 “But their minds were hardened” This is an AORIST PASSIVE INDICATIVE. This Greek term comes from
the idea of “thick skinned” or “calloused” (cf. Mark 6:52; 8:17; Rom. 11:7,25). Spiritual blindness has both

  1. a spiritual origin
    1. God by the use of the PASSIVE VOICE, cf. Isa. 6:9-10; 29:10; John 12:40; Rom. 9:18
    2. Satan, cf. 2 Cor. 4:4
  2. human origin (cf. John 3:19-20)

For a good discussion of the theological mystery of Israel’s hardening read Romans 9-11 and
Hard Sayings of the Bible from Inter Varsity Press, pp. 619-621.

The VERB “lies” in 2 Cor. 3:15 can be either PRESENT PASSIVE (i.e., #1)
or PRESENT MIDDLE (i.e., #2).

Special Topic: God Hardened

Special Topic: Schemes

▣ “the same veil remains unlifted” Moses used a literal veil; this term is now used to describe
the inner blindness of contemporary Judaism. Jews were/are walking in the judgment of Isa. 6:9-10 and 29:10.
This also relates to the Jews of our day who refuse to accept Jesus as the Messiah (cf. 2 Cor. 3:15).

▣ “because it is removed in Christ” Only the grace of God can remove the blindness of tradition,
self-righteousness, and sin. Religious people are as prone to spiritual blindness as non-religious people.
Fallen mankind’s only hope is

  1. the unchanging mercy of the Father
  2. the full and finished atonement of the Son
  3. the universal wooing/work of the Spirit

Salvation is a spiritual gift and not a matter of family, tradition, intellect, performance, or preference!

What Paul may be asserting in this context is the believer’s ability through the Spirit to see the
life, teachings, and work of Jesus in the OT. Jesus Himself opened the minds of the two on the road to Emmaus
(cf. Luke 24:13-35, especially 2 Cor. 3:25-27).

NASB, TEV, Peshitta   ”is removed”
NKJV, REB   ”taken away”
NRSV   ”set aside”
NJB   ”done away”

See Special Topic: The Heart

3:16 “but whenever a person turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away” This could be a quote from Exod. 34:34. If so
it relates to Moses’ actions when approaching God. It also seems to be a universal appeal and invitation for anyone
and everyone to turn to the Lord. The term “turn” in Hebrew (shub) refers to repentance. The term, “the Lord,”
here could refer contextually either to YHWH or to Jesus. The ambiguity is probably purposeful. Notice the combined
emphasis on human volitional choice and divine action (i.e., covenant).

Special Topic: Predestination (Calvinism)
vs. Human Free Will (Arminianism)

3:17 “Now the Lord is the Spirit” The ministry of Jesus and the Spirit are inseparably linked
(cf. 2 Cor. 3:17-18). The ministry of the Spirit is to magnify Jesus (cf. John 16:8-14).

In context it is possible that Paul is not commenting on the connection between Jesus and
the Spirit, but defining the word “Lord” (kurios)in 2 Cor. 3:16, which in the context of Exod. 34:34,
refers to YHWH (see Special Topic: Names
for Deity, D.), but Paul is using it in the sense of the REB translation, “Now the Lord of whom this passage
speaks is the Spirit.” If this is accurate then the entire section is not referring to Jesus by the term “Lord,”
but to the Spirit (cf. Gen. 1:2 also note Gordon D. Fee, To What End Exegesis, pp. 218-239). This then
would be the only place where Paul uses Kurios for the Spirit. It is a contrast between the OT law code
and the then unwritten gospel (i.e., written versus living).

Special Topic: Jesus and the Spirit

▣ “there is liberty” This refers to freedom from spiritual blindness, self-righteousness,
and legalism caused by a personal faith relationship with Jesus Christ (cf. John 8:32,36; Rom. 14: 1 Cor. 8;
10:23ff; Gal. 5:1,13).

One of my favorite commentators, F. F. Bruce, in his book, Paul: Apostle of the Heart Set Free, says

“Paul certainly knew the love of Christ to be the all-compelling power in life.
Where love is the compelling power, there is no sense of strain or conflict or bondage in doing
what is right: the man or woman who is compelled by Jesus’ love and empowered by his Spirit does
the will of God from the heart. For (as Paul could say from experience) ‘where the Spirit of
the Lord is, there the heart is free'” (p. 21).

3:18 “with unveiled face” This is a PERFECT PASSIVE PARTICIPLE implying a permanent
unveiling. Also note the inclusive “we all” referring to the believers in the confused and factious
Corinthian church.

▣ “beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord” The gospel has fully revealed both YHWH and
Jesus of Nazareth (cf. 2 Cor. 4:6). As we respond in repentance and faith the revelation changes us into
His image. This same metaphor is found in 2 Cor. 4:4. These Corinthian Christians had clearly seen God
in Christ through the gospel.

The term “beholding” is a rare term. The Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and
Other Early Christian Literature by Bauer, Arndt, Gingrich and Danker lists the possible uses based
on the voice (p. 424).

  1. ACTIVE, produce a reflection
  2. PASSIVE, what is seen in a mirror
  3. MIDDLE, look at oneself in a mirror

▣ “are being transformed” This is a PREENT PASSIVE INDICATIVE. All of the VERBALS
in this context are PASSIVE VOICE, implying God’s activity on our behalf, transforming believers into
Christ’s likeness (cf. Rom. 12:2). This same VERB is used of the Transfiguration (cf. Matt. 17:2; Mark 9:2).
We get the English word metamorphosis from this Greek term.

▣ “into the same image” Jesus is the image of God (cf. 2 Cor. 4:4; John 1:14-18; 14:9; Col. 1:15;
Heb. 1:3). Humans were created in the image of God (cf. Gen. 1:26-27). Believers are in the image of Christ
(cf. Rom. 8:29-30). Christlikeness is God’s primary goal for all believers (cf. Gal. 4:19; Eph. 1:4).

▣ “from glory to glory” There are stages in God’s plan of restoration and renewal. Believers
are in a process that leads to Christlikeness (cf. 1 John 3:2).

▣ “the Lord, the Spirit” Some possible translations:

  1. King James, “even as by the Spirit of the Lord”
  2. Vulgate, “even as from the Lord (who is) the Spirit”
  3. Westcott and Hort, “even as from the sovereign Spirit”
  4. from the context of 2 Cor. 3:16-17, “even as from the Lord who is Spirit” (cf. TEV, NJB, and NIV)

It is hard in some contexts to know if pneuma (i.e., spirit) should be

  1. little “s,” referring to the human spirit (cf. KJV of 2 Cor. 3:6,8; Rom. 7:6; 1 Cor. 15:45)
  2. capital “S,” referring to the Holy Spirit, the third person of the eternal Trinity (cf. 2 Cor. 3:3; Rom. 8:9; Gal. 4:6; 1 Pet. 1:11)

Special Topic: Spirit in the NT

Special Topic: Jesus and the Spirit

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

This is a study guide commentary, which means that you are
responsible for your own interpretation of the Bible. Each of us must walk in the light we have. You,
the Bible, and the Holy Spirit are priority in interpretation. You must not relinquish this to a commentator.

These discussion questions are provided to help you think through the major issues of this
section of the book. They are meant to be thought-provoking, not definitive.

  1. Describe the difference between the Old Covenant and the New Covenant?
  2. Why is the OT said to be death? Does this mean the OT is evil?
  3. What is the relationship between the OT and the NT?
  4. Does this passage speak of the Holy Spirit or the spiritual realm?
  5. What is the metaphor of “the veil” trying to communicate to modern day Christians?

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New Testament Studies
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