Bible Commentaries
2 Corinthians 3

Verses 1-18

III 1-3 Paul needs no Letter of Recommendation — The allusion to the False Apostles brings him back for a moment to current events.

1. ’again’: perhaps his enemies had accused him of self-praise in 1 Cor chh 4 and 9. ’Epistles’, etc.: the False Apostles had either brought such letters to Corinth or obtained some from the Corinthians.

2. His work at Corinth is a ’letter of introduction’ which will prove to all the world what sort of apostle he is. ’Our hearts’: We should have expected your, but he suddenly decides to bring in the additional thought that their names were written in his heart, as he expressly says in 7:3. 3. His letter i.e. work) is Christ’s, and Paul is only a secretary minister). ’Stone’: His work is now compared, not to a letter, but to an inscription on stone, in fact to the Two Tables of the Law. It is all an excellent example of Paul’s elusive imagery. Cf.1 Corinthians 3:10.

III. 4-VI 10 A Picture of the True Apostle —This is the second large division of the letter. Though it comes in almost like a digression, it is the most important passage except chh 10-13, for which it is a preparation, § 883d. There are three predominant ideas: (1) The apostles are the ministers of a revelation far greater than that of Moses (3:4-18). (2) Yet in themselves they are nothing: it is God who works through them (4:7-15; 6:3-10). (3) Though surrounded by misery they have a serene confidence which can look beyond death (4:16-5:11). Much of what he says of the apostles has an application to all Christian sanctity, and the plainest and richest spiritual treasures of the epistle lie in this portion. Intermingled with these sublime thoughts are verses which show that Paul never forgot present circumstances for a moment. In him the mystic and man of action were always united (4:1-6; 5:11-14; 6:1-2).

III 4-18 As Christianity is greater than Judaism, so are its Ministers endowed with Greater Power — 4-5. He takes up the thought of 2:14-16, as appears from ’sufficient’ in 5. ’Of ourselves’: ’From ourselves, by our own strength’.6. ’Testament’ the Greek word is regularly used to describe the covenant (i.e. contract) made between God and Israel on Sinai. The new covenant therefore means practically the religion of Christ. ’In the letter’ Ministers not of the letter’, etc.’. By ’letter’ he means the whole Jewish religion, based on the written Law of Moses, and by ’spirit’ the religion of Christ. The first was essentially a body of regulations bringing knowledge of God’s will, but not in itself giving the supernatural strength to carry it out: Christ did give that strength. The one therefore kills, because its only direct result is a deeper sense of sin and guilt. This thought is fully set forth in Rom

7. ’Quickeneth’: ’gives life’.7. ’Glory’: the unbearable radiance of Moses’ face when he returned from his meeting with God is described Exodus 34:29. ’Is made void’: ’was transitory, destined to fade’, as indeed the Mosaic Law itself was.

8. ’Rather in glory’: ’More glorious’.9. ’Ministration of justice’: ’The (apostolic) office which guides men to holiness’.

10. ’For even that which was glorious (i.e. the Mosaic Law) has become inglorious (has been outshone) in this respect by reason of the superior glory’ of the Gospel.

11. ’That which remaineth’: i.e. the Gospel, which is eternal.

12-18. He is arrested by another thought suggested by Moses’ veil—the obscurity of the earlier revelation, and the failure of the Jews to penetrate to the hidden truth within it, which was Christ. The Gospel reveals clearly what had been dimly foreshowed in the Law.

12. ’Confidence’: the Greek word means especially boldness of speech.

13. ’On the face’, etc.: On the termination of that which was passing away, i.e. the disappearance of the radiance. Or perhaps: On the fulfilment of that which, etc., i.e. on Christ who was the fulfilment of the Law. Unlike Moses, the preacher of the Gospel uses no veil, no reserve, but can put forth the whole truth.

14. ’Senses’: ’Minds.’ ’Old testament.’ The term is not yet used in our sense, but means the first five books (Genesis to Deuteronomy), called the ’Law’, a portion of which was read every Sabbath in the synagogue.

’Because’, etc.: ’Because it is only in Christ (at the coming of Christ) that it is removed’.

15. ’Heart’: In Jewish diction the heart was the seat of intelligence.

16. ’But when a man turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away’. When a Jew accepts the Gospel, he sees the real meaning of the Law.

17. ’A spirit’: ’The spirit’. This verse is a parenthesis to explain 16. Paraphrase: ’When I say "the Lord" I mean "the spirit" (i.e. the Gospel and the grace it leads to, see 6) and where this Divine grace is, it brings liberty from that slavery which is the condition of those who are under the Mosaic Law—slavery to ignorance and sin’.

18. ’But we all, with face uncovered, beholding’, etc.’ Two ideas are compressed together: (1) The Christian, having known the wonderful revelation of God in Christ (’the glory of the Lord’) proclaims it fearlessly without reserve (’with face uncovered’). (2) By gazing on Christ, he at once begins to acquire something of Christ-like splendour which grows brighter till it is made perfect in heaven. ’From glory to glory i.e. to greater and greater glory.