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2
Corinthians Chapter Three
I.
Content of the Chapter
The Minister that is
Full of Glory of the New Testament
A. The living letter of Christ (v.1-3);
1. The epistle of the apostle (v.1-2);
2. Written by the Spirit of the living
God on tablets o
the heart (v.3);
B. The minister of the New Testament (v.4-16);
1. Not of the letter but of the Spirit (v.4-6);
2. Be of more glory than the ministry of Moses
(v.7-11);
3. The veil is taken away (v.12-16);
C. Behold the glory of the Lord (v.17-18);
II.
Verse by Verse Commentary
2Cor. 3:1 “Do we begin again to
commend ourselves? Or do we need
as some others
epistles of commendation to
you or letters of commendation from you?”
YLT: “Do we begin again to recommend ourselves
except we
need
as some
letters of recommendation unto you
or from you?”
The Background: in the early church time
there were some false
apostles (see 11:13) who introduced themselves that they were apostles (see
Rev. 2:2) or cheated men everywhere and peddled the false knowledge (see 2:17).
And in order to prove the real apostleship of the apostles
the church had
indeed written epistles and let the apostles deliver them to churches in other
places (see Acts 15:23-32). Therefore
it was a tradition of writing epistles
among the churches at that time (see 1Cor. 16:3). The apostle Paul also
introduced the fellow workers to the churches everywhere (see
Literal
Meaning: “do we begin again to commend
ourselves?” Do we begin again
to approve ourselves? Probably
it was the answer of Paul to the slander of those who opposed him. They usually said
to believers in
“Or do we need
as some others
epistles of commendation
to you or letters of commendation from you?” “As some others”
it satirized the false apostles that they brought epistles from other places to
the church in
“Epistles”
it is a kind of
sign
proof and foundation and also represents close relationship. However
since man often boasts in countenance (see 5:12) and is not like God who look
upon the heart (1Sam. 16:7)
man’s “epistle” is not completely reliable.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) The best commending epistle of a Christian
is the fruit of his work and his life in the Lord
which excel the oral
recommendation of oneself and others.
2) If we want to know a believer
no matter
what he says or others say about him
we shall still see what he is and what he
does.
2Cor. 3:2 “You are our epistle written
in our hearts
known and read by all men;”
YLT: “our letter ye are
having been written in our hearts
known and read by all men
”
Literal
Meaning: “you are our epistle”
“you” refers to believers in
“Written in our hearts”
“our”
it is “your” in some hand-written
copy
and both of them have only slight difference in the original. If it is
“your hearts”
the meaning will be consistent with verse three. And if it is
“our hearts”
it is also right. Believers in
“Known and read by all men”
“all men” refers to
believers in all churches everywhere; Since Paul bears them in mind and say to
many everywhere
the spiritual things of believers in the church at Corinth are
known by all men.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) He who serves the Lord does not rely on
educational background
or qualifications
or recommendation of some famous
people to gain the trust of the churches and the saints
but relies on whether
those whom he serves have spiritual growth.
2) Believers are the fruit of the labor of the
Lord’s workers. Whatever a man shall sow
that also shall he reap. We can see
what the Lord’s workers have sown from the conditions of the general believers.
3) If there is lack of spiritual fellowship of
the Lord’s workers with believers they serve and both of them keep in apparent
relationship only
it proves that the Lord’s workers have failed to assume
taken their responsibilities perfectly.
4) The ministry of a God’s minister is proved
by the real provision of grace. He provides men with Christ’s life and leads
them to draw the free grace of Christ so as to prove God’s election and sending
on him.
2Cor. 3:3 “clearly you are an epistle
of Christ
ministered by us
written not with ink but by the Spirit of the
living God
not on tablets of stone but on tablets of flesh
that is
of the
heart.”
YLT: “manifested that ye are a letter of Christ ministered by
us
written not with ink
but with the Spirit of the living God
not in the
tablets of stone
but in fleshy tablets of the heart
”
Literal
Meaning: “clearly you are an epistle
of Christ”
“epistle
of Christ”
it has two
meanings: 1) Christ is the true author of this epistle
which is written by
Himself. 2) Christ is the content and nature of this epistle
which manifests
Christ.
