DOES THIS SOUND? It could be that Paul's strongly worded letter made some say he was boasting about himself. Something important is involved here, because Paul accuses his opponents of boasting (2 Corinthians 10:12), but denies boasting about himself (2 Corinthians 5:12)_. MacKnight_ says: "The thin... [ Continue Reading ]
YOU YOURSELVES. The existence of the messianic community at Corinth is the only credential which Paul needs! WRITTEN ON OUR HEARTS. _MacKnight_ says it is best to understand this as the letter itself written on the heart of Paul, and a _copy_ of that same letter written on the hearts of the Corinthi... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT CHRIST HIMSELF. "Christ himself wrote the letter and I delivered it by converting you to Christ and giving you the gifts from the Spirit!" IT IS WRITTEN. Paul purposely associates the letters of recommendation that some had received from Judea, with the stone tablets of the Law. Christ does not... [ Continue Reading ]
WE SAY THIS. "This kind of a boast, that you are a copy of our letter of recommendation, we have in the presence of God through the assistance of Christ!... [ Continue Reading ]
THERE IS NOTHING IN US. The false teachers boasted about their own talents. Paul does no such thing! COMES FROM GOD. "It is God who tells us how to carry out our mission as apostles, and it is God who gives us the capacity to do it!!!... [ Continue Reading ]
NOT OF A WRITTEN LAW. Jeremiah's prophecy told about a _new covenant_ (Hebrews 8:10). It would be a time when God would make _us capable of serving,_ as Paul says here. Paul sees this fulfilled in the Holy Spirit as a gift (the indwelling). So he contrasts the written law (the old covenant) with the... [ Continue Reading ]
THE LAW. The false teachers were very proud of The Law! Paul shows us that The Law was a thing of glory! When Moses came down from the mountain with the stone tablets of The Law, his face shone with a brilliant, blinding light! But that brightness faded away, and Paul uses this to introduce the thou... [ Continue Reading ]
HOW MUCH GREATER! In contrast to The Law, the service of the Spirit (1) gives life, not death; (2) is eternal, not fading away; (3) is written on hearts, not stone. Notice that in comparing the service of the two covenants, Paul assumes that he is as great as Moses (1 Corinthians 4:6), and yet the s... [ Continue Reading ]
ARE CONDEMNED. Paul repeats what he has just said, but contrasts _are condemned_ (by the old covenant) with _declared innocent_ (by the new covenant). DIKAIOSUNE = _declared innocent_ is a legal term, which implies that God declares a man innocent even though he is actually guilty. See Romans 4:3 an... [ Continue Reading ]
BECAUSE OF. Paul sees value in God's old covenant (Romans 15:4), yet the far brighter glory of the service of the Spirit supersedes and displaces all else!!!... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR. "If there was glory in the service of Judaism, how much more glory is there in the service of the Spirit, which lasts forever!!!" Compare Hebrews 8:13. Paul probably says this for the benefit of the _circumcision party_ who thought The Law was eternal!... [ Continue Reading ]
BECAUSE. The facts in 2 Corinthians 3:7-11 are the basis of confident hope, which gives the servants of Christ _boldness_ in speaking!!! This is Paul's answer to his opponents.... [ Continue Reading ]
NOT LIKE MOSES. Paul again compares himself to Moses, and shows the veil which Moses put over his face symbolized both a lack of boldness and that God's truth was _veiled_ in The Law. But as the glory of Moses' face faded away, those who continue to look to Moses or The Law, will find no glory there... [ Continue Reading ]
WERE CLOSED. Stephen used the same reasoning (Acts 7:51-53). The reason for the Jewish leaders rejecting Christ was that they did not understand the intent and purpose of The Law from the earliest times!!! REMOVED ONLY. Since God's promises made in The Law were fulfilled in Jesus Christ (Acts 13:32-... [ Continue Reading ]
EVEN TODAY. Every Sabbath, the Law of Moses (the Old Testament) was read publicly in the synagogue. Paul says the veil still covers their minds! The veil he speaks of, is the veil of prejudice and evil desires which they have constructed for themselves!... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT IT IS REMOVED. Paul paraphrases Exodus 34:34 and uses it to show that when they go into the presence of God IN FACT, this veil will be removed! Compare Romans 11:23-26 and notes. _When_ the Jews believe the gospel, _then_ the veil will be removed!... [ Continue Reading ]
IS THE SPIRIT. What does it mean for the Christian to have this veil removed??? This verse gives the answer!!! Paul is a _monotheistic-trinitarian_ (see note on Romans 16:27) and he does not sharply contrast the functions of the Father, Son, and Spirit. THERE IS FREEDOM. _The Law_ is slavery, _The S... [ Continue Reading ]
ALL OF US, THEN. _MacKnight_ thinks Paul means the apostles only, but it seems better to understand this to mean every Christian, as_ Johnson_ does. _With uncovered faces._ As Moses removed his veil when he came before the Lord, we Christians reflect the Lord's glory without any need to cover our fa... [ Continue Reading ]