College Press Bible Study Textbook Series
2 Corinthians 3 - Introduction
Butler's Commentary
Chapter Three
THE PROBLEM OF LEGALISM
IDEAS TO INVESTIGATE:
1.
Why is Paul bothered about letters of recommendation?
2.
How do people become letters of recommendation?
3.
If the old dispensation was so glorious Israel could not look on Moses-' face, how can the new dispensation be more glorious?
4.
What is the veil that remained over the minds of the Israelites?
5.
Where may we behold the glory of the Lord in order to be changed into his likeness?
APPREHENSION:
1.
What is legalism?
2.
How was legalism a problem to the apostle Paul?
3.
How did the Corinthians become letters from Christ delivered by Paul?
4.
What is the dispensation of death? Why was it a dispensation of death?
5.
What is the dispensation of the Spirit?
6.
How could Paul say the dispensation of death had glory?
7.
How did God show the Israelites that the dispensation of death would fade away?
8.
Why would God want the Israelites to know the O.T. was to fade away?
9.
What is the splendor of the new dispensation?
10.
Is Paul teaching here that the Old Testament was completely and totally fulfilled and abrogated? What other scriptures teach that?
11.
What was the purpose of the veil Moses put over his face?
12.
Does it have some symbolic significance for the Corinthians and us? What?
13.
How is this veil removed?
14.
Where may a human being behold the glory of the Lord? Is this the only place? How do you know?
15.
What happens as a result of beholding the glory of the Lord?
APPLICATION:
1.
Is legalism a problem with your preacher?
2.
Is legalism a problem with you?
3.
If Paul were writing to you and your congregation today, what kind of letter of recommendation for him would you be?
4.
Do you have a consciousness of death or of life from your New Covenant relationship with God through Christ?
5.
What do you think about your being saved by grace?
6.
Is there a veil over your face when you try to be pleasing to God? Is there some hardness callusing your mind against the free grace of God?
7.
Are you satisfied with the glory of the Lord revealed exclusively in the scriptures? Do you think the Lord should manifest himself to you in some physical glory?
8.
Would you be more converted, more changed into his character if he would reveal himself to you physically?
9.
To whom do you give credit for your changed character, day by day?
10.
What kind of glory do you anticipate in heaven?
Applebury's Comments
CHAPTER THREE
Analysis
A.
Paul answered the anticipated charge of self-commendation (2 Corinthians 3:1-11).
1.
He asked two questions (2 Corinthians 3:1).
a)
Are we beginning again to commend ourselves?
b)
Do we, as do some, need letters of commendation to you or from you?
2.
He gave two answers (2 Corinthians 3:2-11).
a)
As seen in his relation to the Corinthians (2 Corinthians 3:2-3).
(1)
They are his epistle of commendation (2 Corinthians 3:2).
(a)
This epistle is written in his heart.
(b)
It is known and read of all men.
(2)
They are also an epistle of Christ (2 Corinthians 3:3).
(a)
It is evident that they are an epistle of Christ.
(b)
The service of writing was done by Paul.
(c)
This involves a two-fold contrast.
i)
It was written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God.
ii)
It was not in tables of stone but in tables that are hearts of flesh.
b)
As seen in his glorious ministry under the New Covenant in contrast to the glory of Moses-' ministry under the Old Covenant (2 Corinthians 3:4-11).
(1)
The source of his sufficiency under the New Covenant is God (2 Corinthians 3:4-6).
(a)
His confidence toward God was in Christ.
(b)
He explained that in himself he was not adequate for the task (2 Corinthians 3:5 a).
(c)
His fitness was from God who made him a minister of the New Covenant (2 Corinthians 3:5 b - 2 Corinthians 3:6 a).
(d)
Characteristics of the New Covenant (2 Corinthians 3:6 b).
i)
Not of letter but of spirit.
ii)
The letter kills; the spirit gives life.
(2)
The contrast between the glory of the Old and New Covenants justifies his glorious ministry (2 Corinthians 3:7-11).
(a)
Contrasted as a ministry of death and a ministry of spirit (2 Corinthians 3:7-8).
i)
The ministry of death (Old Covenant) written on stones was with glory so that Israel could not look upon the face of Moses.
ii)
The ministry of the spirit (New Covenant) is with glory, is it not?
(b)
Contrasted as a ministry of condemnation and of righteousness (2 Corinthians 3:9-10).
i)
The glory of the ministry of righteousness (the New Covenant) exceeds that of condemnation (Old Covenant).
ii)
The glory of condemnation (Old Covenant) is as nothing compared to the surpassing glory of the ministry of the New Covenant.