“Ministered by us”
“us” refers to Paul and his fellow workers
who are
Christ’s vessels
through whom Christ writes this epistle. “Ministered”
believers in
“Written not with ink but by the Spirit of the living God”
“ink”: it is
external and written. “The
Spirit of the living God”: it is the Holy
Spirit
internal and spiritual. The Holy Spirit inspires His servants to
testify and speak out Christ and also inspires those who hear the gospel to
open their hearts to receive Christ.
“Not on tablets of stone but on tablets of flesh
that is
of the heart”
“tablets of stone”
it represents the Old Testament (Ex.
31:18; 32:15-16); “tablets
of flesh”
it represents the
New Testament (Jer. 31:33; Heb. 8:10)
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) All Christians should be the “epistles of
Christ”. And all the nature of Christ is written on the tablets of the hearts
of Christians
from whom men will know Christ in them.
2) The graduates are the advertisement of their
alma mater. And the children are the signboard of the parents. Christians are
the epistle of Christ to the world. The epistle itself cannot open its mouth to
speak
but is read by others. Likewise
believers shall also let men see Christ
from them.
3) The Holy Spirit in our spirit makes us “the
epistle of Christ” so that men will know the will of Christ after reading it.
How wonderful! Are we willing to let the Spirit write in us? Can we manifest
the will of Christ to men?
4) Our life is like an epistle
an unfinished
epistle
which will be continually written by Christ unto the end. We should be
patient to let the Spirit write His words on the tablets of our hearts. Though
it is painfully to be engraved
men will read the message of life from the
marks or lines. Therefore
we should commit ourselves unto the Lord and let Him
fulfill His works and affix His seal in us so that we are worthy of being
called “the epistle of Christ” wherever we go.
5) God shall manifest His works on the vessels
chosen by Him. Whether the people can know Christ or how much they know is
totally depended on us
for we are the epistle of Christ
the channel through
whom God shall manifest Him as well as the vessel by whom men shall know
Christ.
6) Since we have the responsibility of
preaching God to men and bringing men to God
we firstly need the works of the
Spirit on us. We are the paper and the Spirit is the pen and what is written is
Christ. We are a piece of empty paper before manifesting Christ
so we need the
works of the Spirit on us. It is not man
but the Holy Spirit that writes on
the paper. And the Spirit does not write once but always
until the paper is
fully written. That is to say
the Spirit has been fully filled in us and we
are fully of the works of the Spirit
and thus we are full of Christ.
7) The Spirit also works through the workers of
the Lord. The Lord’s workers need to be filled with Christ first and then they
can provide Christ who are in them to others and write Christ on the tablets of
the hearts of others so that they will be a living letter of Christ.
8) The normal ministers in the New Testament
always write Christ they have experienced into believers whom they serve so
that they can also experience this Christ.
9) The Spirit of the living God is the living
God Himself
for He has the constitution and nature of God. When this Spirit
works and anoints in believers
the constitution and nature of God are more
anointed into believers so that believers will more manifest God Himself
that
is
God has been manifested in flesh (1Tim. 3:16).
10) Those who are used by God are those who are
freely directed by the Spirit. If the Spirit can not work freely on someone
he
cannot be the suitable vessel on the hands of God.
11) The Lord’s workers should not teach
believers about service in appearance or words only
but shall rely on the work
of God’s Spirit and write Christ and the constitution of His life more in the
spirit of believers so that they will grow in spirit and manifest the image of
Christ.
12) Our heart
including conscience
mind
emotion and will
is the main place in which the Spirit of the living God
works
for if God wants to change a man
He must firstly change his heart.
13) God pleases men to pay attention to the real
growth in men (“on
tablets of flesh”) rather than the
apparent works (“on
tablets of stone”).
2Cor. 3:4 “And we have such trust
through Christ toward God.”
YLT: “and such trust we have through the Christ toward God
”
Literal
Meaning: “and we …through Christ”
it indicates that Christ
is the leader and completer of our faith (Heb. 12:2)
and our faith is of Him
and from Him.
“Have such trust … toward God”
“such trust”
it means “confidence” in service in the original rather than the faith in God.
Paul has great “confidence” that he
as the minister of the New Testament
will
make them “an epistle of Christ” (see v.3) through the works of God’s Spirit on
the tablets of their hearts.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) The real workers of the Lord should have
great confidence in the nature and effect of their works
just like Paul’s
“confidence” (see 1:15; 8:22; Eph. 3:12). Otherwise
the works they have done
may not be of God.
2) Whatsoever is not of faith is sin (Rom.
