2 CORINTHIANS—NOTE ON 2 CORINTHIANS 3:1 Paul makes it clear that, as an apostle, he was called to mediate the Spirit in fulfillment of the new covenant. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
2 CORINTHIANS—NOTE ON 2 CORINTHIANS 3:2 LETTER FROM CHRIST. By the Corinthians’ changed lives, Christ testifies to Paul’s true apostleship because he is the one who brought the gospel to them (DELIVERED BY US). ON TABLETS OF STONE. See Exodus 24:12; Deuteronomy 9:10. ON TABLETS OF HUMAN HEARTS. See... [ Continue Reading ]
2 CORINTHIANS—NOTE ON 2 CORINTHIANS 3:5 SUFFICIENCY IS FROM GOD. Paul’s sufficiency as an apostle echoes the accounts of the callings of the OT prophets (see Judges 6:11; Isaiah 6:1; Jeremiah 1:4; Ezekiel 1:1). ⇐ ⇔... [ Continue Reading ]
2 CORINTHIANS—NOTE ON 2 CORINTHIANS 3:6 MINISTERS. Whereas “apostle” refers to Paul’s authoritative _office_, “minister” (or “servant”) refers to how he carries out his work. He can share this role with non-apostles (e.g., 2 Corinthians 4:1; 2 Corinthians 5:18; 1 Corinthians 3:5). Here “minister” re... [ Continue Reading ]
2 CORINTHIANS—NOTE ON 2 CORINTHIANS 3:7 Moses’ ministry is described as a MINISTRY OF DEATH because Israel would not obey the law (see Exodus 32:9; Exodus 34:9) and so received CONDEMNATION (2 Corinthians 3:9). The giving of the law was accompanied by so much glory that THE ISRAELITES COULD NOT GAZE... [ Continue Reading ]
2 CORINTHIANS—NOTE ON 2 CORINTHIANS 3:10 Now that the new covenant has come, the old covenant HAS COME TO HAVE NO GLORY AT ALL, since God is no longer revealing himself through it. The glory of the new covenant also SURPASSES that of the old in that the new covenant is a PERMANENT, everlasting coven... [ Continue Reading ]
2 CORINTHIANS—NOTE ON 2 CORINTHIANS 3:12 If Paul’s ministry announces life, not death, then why are the majority of the Jews in Paul’s day still rejecting it? Does Israel’s rejection of Paul’s message call the gospel itself into question? Paul answers these questions in this next section. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var... [ Continue Reading ]
2 CORINTHIANS—NOTE ON 2 CORINTHIANS 3:13 VEIL is the key concept in vv. 2 Corinthians 3:13. SO THAT THE ISRAELITES MIGHT NOT GAZE AT THE OUTCOME OF WHAT WAS BEING BROUGHT TO AN END. This explains why Moses veiled his face (Exodus 34:33, Exodus 34:35). The most likely interpretation is that Moses put... [ Continue Reading ]
2 CORINTHIANS—NOTE ON 2 CORINTHIANS 3:14 Despite Paul’s ministry, Israel’s MINDS, which WERE HARDENED in Moses’ day (Exodus 32:9; Exodus 33:3, Exodus 33:5; Exodus 34:9), remained so TO THIS DAY. See also Deuteronomy 29:4;... [ Continue Reading ]
2 CORINTHIANS—NOTE ON 2 CORINTHIANS 3:17 THE LORD IS THE SPIRIT. Paul seems to be saying that the Christian’s experience of the ministry of the Spirit under the new covenant (vv. 2 Corinthians 3:3) is parallel to Moses’ experience of God the Father under the old covenant. The Spirit (under the new c... [ Continue Reading ]
2 CORINTHIANS—NOTE ON 2 CORINTHIANS 3:18 WITH UNVEILED FACE, BEHOLDING THE GLORY OF THE LORD. As a result of seeing the Lord through the ministry of the SPIRIT, the believer is BEING TRANSFORMED (over time) INTO THE SAME IMAGE of God that was distorted at the fall (see Genesis 1:26; 2 Corinthians 5:... [ Continue Reading ]