Do we begin again to commend ourselves? or need we, as some others, epistles of commendation to you, or letters of commendation from you? Are we beginning () again to recommend ourselves? () (as some might say he had done in his first letter.) COMMENDATION - recommendation (cf. ). The "some" ref... [ Continue Reading ]
Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men: OUR LETTER - of recommendation. WRITTEN IN OUR HEARTS - not borne merely in the hands. Though this living letter be written by affection in my heart, I wish it to be read by all as my recommendation. Your conversion through m... [ Continue Reading ]
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. DECLARED. The letter is so legible that it can be 'read by all men' (2 Corinthians 3:2). Li... [ Continue Reading ]
And such trust have we through Christ to God-ward: AND - Greek, 'But.' 'Such confidence, however (namely, of our "sufficiency," 2 Corinthians 3:5; , to which he reverts after the parenthesis), as ministers of the New Testament, who have a sufficient 'letter of commendation' in you (2 Corinthians... [ Continue Reading ]
Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God; The Greek is, 'Not that we are (even yet, after so long experience as ministers) sufficient to think anything OF [af'] ourselves as (coming) FROM [ ex (G1537)] ourselves; but our sufficiency... [ Continue Reading ]
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. ALSO - accordingly. ABLE - rather, as the Greek is the same as , 'sufficient as ministers" (; ). THE NEW TESTAMENT - `the new covenant' as contr... [ Continue Reading ]
But 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: THE MINISTRATION OF DEATH - the legal dispensation, summed up in the dec... [ Continue Reading ]
How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious? SHALL ... BE - i:e., shall be found in part now; fully, when the glory of Christ and His saints shall be revealed. RATHER GLORIOUS - literally, 'rather (i:e., still more invested) in glory.'... [ Continue Reading ]
For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory. MINISTRATION OF CONDEMNATION - the law regarded in the "letter" which "killeth" (; Romans 7:9). B g read as English version. But A C Delta G f, Vulgate (oldest manuscript), read 'I... [ Continue Reading ]
For even that which was made glorious had no glory in this respect, by reason of the glory that excelleth. For even the ministration of condemnation, the law, (which has been glorified at Sinai in Moses' person), has now (English version, less fitly, "was made ... had") lost its glory in this res... [ Continue Reading ]
For if that which is done away was glorious, much more that which remaineth is glorious. WAS GLORIOUS - literally, 'was with glory;' or 'marked by glory' [ dia (G1223) doxees (G1391)]. THAT WHICH REMAINETH - "the everlasting gospel" (Revelation 14:6). Not 'the ministry,' but the Spirit, and Hi... [ Continue Reading ]
Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech: SUCH HOPE - of the future glory, which shall result from the ministration of the Gospel (2 Corinthians 3:8). PLAINNESS OF SPEECH - openness; without reserve (; ).... [ Continue Reading ]
And 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: We use no disguise, 'as Moses put a veil over his face, that the children of Israel might not look stedfastly upon the end of that which was to be done aw... [ Continue Reading ]
But 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. Parenthetical: of Christians in general. He resumes the ministry (2 Corinthians 4:1). Verse 14. MINDS, [ noeemata (G3540)] - 'mental perce... [ Continue Reading ]