14:23).
2Cor. 3:5 “Not that we are sufficient
of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves
but our sufficiency
is from God
”
YLT: “not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think
anything
as of ourselves
but our sufficiency of God
”
Literal
Meaning: “not that we are sufficient
of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves”
“of ourselves”
of our capability and power; Paul
confesses that he is not sufficient of himself to fulfill any service.
“But our sufficiency”
it refers to the power that makes him
fulfill his ministry.
“Is from God”
it is of the gracious gift of God.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) We are totally insufficient of ourselves. We can neither overcome the devil
nor be
delivered from sins
nor read the Scriptures
nor understand spiritual things.
However
we can do all of them through the grace of God.
2) God is the source of the power that enables
us to serve. If God does not work
no one is worthy of serving Him. Therefore
on one can serve God by his will in the church. Instead
it is God that
entrusts the responsibility to us (see 1Cor. 9:17)
so we have to do
voluntarily.
3) It is of the living God Himself that the
Lord’s workers are sufficient to serve Him. Whoever He has chosen
He will
perfect him unto the end. What is most important is that we shall cooperate
with God and amen all the guidance of God on us.
4) Today
we often want to be noticed by men in
service. What we are concerned about is the views of others upon us. We care
much for the achievements of our works and the opinions of others upon our
works. Actually
what is really important is that whether our “sufficiency” is
of God. If it is not of God
everything will of vanity.
2Cor. 3:6 “who also made us sufficient
as ministers of the new covenant
not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the
letter kills
but the Spirit gives life.”
YLT: “who also made us sufficient ministrants of a new
covenant
not of letter
but of spirit; for the letter doth kill
and the
spirit doth make alive.”
Literal
Meaning: “who also made us sufficient
as ministers of the new covenant”
“ministers” refer to those who serve
namely
deacons
or servants; “Ministers
of the new covenant”: workers who serve
the Lord according to the principles of the New Testament;
“Not of the letter but of the Spirit”
“letter” refers to the external
regulation
namely
the rules of the law; “Spirit” refers to the Holy Spirit
namely
the Spirit of the living God (see v.3). The Spirit enters into
believers with the power of God so as to make believers sufficient as ministers of the new
covenant.
“For the letter kills”
“letter” here represents the Old Testament
for it is filled with rules in the Old Testament that should be kept and yet
men cannot keep. Therefore
the letter finally leads men into death (
“But the Spirit gives life”
“the Spirit” represents the New Testament. Only
the Spirit can give men spiritual rebirth (see John 3:4-6) and lead men to life
eternal.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) Service in the New Testament should not be
held in external regulation
but be according to the guidance of the Spirit.
Keeping the dead letter makes men rigid. And following the Spirit makes men
living.
2) When we read the scriptures
we shall not
only read the apparent meaning of the letter
but also find the spirit in the
letter. That is to say
we shall seek the will of God that He shall reveal to
us through the scriptures.
3) Though there is a lot of truth
commandments
encouragement and teachings in the scriptures that are of God
holy and spiritual and are able to control man’s deeds and affect man’s
morality
all of them will still become dead “letter” without the power of the
Spirit.
4) The Lord Jesus says
“It is the Spirit which
quickens
the flesh profits nothing” (John 6:63). No one can quicken men
except for the Spirit. The life of God is in the Spirit. Even the physical
world
the Spirit of God was “hovering over” the face of the waters (Gen. 1:2).
Besides
the Lord Jesus was incarnated and came into the world through the
Spirit. All that gives life and quickens are of the Spirit. In other words
if
all the works
prayers and pursuit of the truth are not worked or produced by
the power of Spirit in us
they are all dead.
5) Now
Christ has become a quickening spirit
(1Cor. 15:46) as well as “the spirit of life” (Rom. 8:2). The more believers
follow the Spirit
the more they will receive life and peace (
2Cor. 3:7 “But if the ministry of
death
written and engraved on stones
was glorious
so that the children of
Israel could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of the glory of his
countenance
which glory was passing away
”
YLT: “and if the ministration of the death
in letters
engraved in stones
came in glory
so that the sons of Israel were not able to
look stedfastly to the face of Moses
because of the glory of his face -- which
was being made useless
”
Literal
Meaning: “but if the ministry of death
written and engraved
on stones”
“written and engraved on stones”
when Moses inherited the law
God
wrote it on the tables of stone (Ex. 34:1). Therefore
there are two
characteristics of the Old Testament: one is of the letter
and the other is
engraved on the physical stones. However
it is the Spirit of God that gives
his laws into men’s mind in the New Testament (Heb. 8:10).