(c)
Conclusion from the contrast: If that which passes away (Old Covenant) was with glory, much more that which remains (New Covenant) is with glory.
B.
Paul explained the reason for his great boldness of speech (2 Corinthians 3:12-18).
1.
As seen in the contrast between him and Moses (2 Corinthians 3:12-13).
a)
His hope in the abiding glory of the New Covenant was the basis of his great boldness of a speech (2 Corinthians 3:12).
b)
Moses, on the other hand, put a veil over his face to prevent Israel from seeing the end of the fading glory on his face (2 Corinthians 3:13).
2.
As seen in the contrast between those who were reading the Old Covenant and those who turned to the Lord (2 Corinthians 3:14-15).
a)
Their minds were hardened at the reading of the Old Covenant because they were unaware that the veil was taken away in Christ (2 Corinthians 3:14).
b)
Even in Paul's day wherever Moses was read the veil lay on their hearts (2 Corinthians 3:15).
3.
As seen in the result of turning to the Lord (2 Corinthians 3:16-18).
a)
The veil is taken away.
b)
The Lord is (identified with) the spirit-covenant (See 2 Corinthians 3:6; 2 Corinthians 3:8 ASV).
c)
Where the spirit-covenant of the Lord is, there is liberty.
d)
Transformation results from looking into the glory of the Lord (as seen in the spirit-covenant).
(1)
This is to be done with unveiled face as we look into the mirrorthe New Covenant or spirit-covenantwhere we see the glory of the Lord.
(2)
The transformation is into the same image from glory to gloryfrom the Lord of the spirit-covenant.
Questions
1.
What is the connection between the content of this chapter and that of the preceding one?
2.
Why did Paul anticipate charges of self-commendation?
3.
What is the purpose of letters of commendation? How had Paul made use of them?
4.
Why didn-'t he need such a letter to the Corinthians or from them.
5.
How had signs and wonders served to commend him to them?
6.
How did their lives as Christians commend him to others?
7.
In what sense was this letter written on his heart?
8.
How could all men know and read it?
9.
Why does Paul also call it an epistle of Christ?
10.
What did Paul have to do with writing it?
11.
Why did he say that it was not written with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God?
12.
What message had been written on tablets of stone?
13.
Why did Paul suggest that the gospel message which he preached had been written on hearts of flesh?
14.
Why did Paul speak with such confidence about this letter?
15.
What was the source of his adequacy for his ministry?
16.
What are some of the contrasts between the Old and New covenants?
17.
To whom was the New Covenant first given as a promise?
18.
How did Paul show that there was no conflict between the Old and New Covenants?
19.
What does letter and spirit mean in its various contexts?
20.
To what does letter refer in this chapter?
21.
To what does spirit refer in this chapter?
22.
What indicates that letter is not contrasted with Holy Spirit in this context?
23.
What is meant by the statement that the letter killeth but the spirit giveth life?
24.
What popular notion cannot possibly be supported by these words?
25.
What did James say about actually doing what the Word says?
26.
Why, then, was the Old Covenant spoken as the ministration of death?
27.
In what way was the Old Covenant glorious?
28.
What is the difference between its glory and that of the New?
29.
When and why did Moses put the veil on his face?
30.
What is the ministration of the spirit?
31.
Why was the Old Covenant spoken of as a ministration of condemnation?
32.
Why was the New Covenant called the ministration of righteousness?
33.
What does righteousness mean in this context?
34.
In what way does the glory of the New Covenant outshine that of the Old?
35.
How does the allegory of Abraham's two wives explain the relation between the Old and New Covenants?
36.
Why is the New Covenant spoken of as the one that remains?
37.
On what was Paul's hope based?
38.
Why could he speak with such boldness about the hope of the New Covenant?
39.
Why did Moses put a veil on his face? When did he remove it?
40.
What is meant by the end of that which was passing away?
41.
What caused the minds of the Jews to become hardened?
42.
What was their attitude toward the reading of the Old Covenant in Paul's day?
43.
What happens when the veiled heart turns to the Lord?
44.
With what covenant is the Lord associated in this context?
45.
Where is liberty to be found?
46.
Why is the Christian's face spoken of as unveiled?
47.
What is the mirror in which we behold the glory of the Lord?
48.
What happens when we do?
49.
What did Paul mean by the expression from glory to glory?
50.
What did he mean by even as from the Lord the Spirit?
For Discussion
1.
What can be done through Christian living to promote the work of Christ?
2.
What can be done to help church people speak with conviction about the Word of God?