2 Corinthians 3
DortI The Apostle gives a reason why he had so highly advanced the Ministry of the Gospel in the end of the former chapter, and appeals first to the experience of the Corinthians themselves, who by this his ministry were converted to Christ, 5 ads that his power was not of him but of God, 6 proves the same further by a comparison of the ministry of Moses, which he calls a killing letter imprinted in Tables of stone, and administration of condemnation, which abideth not: and of the ministry of the Apostles, which he calleth a ministry of the spirit of life, and of righteousness, and abideth always. 13 Declares that there lay a vaile on Moses face, and also in the reading of the Law, so that the Jews understood not the end thereof, 16 which vaile shall be removed from them, when they shall be converted to God, 17 But that the ministry of the new Testament is clear, and a means whereby the Spirit of the Lord is powerful for our renovation.
1. Do we begin [The Apostle here speaks in the plural number, because the Epistle was written not only in his name, but also in the name of Timothy. See chapter 1.ver.1.]again to praise [Gr. to commend] our selves (to you) or do we also need even as some do, Epistle commendatory to you [or, recommendations, to make us and our ministry acceptable unto you and others] or commendatory (Epistle) from you?
2. Ye our Epistle, [That is, your conversion and other singular gifts, which were wrought among you by our ministry, are witnesses of the dignity of our ministry, as well with you as with others: as is more largely declared in the following verse] written in our hearts, [this the Apostle saith because of the love which he and Timothy and Silvanus bare unto them, and the esteem in which they were with them] known and read of all men, [namely, which observe and understand your conversion and gifts.]
3. As who are become manifest that ye are an Epistle of Christ, and prepared by our ministry [Gr. administered by us] which is written, not with ink [namely, as men use to write other Epistles] but by the Spirit of the living God, [that is, who hath not only life himself, but also imparts the same to those in whom he worketh by his spirit and writes his Laws in them, Jeremiah 31:33. Hebrews 8:10.] not in tables of stone [Paul here alludeth to the writings of Gods Law in the two tables of the covenant, Exodus 24:12. which outward writing could not converted the hearts of corrupt men. See Romans 8:3. Galatians 3:21.] but in the flesh’s tables of the heart. [hereby is not understood that which is many times called flesh or fleshly, i.e. corrupt, in the word of God, but is here taken for our hearts which by the spirit of God are made fit and renewed to receive the word of the Gospel by faith, as Ezekiel 36:26. and like the good ground whereof Christ speaks, Matthew 13:23. wherefore also the Apostle saith in the Greek sarkinais not sarkikais.]
4. And such a confidence have we [namely, of the power and of the fruits of our ministry among you] through Christ with God.
5. Not that our selves [that is, by our own wisdom or natural acuteness] we are fit to think any thing [or, consider. Namely that should be fit to convert the hearts of men, or bring our selves and others to salvation. See John 15:4,5. and Philippians 2:13.] as of our selves: but our fitness is of God.
6. Who hath also made us fit (to be) ministers of the New Testament, [Or, covenant. So the covenant of grace is called, in which God promiseth his forgiveness of sins and righteousness by faith in Christ, and withal renovation by the Holy Ghost, whose power manifest it self in the hearts of the elect in the preaching of the Gospel, as is promised, Jeremiah 31:31. Ezekiel 36:25. wherefore also the Gospel is called a ministry of the spirit, and of life ver.6.8. and of righteousness ver.9] not of the letter [that is, of the covenant of the Law, which is called Letter, because the Law is written only with letters in the table of stone, as is declared in the following verse] but of the spirit [that is, of the doctrine and preaching of the Gospel whereby the Holy Ghost worketh faith in us. See Acts 16:14. Galatians 3:2,3. etc.] for the letter killeth, [namely, because the Law, although it shows the way to life, yet confers not upon corrupt man the power to keep it, nor any promise to give the sins of transgressor, but curseth every one that continueth not in all that is written, Galatians 3:10. and convinceth us of our transgression, and consequently that we are worthy of death, which is threatened to the transgressors, and subject to the same, Romans 7:7. etc. Wherefore also the same is called a ministration of condemnation ver. 9. See hereof more at large, Romans 8:2,3,4. and 10.ver.3,4,5. Galatians 3:5. etc. and 4.ver.21. etc. Heb.8.6. etc. where the Apostle further declares the difference of these two covenants] but the first spirit maketh alive, [that is, the Gospel doth not only show the way to life and salvation by faith in Jesus Christ, but is also accompanied with the power of the holy spirit, whereby faith is wrought and kept in the elect, and they are raised up and quickned from the death of sin.]