“The ministry of death”
no one can perfectly keep the law. And whoever
shall keep the whole law and shall offend in one
he has come under the guilt
of all (James 2:10). The letter of the law kills (see v.6;
“Was glorious
so that the children of
“Which glory was passing away”
it is not mentioned in the Old Testament that
when the glory shone upon the face of Moses was passing away. However
we can
know from this verse that such glory was not eternal
but was passing away.
Therefore
we can know that the glory of the ministry of the Old Testament is
temporary
for it is external physical glory.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) Our service carries some glory to some
extent
no matter it is external or internal
or it is of the letter or of the
spirit. Any service in the Lord has its value
so one should not give himself
up as hopeless.
2) The external glory will pass away. And only
the glory that is fully immersed within will endure forever.
2Cor. 3:8 “how will the ministry of
the Spirit not be more glorious?”
YLT: “how shall the ministration of the Spirit not be more in
glory?”
Literal
Meaning: “how will the ministry of the
Spirit”
“the ministry of the Spirit”
it shows that the characteristic of the
ministry of the New Testament is spiritual
for the ministry of the New
Testament is fulfilled through the Spirit (see v.5) and is written on the
tablets of men’s hearts by the Spirit of the living God (see v.3).
“Not be more glorious”? “More glorious”
the degree of the glory and its permanence are more excellent
for it is
internally spiritual of the New Testament and yet externally physical of the
Old Testament.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) Moses brought the children of
2) Service and help to men in spirit are more
excellent than that in materials or letter. Therefore
we shall pay more
attention to the former than the latter
and yet not ignore the latter
for it
is still necessary.
2Cor. 3:9 “For if the ministry of
condemnation had glory
the ministry of righteousness exceeds much more in
glory.”
YLT: “for if the ministration of the condemnation glory
much
more doth the ministration of the righteousness abound in glory;”
Literal
Meaning: “for if the ministry of
condemnation had glory”
the service in the Old Testament is to regulate the
people of God through the law. However
since men cannot keep the whole law
they are condemned by the law. Therefore
the ministry of the Old Testament is the
“ministry of condemnation”.
“The ministry of
righteousness exceeds much more in glory”
the service in the New Testament is
to bring men to receive the grace of justification by faith
without works of
law (
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) The Old Testament brings about condemnation
that makes men die (Rom. 5:13
18
20-21). And the New Testament brings about
the righteousness of God that gives life to men (Rom. 5:18
21).
2) Justification is better than condemnation.
The provision of life is better than condemnation. And bringing men into the
realm of the righteousness of life is far better than restricting them into the
ordinances of “not handling
not tasting
or not touching” (Col. 2:21).
2Cor. 3:10 “For even what was made
glorious had no glory in this respect
because of the glory that excels.”
YLT: “for also even that which hath been glorious
hath not
been glorious -- in this respect
because of the superior glory;”
Literal
Meaning: “for even what was made
glorious”
the ministry
under the law of the Old Testament was still glorious to a certain degree.
“Had no glory in this respect because
of the glory that excels”
“the glory that excels”
it is the value of the spiritual ministry
of the New Testament. The glory of the Old Testament and the New Testament is
like the fluorescent light and the sunlight
and so the former one has no
glory.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) Though the light source of both of the glory
is God Himself
the external glory can still not be mentioned with the internal
glory in the same breath
just as that the glory of the ministry of the Old
Testament and that of the ministry of the New Testament cannot be mentioned in
the same breath.
2)
There is the
heavenly glory and the earthly glory
and both of them are different. One sun's glory
and
another moon's glory
and another stars' glory; for star differs from star in
glory (see 1Cor. 15:40-41). We should always seek the excellent glory instead
of satisfying with the dim glory.
2Cor. 3:11 “For if what is passing away
was glorious
what remains is much more glorious.”
YLT: “for if that which is being made useless through glory
much more that which is remaining in glory.”
Literal
Meaning: “for if what is passing away
was glorious”
“what
is passing away”
it means that the
ministry of the Old Testament is passing away and God does not want men to
serve Him according to the ordinances or rules of the law.
