2 Corinthians 3:12,13

Applebury's Comments

Paul's Great Boldness of Speech
Scripture

2 Corinthians 3:12-13. Having therefore such a hope, we use great boldness of speech, 13 and are not as Moses, who put a veil upon his face, that the children of Israel should not look steadfastly on the end of that which was passing away:

Comments

such a hope.Paul's hope was based upon the abiding nature of the New Covenant. The blessings of the New Covenant were remission of sins, eternal life in Christ, and the hope of the glory of God. See Romans 5:1-2.

great boldness of speech.This is said in justification of his claim that he was adequately fitted for the task of preaching the message of the gospel which dealt with eternal death and eternal life.

not as Moses.The fact that God spoke to Moses was symbolized by the shining brilliance on the face of Moses when he came down from the mountain, but that message was temporary. Since it was to act as a guardian over God's people until Christ should come, the temporary nature of that message is suggested by the fact that the shining brilliance of Moses faded away. Moses had put the veil on his face to keep the children of Israel from seeing when this happened. It was in direct contrast to the great boldness of speech which characterized Paul's message under the New Covenant which is permanent.

the end of that which was passing away.Moses did not want the children of Israel to see that the glory had left his face. So long as they were under the Old Covenant, he wanted them to remember that it was God's Word. As Moses prepared the children of Israel to go over into the promised land, he said, You shall not add to the word which I command you nor take from it that you may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I commanded you (Deuteronomy 4:2). No other nation had a God like the Lord God of Israel; no other nation had a law like the law God had given them. See Deuteronomy 4:7-8. The Lord spoke to Joshua as he was preparing to lead the children of Israel in their conquest of Canaan. Be strong and very courageous being careful to do according to all that Moses my servant commanded you. Turn not from it to the right hand or to the left that you may have good success wherever you go (Joshua 1:7). Paul reminds us that the law was holy, and the commandment was holy and righteous and good. See Romans 7:12. All this, however, cannot compare with the surpassing glory of the permanent New Covenant with its blessings of remission of sins and eternal life through Jesus Christ Our Lord.

Some have suggested that end may refer to the purpose of the Law of Moses. But certainly Moses was not interested in obscuring that purpose, for he himself had said, The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like unto me from among you (Deuteronomy 18:15). Peter quoted Moses and showed that this prophecy was fulfilled in Christ. See Acts 3:20-23. Moses simply did not want Israel to see that the brilliance had left his face for it was a symbol that God had spoken to him.