7. And if the administration of death (consisting) in letters, (and) engraved in stones, was in glory so that the children of Israel could not strongly look upon the face of Moses, for the glory of his face [Namely, glory of Moses face, which as it is done away, was also a type that the Law given by him should also be abrogated, see the history hereof, Exodus 34:30. and so following, which the Apostle interprets as a type of the doctrine of Moses consisting in shadows and justifications of the Law] which was to be done away: [this the Apostle saith of the Law of Moses, not only in respect of the ceremonies, which were to endure but until the coming of Christ, but also in respect of the Law of the Decalogue, as concerning the curse which it threatened to transgressors, and the justification which is promised to the doers of the Law: in both which members it must be abolished by Christ death and obedience. See ver.11.]
8. How shall not much more the ministration of the spirit [See ver.6.9.] be in glory?
9. For if the administration of the condemnation was glory, much more is the administration of righteousness {that is, of justification, which is every way opposed to condemnation. See Romans 8:33,34.] abundant in glory.
10. For even the glorified [That is, the Law which considered in it self hath a special glory, and was given to the people of Israel with glory] it self was not glorified in this part, in respect of this excelling glory. [that is, compared with the excellence glory of the word of the gospel, and its power in our hearts.]
11. For if that which is done away was in glory, much more (is) is that which remaineth [Namely, the gospel which shall remain, without being subject to alteration, until Christ shall come to judgment, Matthew 28:19,20. 1 Cor. 11.26. Revelation 2:25.] in glory.
12. Seeing then we have such hope, we use much boldness in speaking: [Namely, joined with clearness as the word is also taken, Mark 8:32. John 10:24. and 16.29.]
13. And (do) not like as Moses, (who) put a covering on his face, that the children of Israel might not look strongly [With these words is not properly declared Moses meaning in the covering of his face, of which may be read, Exodus 34:33. but the scope of Gods providence, which ordered this to such an end, and caused it here to be declared] unto the end [that is, the most intimate ground, or the mark and scope of the Law and of the ceremonies, which had their aim at Christ and his righteousness. For whole Law was guide unto Christ, Galatians 3:24. which the greater part of the Jews understood not, but would seek their righteousness without Christ in obedience of the Law moral as ceremonial. And this is the covering whereof the Apostle] of that which is abolished.
14. But their senses were hardened. [Namely, by a judgment of God in this their opinion of the Law of Moses] For until (this very) day, the same covering [that is, the same perverse understanding, that the Law was given them to be justified and sanctified by the same. See Romans 10:3.] remaineth in the reading of the Old Testament, without being uncovered: which is done away by Christ. [namely, which covering is done away by the knowledge and spirit of Christ, when they shall be converted unto Christ as is declared, v.16. For then are they, as also we, brought to the right understanding of the Law, and convinced in that end, but that they must seek righteousness out of themselves by faith in Christ. See Romans 10:4. Galatians 3:21. etc.]
15. But even unto this present (day) when Moses is read, a covering lieth in their heart.
16. But whensoever it shall be converted unto the Lord, the covering is taken away.
17. Now the Lord is the Spirit: [That is, Jesus Christ is the quickening spirit, who by the power of his Holy Spirit, and by the preaching of the holy Gospel taketh away the covering, and powerfully converts the hearts to God. Or the Holy Ghost is the Lord whereby we are converted and set a liberty, seeing him by his divine power and by the doctrine of the Gospel, which is a ministration of the Spirit, v.8. worketh this in us; and is sent by the Lord Christ to this purpose, wherefore he is also called the Spirit of the Lord, ver.17,18. Or Christ is the spiritual being, and as it were the soul of the ceremonies of the Law; as the word spirit is also taken, John 6:63. Or the Lord who converts our hearts unto Christ, and taketh away this covering, is the Holy Ghost. Or the doctrine of the Gospel of the Lord Christ, is the Spirit which is opposed to the letter, v.6.] and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. [namely, from the veil of ignorance, from the yoke of the Law, and from slavery of sin and death, Romans 8:15,16. Galatians 4:7.]
18. And we all [Namely, who have received the spirit of the Lord] with uncovered fact [here the Apostle again alludes to the example of Moses, who put away the covering from his face when he appeared before the Lord himself, and by this beholding of God, became glorious in his face: so also saith he, we have a bold access to God by the Gospel, which is a clear glass wherein Gods glorious face itself is seen by us, and we are more and more renewed and glorified in our mind after the same image of God] beholding the glory of the Lord (as) as in a glass, are changed in countence (after) the same image from glory to glory, as by the spirit of the Lord, the Spirit, i.e. by the Spirit which is the Lord, namely, of one essence with the Father and with the Son.]