“What remains is much more glorious”
“what remains”
it indicates that the ministry
of the New Testament abides forever and God desires His children to serve Him
according to the principles of the New Testament forever.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) We believers are the light of the world. Let
our light shine before men
so that they may see our upright works
and glorify
our Father who is in the heavens (Matt. 5:14-16).
2) We appear as lights in world to hold forth
word of life (Phil. 2:15).
2Cor. 3:12 “Therefore
since we have
such hope
we use great boldness of speech--”
YLT: “Having
then
such hope
we use much freedom of
speech
”
Literal
Meaning: “therefore
since we have
such hope”
“such
hope”: it means having hope of the nature of the
ministry of the New Testament ---- have excellent hope and remain for ever;
“We use great boldness of speech--”
it means that we boast of the ministry of the
New Testament and speak out the ministry freely with boldness everywhere
without hiding our faces like Moses.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) Hope has great relation with boldness. The
more hope we have
the more boldness we will have.
2) Those who are in the world despise the
spiritual works and the position of preachers
for they do not know the glory
of the spiritual ministry. However
those who know the Lord have great glorious
hope of the glory of the ministry. Therefore
they honor the ministry and speak
“with boldness”.
2Cor. 3:13 “unlike Moses
who put a
veil over his face so that the children of
YLT: “and not as Moses
who was putting a veil upon his own
face
for the sons of
Literal
Meaning: “unlike Moses
who put a
veil over his face”
according to the
Old Testament
Moses put a veil on his face because the
“So that the children of Israel could not look steadily at
the end of what was passing away”
here
it seems that Paul thinks the reason why Moses put on his face a veil is
to let the children of Israel not look steadily at the passing away of the
glory on his face. “What
was passing away”
it refers to the
law of the Old Testament
whose end is like the passing away of the glory on
the face of Moses. The law is disannulled by God and becomes unprofitable (see
Heb. 7:18). Therefore
the ministry of the Old Testament is passing away.
2Cor. 3:14 “But their minds were
blinded. For until this day the same veil remains unlifted in the reading of
the Old Testament
because the veil is taken away in Christ.”
YLT: “but their minds were hardened
for unto this day the
same veil at the reading of the Old Covenant doth remain unwithdrawn -- which
in Christ is being made useless --”
Meaning of Words: “mind”: thought
intellect
and perception;
“blind”: petrify
indurate
and harden as the stone;
Literal
Meaning: “but their minds
were blinded”
“their”
that of the children of
“For until this day the same veil remains unlifted in the
reading of the Old Testament”
“the same veil”
here
Paul uses the veil put on the face of Moses to relate to the veil covering on
the eyes of the hearts of the Israel (see v.15).
“Because the veil is taken away in Christ”
“the veil”
it indicates that the misunderstandings
persistence and prejudices of the
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) One can find out the enlightenment in the
Scriptures when he reads in a sober and gentle mind.
2) If a profitable thing is misunderstood or
misused
it will become a harmful thing. If the spiritual truth
men or things
are improperly dealt with
they may profit us nothing. Therefore
we should not
judge by the objective conditions only
for we can use the objective conditions
properly with a right subjective mind.
2Cor. 3:15 “But even to this day
when
Moses is read
a veil lies on their heart.”
YLT: “but till to-day
when Moses is read
a vail upon their
heart doth lie
”
Literal
Meaning: “but even to this day”
“this day” refers to the times of the New Testament.
“When Moses is read
a veil lies on their heart”
“Moses”
here it refers to the Pentateuch (John 5:47)
that represents the Old Scriptures. “They” refers to those who uphold the law
among the Jews whose hearts are hardened (see v.14). The eyes of their hearts
are blinded because of the
misunderstandings
persistence and prejudices of the
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) Even to this day
the veil is not only on
the hearts of those who are of the Judaism but also on that of many Christians.
2) Though reading the Bible is greatly
profitable to believers
if one has not forsaken his prejudices
the profit
will be lessened
for he is blinded by his minds and prejudices.
2Cor. 3:16 “Nevertheless when one turns
to the Lord
the veil is taken away.”
YLT: “and whenever they may turn unto the Lord
the vail is
taken away.”
