2 Corinthians 3:8

Amplified Bible

how will the ministry of the Spirit [the new covenant which allows us to be Spirit-filled] fail to be even more glorious and splendid?

Parallel Translations

Easy-to-Read Version
So surely the new agreement that comes from the life-giving Spirit has even more glory.

Revised Standard Version
will not the dispensation of the Spirit be attended with greater splendor?

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
why shall not the ministracion of the sprete be moche more glorious?

Hebrew Names Version
won't service of the Spirit be with much more glory?

New American Standard Bible
how will the ministry of the Spirit fail to be even more with glory?

New Century Version
So surely the new way that brings the Spirit has even more glory.

Update Bible Version
how shall not rather the service of the spirit be with glory?

Webster's Bible Translation
How shall not the ministration of the Spirit be rather glorious?

English Standard Version
will not the ministry of the Spirit have even more glory?

World English Bible
won't service of the Spirit be with much more glory?

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
For if the ministration of condemnation was glory,

Weymouth's New Testament
will not the service of the Spirit be far more glorious?

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
hou schal not the mynystracioun of the spirit be more in glorie?

English Revised Version
how shall not rather the ministration of the spirit be with glory?

Berean Standard Bible
will not the ministry of the Spirit be even more glorious?

Contemporary English Version
So won't the agreement that the Spirit brings to us be even more wonderful?

American Standard Version
how shall not rather the ministration of the spirit be with glory?

Bible in Basic English
Will not the operation of the Spirit have a much greater glory?

Complete Jewish Bible
won't the working of the Spirit be accompanied by even greater glory?

Darby Translation
how shall not rather the ministry of the Spirit subsist in glory?

International Standard Version
will not the Spirit's ministry have even more glory?Galatians 3:5;">[xr]

Etheridge Translation
how much more then doth not the ministry Of the Spirit excel in glory?

Murdock Translation
how then shall not the ministration of the Spirit be still more glorious?

King James Version (1611)
How shall not the ministration of the spirit, be rather glorious?

New Living Translation
Shouldn't we expect far greater glory under the new way, now that the Holy Spirit is giving life?

New Life Bible
The new way of life through the Holy Spirit comes with much more shining-greatness.

New Revised Standard
how much more will the ministry of the Spirit come in glory?

Geneva Bible (1587)
Howe shall not the ministration of the Spirite be more glorious?

George Lamsa Translation
Why then shall not the ministration of the Spirit be more glorious?

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
How shall not, rather, the ministry of the Spirit, be with glory?

Douay-Rheims Bible
How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather in glory?

Bishop's Bible (1568)
Howe shall not the ministration of the spirite be much more in glorie?

Good News Translation
how much greater is the glory that belongs to the activity of the Spirit!

Christian Standard Bible®
how will the ministry of the Spirit not be more glorious?

King James Version
How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious?

Lexham English Bible
how will the ministry of the Spirit not be even more with glory?

Literal Translation
how much rather the ministry of the Spirit will be in glory!

Young's Literal Translation
how shall the ministration of the Spirit not be more in glory?

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
how shal not ye mynistracion of ye sprete be moch more glorious?

Mace New Testament (1729)
shall not the ministration of the spirit be more glorious?

New English Translation
how much more glorious will the ministry of the Spirit be?

New King James Version
how will the ministry of the Spirit not be more glorious?

Simplified Cowboy Version
If the old code shined bright with God's glory but faded, how much more will the new one shine even brighter.

New American Standard Bible (1995)
how will the ministry of the Spirit fail to be even more with glory?

Legacy Standard Bible
how will the ministry of the Spirit not be even more in glory?

Contextual Overview

⁶He has qualified us [making us sufficient] as ministers of a new covenant [of salvation through Christ], not of the letter [of a written code] but of the Spirit; for the letter [of the Law] kills [by revealing sin and demanding obedience], but the Spirit gives life. ⁷Now if the ministry of death, engraved in letters on stones [the covenant of the Law which led to death because of sin], came with such glory and splendor that the Israelites were not able to look steadily at the face of Moses because of its glory, [a brilliance] that was fading, ⁸how will the ministry of the Spirit [the new covenant which allows us to be Spirit-filled] fail to be even more glorious and splendid?⁹For if the ministry that brings condemnation [the old covenant, the Law] has glory, how much more does glory overflow in the ministry that brings righteousness [the new covenant which declares believers free of guilt and sets them apart for God's special purpose]! ¹⁰Indeed, what had glory [the Law], in this case no longer has glory because of the glory that surpasses it [the gospel]. ¹¹For if that [Law] which fades away came with glory, how much more must that [gospel] which remains and is permanent abide in glory and splendor!

