Bible Commentaries
2 Corinthians 3

Verse 1

Do we , &c. = Are we to begin.

again. He had done so in 1 Corinthians 9:0 .

commend. Greek. sunistano . See on Romans 3:5 .

some. Greek tines. App-124 .

epistles , &c. = commendatory (Greek. sustatikos . Only here) letters. Compare Acts 18:27 .

to. Ge. pros. App-104 ,

from. Greek. ek. App-104 . Question preceded by me.

Verse 2

written . Cr. engrapho. Only here and 2 Corinthians 3:3 .

in. Greek. en , App-104 .

known. Greek ginosko. App-132 .

read. Greek anaginosko. There is a Paronomasia here, App-6 .

of = by. Greek. hupo . App-104 .

men . App-123 .

Verse 3

manifestly declared = manifested. Greek. phaneroo. App-106 .

Christ . App-08 .

ministered . Greek diakaneo. App-190 .

by. Greek. hupo , as in 2 Corinthians 3:2 .

not . Greek. ou . App-105 .

with. No Preposition. Dative case.

ink. Greek. melan. Only here, 2Jn 1:12 . 3 John 1:13 .

Spirit. App-101 .

God. App-98 .

tables of stone = stone tables.

tables . Greek. plax. Only here and Hebrews 9:4 .

fleshy . Greek. sarkinos. This word refers to the substance or material and carries no moral significance. Compare Hebrews 7:16 , where the texts read as here.

Verse 4

trust = confidence. Greek. pepoithesis . App-130 .,

through . Greek. dia. App-104 .

Christ = the Christ.

to God-ward = toward (Greek. pros. App-104 .)

God.

Verse 5

of = from. Greek. apo. App-104 .

think = reckon. Greek logizomai. See the frequent occurance in Romans 4:0 , count, reckon, &c.

any thing . Greek. tis . App-123 .,

of. Greek. ek . App-101 .

sufficiency . Greek. hikanotes. Only here.

of . Greek. ek , as above.

Verse 6

also. Road after "ministers".

hath made us able = enabled us, or made us efficient as. Greek. hikanoo. Only here and Colossians 1:12 .

ministers. Greek. diakonos . App-190 .

the = a.

new. Greek. kainos . See Matthew 9:17 .

testament = covenant. Greek. diatheke. See Matthew 26:28 . This is the covenant of Jeremiah 31:31 . Compare Hebrews 8:6-13 .

the. Omit.

letter. Greek. gramma. This is the Sinaitic covenant, called "theministration of death" in 2 Corinthians 3:7 .

spirit . The old covenant could not give life. It was like a dead body, for lack of the spirit (James 2:26 ). Compare John 6:63 . Christ is the Spirit of the new covenant. See 2 Corinthians 3:17 ,

giveth life = quickeneth. Greek. zoopoieo. See Romans 8:11 and 1 Corinthians 15:45 .

Verse 7

if . App-118 .2, a.

ministration . Greek. diakonia. App-190 .

written = in (Greek. en . App-104 .) letters. See 2 Corinthians 3:6 .

engraven. Greek. entupoo. Only here.

was = came to be.

glorious = in (Greek. en) glory.

children = sons. Greek. huios . App-108 .

not. Greek. me . App-106 .

stedfastly behold gaze upon. Greek. atenizo. App-133 . Followed by the Greek eis ( App-104 .)

Moses . Occurs three times in this Epistle, here, on 2Co 13:15 .

for = on amount of. Greek. dia. App-104 . 2 Corinthians 3:2 .

to be done away = being done away. Greek. katargeo. See Romans 3:3 .

Verse 8

not. Greek. ouchi. App-105 .

Verse 9

condemnation. Greek. katakrisis. Only here and 2 Corinthians 7:3 . See App-122 .

righteousness . Gs. dikaiosune. App-191 .

Verse 10

made glorious = glorified. Greek. doxazo. See p. 1511.

had no glory = was not glorified, as above.

excelleth . Greek. huperballo. Occurs here, 2 Corinthians 9:14 , Ephesians 1:19 ; Ephesians 2:7 ; Ephesians 3:19 .

Verse 11

glorious = through (Greek. dia. App-104 . 2 Corinthians 3:1 ) glory.

remaineth . Greek. meno. See p. 1511.

glorious = in (Greek. en) glory.

Verse 12

Seeing . . . have = Having then.

use. Greek chraomai. See Acts 27:3 ,

great = much.

plainness of speech = outspokenness. Greek. parrhesia . Often translated boldly, or freely.

Verse 13

vail. Greek kalununa. Only here and in verses: 2Co 3:14 , 2 Corinthians 3:15 , 2 Corinthians 3:16 .

over = upon. Greek. epi. App-104 . See Exodus 34:33 .

that , &c. = with a view to (Greek. pros . App-104 .) the children of Israel's not gazing to the end.

to. Greek. eis. App-104 .

abolished = being done away, as in 2 Corinthians 3:7 .

Verse 14

minds = thoughts. Greek. noema. See 2 Corinthians 2:11 .

blinded = hardened. Greek. poroo. Sea Romans 11:7 , Romans 11:26 (poroeis).

this day = to-day. Greek. semeron.

untaken away = not (Greek. me . App-105 ) unveiled, or revealed (Greek. anakalupto , unveil, only here and 2 Corinthians 3:18 ). This should follow "old testament". It means, "it being not revealed that it is done away" (Revised Version m.)

in . Greek. epi. App-104 .

reading. Greek. anagnosis . See Acts 13:15 .

old testament = old covenant. The only place where the term is used. The usual designation is "the law", or "Moses" (2 Corinthians 3:15 ).

which vail = that (Greek. hoti) it.

Verse 15

when. Greek. henika. Only here and 2 Corinthians 3:16 .

is = lieth.

upon . Greek. epi. App-104 .

Verse 16

it. i.e. the heart of Israel.

turn. Greek. epistrepho. Often translated "return", or be converted". See Matthew 13:15 .John 12:40 . Acts 3:19 ; Acts 28:27 .

Lord. App-98 .

taken away. Greek periaireo. See Acts 27:20 .

Verse 17

Lord . App-98 .

that = the.

Spirit. App-101 . Compare 2 Corinthians 3:6 .

Verse 18

open = unveiled. See 2 Corinthians 3:14 . Here is the contrast. Moses alone beheld and reflected the Shekinah glory, we all behold and reflect the Lord's glory.

beholding . . . glass = reflecting, as Revised Version. Greek. katoptrizo. Only here.

changed = transformed. Greek. metamorphoomai. See Mark 9:2 .

image . Greek. eiken. Compare Romans 8:29 . Co 2 Corinthians 1:3 , 2 Corinthians 1:10 . . Greek. apo . App-104 .

by = from, Greek. apo .

the Spirit of the Lord = the Lord the Spirit. The word "Spirit" is in the Genitive of Apposition. App-17 . See 2 Corinthians 3:6 .