2 Corinthians 3
DOYLY— there is liberty.] Either the same with that freedom and “plainness of speech,” mentioned ver. 12; or else freedom from the Jewish ceremonies. Pyle.
Ver. 1.— as we have received mercy.] Or special favours from God in committing to us this ministry. Burkitt. 2. But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, &c.] As if he had said, In the performance of which office I scorn to make use of those private and unwarrrantable practices that some of your new teachers have recourse to, in order to exalt themselves and depress me. I desire to recommend myself by nothing but the plainness and purity of my doctrine, which will stand the test both of God and of all well-disposed men. Pyle. The word, which we render “renounced,” does not imply that the Apostle ever had any thing to do with these things. Dr. Doddridge.
2 Corinthians 3:3
- But if our gospel be hid, &c.] That is, be yet obscure, notwithstanding the plainness of our preaching, it is so only among obdurate obstinate unbelievers. Dr. Hammond.
2 Corinthians 3:4
4.— the god of this world] Satan is so called, not properly, but because the honour and homage of a god is challenged by him, and by a multitude of sinners given to him. He is called by our Saviour “the prince of this world,” and by the Apostle “the ruler of the darkness of this world,” because he ruleth over a great part of this world, and they are his subjects, or rather his slaves. Burkitt. Though the devil hath no power of his own over us, we may give him as much as we will; and become slaves and vassals to him as long as we please. In this sense, his empire is very large: and on account of it the Scripture calls him the “prince of the power of the air,” Eph. ii. 2; Col. i. 13; and in this passage even “the god of this world.” For he was, and is still in great propriety of speech, the god of many heathen nations; who, instead of the righteous and good Maler of heaven and earth, worship deities of such vile and mischievous characters as we justly ascribe to the evil one. And even where faith in the true Deity is Anno DOMINI 60.
2 Corinthians 3:7
- — the ministration of death.] This is an elliptical expression, which must be supplied by adding the words “of the testament” or ‘covenant’ from ver. 6, so as to make this sentence ‘if the administration of the covenant of death,’ &c. This ministration consisted in Moses’ bringing down from the mount the tables, on which was written the covenant of the law, called here the covenant of death, because it subjected every sinner to death without mercy by its curse. Dr. Macknight.
— which glory was to be done away:] The glory of Moses’ countenance ceasing after a while, or at his death; and the glory of the law ceasing also at the coming of Christ and the Gospel. Bp. Fell.
2 Corinthians 3:8
- — the ministration of the spirit] That is, the office of preaching the Christian religion, called below, chap. v. 18, “the ministry of reconciliation,” or the office, the purpose of which is, that men be reconciled. Schleusner. This ministry of the covenant of the Spirit consisted in the Apostles’ publishing that covenant, and building the Christian church thereon, by the miracles which they wrought in confirmation of their preaching. Dr. Macknight.
The Apostle’s argument is, that the perfect and unchangeable dispensation of the Christian religion being much more excellent than the imperfect and temporary dispensation of the law delivered by Moses, so the Christian ministry must be proportionably more honourable than the Mosaical. Pyle.
2 Corinthians 3:9
- — the ministration of condemnation—the ministration of righteousness] That is, the ministry of the covenant, which brought condemnation on sinners; and the
ministry of the covenant, which bringeth righteousness to believers. Dr. Macknight.
2 Corinthians 3:10
- For even that which was made glorious &c.] That is, was made glorious at the first administration of it. Dr. Whitby. St. Paul here contends, that the glory and excellency of the law was so inferiour to that of the Gospel, as that the former was perfectly eclipsed by the surpassing brightness of this subsequent dispensation. The glory of the latter, he says, must needs exceed the glory of the former; both on account of its effects, which are more beneficial, and, ver. 11, on account of its duration: for “that is done away,” but “this remaineth.” Dean Stanhope.
2 Corinthians 3:12
- Seeing then that we have such hope, &c.] The Apostle here draws an inference from the foregoing discourse: that seeing himself and the other Apostles had such hope that their ministry was thus glorious, they used great plainness, freedom, and boldness of speech in preaching and publishing the Gospel; and (ver. 13.) did not imitate Moses, the minister of the law, who put a vail over his face, which was a sign of the obscurity of the legal dispensation, and of the blindness of the Jews, who could not see the end and accomplishment of that ceremonial and typical administration, which was to be abolished by Christ and His Gospel. Burkitt.
2 Corinthians 3:14
14, 15. But their minds were blinded: &c.] As if he had said, Nor indeed do their posterity yet understand those types and prophecies of the Old Testament, which are no way to be perfectly apprehended and fulfilled, but as they relate to Jesus Christ. And by their obstinate disbelief of Him as their true Messiah, the vail is, as it were, still upon their minds; and they can no more understand the true intent of their law and Prophets, that are read to them every sabbath day, than they could see the face of Moses when he gave them the law. Pyle.
2 Corinthians 3:16
- Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, &c.] When Moses turned from the people to go into the tabernacle before the Lord, he took the vail from off his face, Exod. xxxiv. 34; whereby he received a new irradiation from the glory of the Lord. In allusion to that part of the history, and perhaps to shew its emblematical meaning, the Apostle told the Corinthians, that when the vailled heart of the Jews shall turn to the Lord Christ, when they shall believe the Gospel, the vail shall be taken from their heart; their prejudices shall be dispelled by the light which they shall receive
The power of the Holy Spirit. Paul’s sincerity and diligence Anno DOMINI 60.
2 Corinthians 3:17
- Now the Lord is that Spirit.] That is, Christ is that quickening and life-giving Spirit, who takes away the vail from off our hearts. Burkitt. The possessor, fountain, donor of that Spirit. Bp. Fell. “The Lord” is here said to be “the Spirit,” as He is “the way, the life,” John xiv. 6; “the resurrection and the life,” xi. 25; namely, as being the Author and Giver of them. He it is who “baptizeth with the Spirit and fire,” Matt. iii. 11; who giveth this good Spirit to all believers, and sends Him to them from the Father, John vii. 38, 39; xv. 26; xvi. 7. He is “the Lord,” who ministers to His church all the gifts and operations of the Spirit,
2 Corinthians 3:18
- But we all, with open face &c.] As if he had said, And it is not with us as it was with the Jews; for they only saw the face of Moses shining through the vail, but received no impression from or derivation of His glory upon themselves: “but we all” under the Gospel “with open” and unvailed “face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord” Jesus, “are changed into the same image with him,” &c. Dr. Whitby. As the ancient mirrors were made of metal highly pohated, it must necessarily happen that the person who looked on his image in them would have his face strongly illuminated by the reflected rays. To this circumstance the Apostle refers in the expressions, ‘we are transformed into the same resplendent ‘image, from one degree of glory or splendour to another.’ Parkhurst. — the glory of the Lord.] All His truth, last will, and design, John i. 17, 18; all his attributes, sanctity, and righteousness, justice and mercy, meekness and patience; all His benefits to mankind, as well in their redemption as in their creation, &c. See John xiv. 7. Bp. Fell. — from glory to glory.] An Hebraism, denoting a continued succession and increase of glory. See Ps. Ixxxiv. 7. Dr. Macknight. — even as by the Spirit of the Lord.] The same Spirit of Christ working in us an imitation of His the benefit of the church, 16 and to the apostle’s own eternal glory. THEREFORE seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not;