Literal
Meaning: “nevertheless when one turns
to the Lord”
“turns to the Lord”
turn to the Lord from the condition of
distracting from Him. It indicates that the children of
“The veil is taken away”
it means seeing the will of God clearly at once
without being blinded.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) Whenever we have thoughts outside of the
Lord (no matter that is of the world
or of the religion)
they will become the
veil that blinds us
making us unable to see the glory of the Lord. Therefore
if we want to see the glory of the Lord
we shall remove the veil. And if we
want to remove the veil
we shall turn to the Lord.
2) The removal of the veil that blinds us does
not depend on dealing with one’s “external deeds”
but on turning to the Lord
of one’s “internal hearts” ---- turn one’s heart to the Lord.
3) When Christ was crucified on the cross
he
had made the veil pass away (see v.14;
4) There will be transformation definitely on
the one who has really turned his heart to the Lord
namely
“seeing” the Lord
---- there are no longer veils blinding our eyes of hearts. Why do we often
have no light
and not understand the Scriptures and not know the will of God?
Probably
it is because the veils of us have not been taken away
for our
hearts are entangled by many people or things and we still have many old
opinions or prejudices that have not been removed.
5) The growth of life is due to the effect of
the metabolism. Though everything in Christ is eternal (see v.11)
if we
lingers about
the revelation in the past will become our veil that hinders us
from receiving new revelation. Therefore
we shall not stay in previous
experiences. Even thought it is the experience of being caught up to third
heaven
it may also become our veil.
6) Whatever our conditions are
the light of
God always shines upon us. However
if we turn our backs to Him
the light of
God can not shine upon our faces. If the veil of us has not been taken away
we
cannot see the light of God.
2Cor. 3:17 “Now the Lord is the Spirit;
and where the Spirit of the Lord is
there is liberty.”
YLT: “And the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the
Lord
there liberty;”
Literal
Meaning: “now the Lord is the Spirit”
“the Spirit”
it is the Spirit of the
living God
through which we fulfill the ministry of the New Testament (see
v.3). And it is also the Spirit that makes us sufficient as ministers of the
new covenant (see v.6). The Lord Jesus was incarnated
died and was risen. And
then
the Father gives us another Comforter
namely
the Spirit of truth
to be
with us and abide in us (see John 14:16-20). Therefore
the Lord is the Spirit
(see
“And where the Spirit of the Lord is
there is liberty.”
The opposite meaning of “liberty” is to be bondmen that are bound and ruled.
Men are bondmen under the law and are bound and ruled by the law. However
the
Spirit of the Lord has set those who believe the Lord free in freedom (Gal.
5:1).
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) Since we have the Spirit of the Lord in us
we need no longer the letter as the principles of our conduct
but shall follow
the inspiration and guidance of the Spirit of the Lord. The letter binds men
and yet the Spirit sets men free in freedom.
2) The Spirit of the Lord is the Lord Himself.
Once we have the Lord
we have liberty. Such liberty is the liberty in spirit.
3) The biggest bondage of us is ourselves. The
more we pay attention to ourselves
the more we will be bound. When we forget
ourselves and turn our hearts to the Lord
we will experience the liberty given
by the Spirit. The Spirit of the Lord abides in our spirits. We will be set
free from all bondage the moment we return to our spirits.
2Cor. 3:18 “But we all
with unveiled
face
beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord
are being transformed
into the same image from glory to glory
just as by the Spirit of the Lord.”
YLT: “and we all
with unvailed face
the glory of the Lord
beholding in a mirror
to the same image are being transformed
from glory to
glory
even as by the Spirit of the Lord.”
Literal
Meaning: “but we all
with unveiled face
beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord”
“we all”
it refers to all
believers in the New Covenant
namely
those who have turned their hearts to
the Lord (see v.16). Since we have turned our hearts to the Lord
we will not
be blinded any longer. Of course
we will behold the Lord’s glory with unveiled face.
“As in
a mirror”
“mirror” refers
to believers in the New Testament whose eyes of hearts are no longer blinded
with the veil.
“Are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory”
“the same image”
the image which is the manifestation of
the Lord’s life makes men know the nature and character of the Lord’s life.
“From glory to glory”
the effulgence of the
glory increases continually and changes to a deeper and deeper degree.
“Just as by the Spirit of the Lord”
the
above-mentioned transformation is on account of the work of the Lord’s Spirit.
The Lord’s Spirit
with the constitution and power of His life
works on us who
open to Him and increases the constitutions of His life in us by degrees so
that we shall have the
metabolic change and be transformed into His
image.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) We are a mirror
and the function of the
mirror is the reflection of light. When we turn our hearts to the Lord and
behold the Lord
men will see the Lord on us. If we focus our hearts on
ourselves
men will see our “selves” on us.
