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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 Rom. 16:1; 1Cor. 16:10; 2Cor. 8:22; Col. 4:7 and etc.)

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 Corinth that Paul often boasted of himself (see 10:8; 11:16-29; 12:16) and commended himself (see 4:2; 6:4). However Paul did not think he was commending himself.

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 Corinth and then took the epistle of the church in Corinth to other places.

“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 Corinth; “our” that of Paul and his fellow workers. It is the demonstration of the works of Paul and his fellow workers in the Lord that believers in Corinth have turned to the Lord and have been changed in life which indicates that they are the true servants of the Lord.

“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 Corinth have become “the bowels” of Paul and his fellow workers (see Philemon 12). No matter where they have gone they always bear them in mind and mention the testimony concerning them to others.

“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 Corinth have become an epistle of Christ by the service of the Lord’s servants.

“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 (Rom. 7:9-11). In other words the letter of the law in the Old Testament only demands but cannot provides life to men (Gal. 3:21) thus making men die eventually.

“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 (Rom. 8:6).

 

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; Rom. 7:5 10-13) so the ministry of the Old Testament is the ministry of death. “Ministry” is different from the “minister” inverse six: the former refers to the ministration of service and the latter relates to those who serve.

“Was glorious so that the children of Israel could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of the glory of his countenance” when Moses received the law on Mount Sinai the skin of his face shone through the glory of God (Ex. 34:29). The children of Israel were afraid to come near him (Ex. 34:30). The service of Moses before the people of Israel represented the ministry of the Old Testament so here it mentioned that the ministry of the Old Testament “was glorious”. Note that such glory was shone upon the face of Moses not upon that of the children of Israel.

“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 Israel out of Egypt for the ministry of the Old Testament was external visible service. And however the ministry of the New Testament is to bring those who are of God out of the spiritual world (namely the whole system of the world) which is internal invisible service. Therefore the ministry of the New Testament is more surpassing than that of the Old Testament.

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 (Rom. 3:28) so it is called “the ministry of righteousness”.

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 Israel could not look steadily at the end of what was passing away.

YLT: “and not as Moses who was putting a veil upon his own face for the sons of Israel not steadfastly to look to the end of that which is being made useless ”

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 Israel were afraid to come near him (see Ex. 34:30-35).

“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 Israel especially those who uphold the law among the Jews. “Minds”: thoughts of one’s mind or one’s mind;

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 Israel towards the letter of the law of the Old Testament have become a veil that covers their eyes. However the veil ---- the rules and applications of the law ---- now has been annulled when Christ has come (see Col. 2:14-17).

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 Israel towards the letter of the law. Therefore they cannot see or understand the will that God has revealed to men in the Old Scriptures (see Rom. 11:8 10).

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 Israel have prejudice against Christ and do not confess that He is the Messiah typified in the Old Testament because of the misunderstandings persistence and prejudices of the Israel towards the letter of the law so they rejected Him. Their attitudes toward Christ ---- confess Him or reject Him ---- decide whether they can see what is revealed by God. 

“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; Col. 2:14). However it is the fulfillment of the objective fact to us and has not become our subjective experience. We can not really experience the removal of the veil until we turn our hearts to the Lord.

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 Rom. 8:9-10).

“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 Corinth (v.1-3);

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).