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

the ministration: 2 Corinthians 3:6, 2 Corinthians 3:17, 2 Corinthians 11:4, Isaiah 11:2, Isaiah 44:3, Isaiah 59:21, Joel 2:28, Joel 2:29, John 1:17, John 7:39, Acts 2:17, Acts 2:18, Acts 2:32, Acts 2:33, Romans 8:9-16, 1 Corinthians 3:16, 1 Corinthians 12:4-11, Galatians 3:2-5, Galatians 3:14, Galatians 5:5, Galatians 5:22, Galatians 5:23, Ephesians 2:18, 2 Thessalonians 2:13, 1 Peter 1:2, Jude 1:19, Jude 1:20

Reciprocal: Exodus 31:18 - the finger Isaiah 32:15 - the spirit Jeremiah 31:33 - I will Acts 6:15 - saw 2 Corinthians 4:4 - lest Galatians 3:5 - that Ephesians 4:12 - the work 1 Timothy 1:11 - glorious Hebrews 8:10 - I will put

Cross-References

Genesis 3:1
Now the serpent was more crafty (subtle, skilled in deceit) than any living creature of the field which the LORD God had made. And the serpent (Satan) said to the woman, "Can it really be that God has said, 'You shall not eat from any tree of the garden'?"

Genesis 3:2
And the woman said to the serpent, "We may eat fruit from the trees of the garden,

Genesis 3:3
except the fruit from the tree which is in the middle of the garden. God said, 'You shall not eat from it nor touch it, otherwise you will die.'"

Genesis 3:9
But the LORD God called to Adam, and said to him, "Where are you?"

Genesis 3:10
He said, "I heard the sound of You [walking] in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid myself."

Genesis 3:12
And the man said, "The woman whom You gave to be with me—she gave me [fruit] from the tree, and I ate it."

Genesis 3:21
The LORD God made tunics of [animal] skins for Adam and his wife and clothed them.

Genesis 3:22
And the LORD God said, "Behold, the man has become like one of Us (Father, Son, Holy Spirit), knowing [how to distinguish between] good and evil; and now, he might stretch out his hand, and take from the tree of life as well, and eat [its fruit], and live [in this fallen, sinful condition] forever"—

Deuteronomy 4:33
"Did [any] people ever hear the voice of God speaking out of the midst of the fire, as you heard, and [still] live?

Deuteronomy 5:25
'Now then why should we die? For this great fire will consume us; if we hear the voice of the LORD our God any longer, then we will die.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

How shall not the ministration of the Spirit,.... By "the ministration of the Spirit", is meant the Gospel; so called not only because it ministers spiritual things, as peace, pardon, righteousness and salvation, spiritual joy and comfort, and even spiritual life; but because it ministers the Spirit of God himself, by whom it is not only dictated, and by him at first confirmed, and who qualities persons for the preaching of it; but by it he conveys himself into the hearts of men, and makes it powerful for illumination, consolation, edification, and an increase of every grace; and therefore must be rather glorious, or much more glorious than the law, the ministration of death.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

How shall not the ministration of the Spirit - This is an argument from the less to the greater. Several things in it are worthy of notice:

(1) The proper contrast to the “ministration of death” 2 Corinthians 3:7, would have been ‘ministration of life.’ But Paul chose rather to call it the ‘ministration of the spirit;’ as the source of life; or as conferring higher dignity on the gospel than to have called it simply the ministration of life.

(2) By the “Spirit” here is manifestly meant the Holy Spirit; and the whole phrase denotes the gospel, or the preaching of the gospel, by which eminently the Holy Spirit is imparted.

(3) It is the high honor of the gospel ministry, that it is the means by which the Holy Spirit is imparted to human beings. It is designed to secure the salvation of people by his agency; and it is through the ministry that the Holy Spirit is imparted, the heart renewed, and the soul saved. The work of the ministry is, therefore, the most important and honorable in which man can engage.

Be rather glorious -

(1) Because that of Moses tended to death; this to life.

(2) Because that was engraved on stone; this is engraved on the heart.

(3) Because that was the mere giving of a law; this is connected with the renovating influences of the Holy Spirit.

(4) Because that was soon to pass away. All the magnificence of the scene was soon to vanish. But this is to remain. Its influence and effect are to he everlasting. It is to stretch into eternity; and its main glory is to be witnessed in souls renewed and saved; and amidst the splendors of heaven. “The work of the Spirit of God on the heart of a rational being, is much more important than any dead characters which can be engraved on insensible stones” - Doddridge.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 2 Corinthians 3:8. The ministration of the Spirit — The Gospel dispensation, which gives the true spiritual sense of the law.

Be rather glorious? — Forasmuch as the thing signified is of infinitely more consequence than that by which it is signified. The THING bread will preserve a man alive; the WORD bread can give life to nothing.