2 Corinthians 3

2 Corinthians 3:6-11

The apostle makes an apology for his seeming to commend himself, and is careful not to assume too much to himself, but to exercise all people unto God, ver. 1—5. He then runs a comparison between the Old Testament and the New, and devourts the excellency of the letter above the former, ver. 6—11. From whom he refers what is the duty of gospel ministers, and the advantage of those who live under the gospel, above those that lived under the law, ver. 12. to the end.

1. Do we begin again to commend ourselves? or read we, as some others, epistles of commendation to you, or letters of commendation from you?

2. Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known as a read of all items? For as much as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ, ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of Stone, but in fleshly tables of the heart. 4. And such truth have we through Christ to God—ward! 5. Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves: but our sufficiency of God.

3. 1—5. To silence his traducers the apostle was compelled to protest his sincerity; and here,

4. He prevents any suggestion as if he has been arrogated ought to himself. Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves, who cannot from ourselves naturally produce one good thought, and much less by the mere power of our reasoning effect your conversion: not but our sufficiency is of God, who alone furnishes us with ability, and crowns our labours with success. To him therefore should the praise of all be for ever ascribed. Now, The best of men have always the lowliest thoughts of themselves.

5. Who also hath made us able ministers of the New Testament, not of the letter, but of the Spirit: for the letter killeth, but the Spirit given life. 7. But if the ministeration of death written and ingravet, in stones was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfially behold the face of Moses, for the glory of his countenance, which glory was to be done away; 8. How shall not the ministeration of the Spirit be rather glorious? 9. For if the ministeration of condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministeration of righteousness exceed in glory. 10. For even that which was made glorious, had no glory in this respect, by reason of the glory that excelled. 11. For if that which is done away was glorious, much more that which remaineth is glorious.

The apostle runs a parallel between the Mosaical and gospel dispensation, shewing the superior excellency of the latter, and the honour of these who were the ministers of it.

Who also hath made us able ministers of the New Testament, furnishing us with abilities and giving us success; not of the letter, not ministers of the law, which the Judaising teachers to affect; but of the spirit, of the gospel, which the Holy Ghost accompanies with his divine energy: for the letter, the law, which, commanding a perfection men cannot perform, and denouncing a

cause on the least transgression; but the spirit, the gospel, attended with the quickening power of the Holy Ghost, given life, bringeth honors into a state of favour with God, raiding them to spiritual life here, as the pledge and beginning of eternal life hereafter.

But if the law, which was the ministeration of death, written and ingravet in stones, was glorious, when the two tables were delivered with such solemn pomp on Sinai, so that the children of Israel could not stedfially behold the face of Moses, for the glory of his countenance, so bright it thone, which glory was to be done away in a while; how shall not the ministeration of the Spirit, in the gospel, be rather glorious, which is attended with such mighty energy and quickening influence? and how much do its ministers also exceed in glory? for if the ministeration of condemnation, which could only denounce wrath on the disobedient, be glory; how much more doth the ministeration of righteousness, even of the righteousness of God by faith, exceed in glory. And they who minister this glorious gospel must as much excel the ministers of the law, as righteousness and eternal life are preferable to condemnation and wrath: for even that which was made glorious had no glory in this respect, by reason of the glory that excelled, as stars disappear before the rising sun. For if that which is done away, as is now the case with the Mosaical dispensation, was glorious, and introduced with such majesty and splendor; much more that which remainseth, the gospel dispensation, is glorious: its privileges and blessings are infinitely greater, and will endure to eternity.

12. Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech. 13. And not as Moses, which put a veil over his face, that the children of Israel could not stedfially look to the end of that which is abolished. 14. But their minds were blinded: for until this day remained the same veil untaken away, in the reading of the Old Testament; which veil is done away in Christ. 15. But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the veil is upon their heart. 16. Nevertheless, when it shall turn to the Lord, the veil shall be taken away. 17. Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. 18. But we all with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

2 Corinthians 3:12-18

These words are the inference from the foregoing comparison.

Seeing then that we have such hope in the superior excellency of the gospel above the law, and truth on the divine power to make it effectual, we use great plainness of speech, freely delivering our message, and affecting no embellishments. Not as Moses, which put a veil over his face, to hide the splendor of his countenance, intimately thereby, that the children of Israel could not stedfially look to the end of that which is abolished; they stuck at the letter and the thalance, and perceived not that all was intended to lead them to Christ, that they might be justified by faith: but their minds were blinded, Stupified (wonder) for not only then, but until this day remained the same evil untaken away in the reading of the Old Testament; besides the natural veil of darkness on their minds, there was no oblivinity in the revelation itself as wrapped up in types and figures; and though they read the Scriptures, they undertook not their true meaning and design; which said is done away in Christ, in whom all the types and prophecies received their accomplishment, and who is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believes, as they know into whose heart he shines with the light of his gospel: but even unto this day, when Moses is read, the carnal Jews are so hardened through pride, prejudice, and timidity, that the veil is still upon their heart, and they continue ignorant of him to whom the law and the prophets bear witness. Nevertheless, when it shall turn to the Lord, either the heart of any individual among them, or the people in general in the last days, the veil shall be taken away, and they shall see, know, and receive the true Messiah. Now the Lord Jesus Christ is that quickening Spirit, who alone can effect this mighty work: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, and the gospel is truly embraced, there is liberty, freedom from darkness, guilt, and bondage, and access with boldness to a reconciled God. But we all with open face, who, through the illumination of the Spirit, have received the gospel in the light and love of it, beholding there, as in a glass, or mirror, which distinctly reflects the person, the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image of the adored Jesus, from glory to glory, from the bright traces which his grace begins in time till his likeness in us is perfected in eternity: and all this is effected even as by the Spirit of the Lord, as by the Lord the Spirit, the great and glorious Agent in this new creation, who is very God, and in the ministeration of his gospel effectually brings the redeemed to the measure of the stature of the fathers of Christ. Lord, thou Spirit of all grace, thus transform my soul into the Saviour’s perfect image!