2) The ultimate hope of Christians is “being transformed into the Lord’s image from glory to glory”. Therefore
we shall often draw near the
Lord with
unveiled face so that the glory
of the Lord will shine upon us and we will be increasingly transformed into the
image of the Lord through the Spirit of the Lord.
3) The way of “being transformed into the Lord’s image from glory to glory” lies in “beholding the
glory of the Lord with unveiled face”. The more we see the Lord
the more we
will be shone upon by the glory of the Lord and the more we will manifest the
glorious image of the Lord. The more we let the Spirit of the Lord work on us
freely
the swifter our growth and transformation will be.
III.
Outlines of the Spiritual Lessons
The Characteristics of the Ministry of the New
Covenant
A. The victory and effect of the ministry
(2:14-17);
B. The function and sufficiency of the ministry
(v.1-6);
C. The glory and excellence of the ministry
(v.7-11);
Two Things That
Makes the Ministers Rejoice
A. Those that they serve have become the epistle of
the ministers (v.1-3);
B. The principle of their service is the
New Covenant full of gory (v.4-18);
A True Minister of
the New Testament ---- the Apostle Paul
A. The proof of the minister of the New
Testament ---- the church in
B. The source of the minister of the New
Testament ---- the Spirit
not the letter (v.4-6);
C. The nature of the ministry of the minister
of the New Testament ---- give life
spiritual
righteous (v.6
8-9);
D. The appearance of the ministry of the
minister of the New Testament ---- surpassing and eternal glory (v.8-11);
E. The attitudes of the minister of the New
Testament toward his ministry ---- have hope and use great boldness of speech (v.12);
F. The goal of the minister of the New
Testament ----
make believers be transformed into the image of the Lord (v.17-18);
The Reasons Why the
Ministry of the New Covenant is More Glorious than the Ministry of the Old
Covenant
A. It is of God
not ourselves (v.5) ---- it is
of the election of God
not one’s fleshly zeal; and it is through the grace of
God
not one’s fleshly effort;
B. It is through the Spirit
not the letter
(v.6) ---- it is according to the inspiration of the Spirit
not the rules of
the letter; it is providing the living spirit
not teaching the dead letter;
C. It is “the ministry of the Spirit”
not “the
ministry of death” (v.7-8) ---- it is through the Spirit
so it is of the
Spirit
not of the dead letter;
D. It is “the ministry of righteousness”
not
“the ministry of condemnation” (v.9) ---- the law in the Old Testament condemns
men’s sins
and yet the grace of the New Testament makes sinners in Christ
righteous;
E. It “remains” forever
and will not “pass
away” immediately (v.11) ---- so it has eternal value;
The Comparisons
between the Ministry of the New Covenant and the Ministry of the Old Covenant
A. The ministry of the Old Testament is through
the law of letter
and yet the ministry of the New Testament is through the
Spirit (v.6).
B. The ministry of the Old Testament kills
and
yet the ministry of the New Testament gives life (v.6).
C. The ministry of the Old Testament has glory
and yet the ministry of the New Testament has more glory (v.7-8).
D. The ministry of the Old Testament is the
ministry of condemnation
and yet the ministry of the New Testament is the
ministry of righteousness (v.9-10).
E. The glory of the ministry of the Old
Testament was passing away
and yet the glory of the ministry of the New Testament
remains forever (v.11).
F. The ministry of the Old Testament can not
make men see the
end clearly
and yet the ministry of the New
Testament uses great boldness of speech on account of hope (v.12-13).
G. The ministry of the Old Testament has a veil
that makes men unable to see Christ clearly
and yet the ministry of the New
Testament can take away the veil so as to make men see Christ clearly
(v.14-16).
H. The ministry of the Old Testament makes men
bound without freedom
and yet the ministry of the New Testament sets men free
in freedom (v.17).
I. The ministry of the Old Testament makes men
unable to look
steadily at the glory
and yet
the ministry of the New Testament makes men behold the glory of the Lord with
unveiled face (v.18).
J. The ministry of the Old Testament was
supposed to bring men to Christ but actually profited nothing because of the
blindness of men’s hearts. However
the ministry of the New Testament makes men
receive Christ and be transformed into the image of the Lord from glory to
glory (v.18).