Exegesis of 2 Cor. 3:6 - 18

[David Koot]

Interest has been expressed to me today, in exegeting 2 Corinthians 3:6 - 18 on the forum. I would request the involvement of John317, who has far more study tools at hand than I do. But, I, too, shall give a whack at at--deferring to him if he has time to get involved. For starters, here is the passage, NASB:

"6who also made us adequate as servants of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

7But if the ministry of death, in letters engraved on stones, came with glory, so that the sons of Israel could not look intently at the face of Moses because of the glory of his face, fading as it was,

8how will the ministry of the Spirit fail to be even more with glory?

9For if the ministry of condemnation has glory, much more does the ministry of righteousness abound in glory.

10For indeed what had glory, in this case has no glory because of the glory that surpasses it.

11For if that which fades away was with glory, much more that which remains is in glory.

12Therefore having such a hope, we use great boldness in our speech,

13and are not like Moses, who used to put a veil over his face so that the sons of Israel would not look intently at the end of what was fading away.

14But their minds were hardened; for until this very day at the reading of the old covenant the same veil remains unlifted, because it is removed in Christ.

15But to this day whenever Moses is read, a veil lies over their heart;

16but whenever a person turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.

17Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.

18But 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 from the Lord, the Spirit."

I expect this project to take some time. It is already a bit late, so perhaps posting the passage itself would be a good start for the initial post. Am looking forward to response.

Dave

[David Koot]

Well, I won't get much into the Greek tonight, but will take a look at what the NASB says, for starters.

"6who also made us adequate as servants of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

"New covenant" Very well. What does this writer, Paul, say about "new covenant"? Where else does he describe it? One passage is in Hebrews 10:15 - 17:

"15 And the Holy Spirit also testifies to us; for after saying,

16"THIS IS THE COVENANT THAT I WILL MAKE WITH THEM

AFTER THOSE DAYS, SAYS THE LORD:

I WILL PUT MY LAWS UPON THEIR HEART,

AND ON THEIR MIND I WILL WRITE THEM,"

He then says,

17"AND THEIR SINS AND THEIR LAWLESS DEEDS

I WILL REMEMBER NO MORE."

This appears to be quoted from elsewhere. What is that reference? Jeremiah 31:33, 34. What 'laws' are being described? In both Jeremiah and Hebrews, reference is made to the covenant God made with Israel when He brought them out of Egypt. What were the terms of that covenant for the Israelites? The Ten Commandments. Thus, under the New Covenant, God promises to write the Ten Commandments in the minds and hearts of His people, that is, Christians, today.

Well, perhaps that is enough for starters. Any thoughts about it?

Dave

[David Koot]

Excellent! I just heard back from John317, and he is willing to get involved on this project. Said he will need a couple of days. Looking forward to what he presents.

Dave

[Robert]

"6 who also made us adequate as servants of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills [the old covenant kills], but the Spirit gives life."

[David Koot]

Robert, I am impressed. IMO you did an excellent job in distinguishing some fine points in the passage. It will be interesting to take a look at the Greek, to compare. One point of note is that when Paul speaks of people being 'under the law,' and believers not being under the law, I believe he is referring to the law as a means of salvation. I do not believe he is suggesting that believers' lives are not governed by the moral law of God.

Dave

[Robert]

One point of note is that when Paul speaks of people being 'under the law,' and believers not being under the law, I believe he is referring to the law as a means of salvation. I do not believe he is suggesting that believers' lives are not governed by the moral law of God.

Look at Romans 2:12 All who have sinned without the law [without a knowledge of the law] will also perish without the law, and all who have sinned under the law will be judged by the law. 13 For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law who will be justified.

It doesn't matter if do not know the law, or if you are "under the law" in terms of your salvation. Why? As far as the law is concerned there's only one way and that is by being a doer of the law.

So yes, when Paul uses the phrase "under law" he means using the law as a method for salvation. In other places he uses the phrase, "works of the law", which really means a legalistic attempt to gain heaven.

[David Koot]

I would be very interested if the individual who requested exegesis of 2 Cor. 3, (which request resulted in this thread being started,) would care to comment on Robert's treatment of the passage.

[benherndon]

For a broadening of our interpretive perspective, let's look at another translation, The New English Bible:

2Cor 3:6-18: "6...it is he who has qualified us to dispense his new covenant---a covenant expressed not in a written document, but in a spiritual bond; for the written law condemns to death, but the Spirit gives life.

7The law, then, engraved letter by letter upon stone, dispensed death, and yet it was inaugurated with divine splendor. That splendor, though it was soon to fade, made the face of Moses so bright that the Israelites could not gaze steadily at him.

8But if so, must not even greater splendour rest upon the divine dispensation of the Spirit?

9If splendour accompanied the dispensation under which we are condemned, how much richer in spelndour must that one be under which we are acquitted!

10Indeed, the splendour that once was is now no splendour at all; it is outshone by a splendour greater still.

11For if that which was soon to fade had its moment of splendour, how much greater is the splendour of that which endures?

12 13With such a hope as this we speak out boldly; it is not for us to do as Moses did: he put a veil over his face to keep the Israelites from gazing on that fading splendour until it was gone.

14But in any case their minds had been made insensitive, for that same veil is there to this very day when the lesson is read from the old covenant; and it is never lifted, because only in Christ is the old covenant abrogated. [footnote: Or in Christ is it abolished]

15But to this very day, every time the Law of Moses is read, a veil lies over the minds of the hearers.

16However, as Scripture says of Moses, 'whenever he turns to the Lord the veil is removed.'[footnote: Or as Scripture says, when one turns to the Lord the veil is removed]

17Now the Lord of whom this passage speaks is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.

18And because for us there is no veil over the face, we all reflect as in a mirror the splendour of the Lord; thus we are transfigured into his likeness, from splendour to splendour; such is the influence of the Lord who is Spirit."

[benherndon]

Here it is in the Kings James Version for comparison:

2Cor 3:6-18

"v6Who hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.

v7But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away:

v8How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious?

v9For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory.

v10For even that which was made glorious had no glory in this respect, by reason of the glory that excelleth.

v11For if that which is done away was glorious, much more that which remaineth is glorious.

v12Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech:

v13And not as Moses, which put a vail over his face, that the children of Israel could not stedfastly look to the end of that which is abolished:

v14But their minds were blinded; for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in Christ;

v15But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart,

v16Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away.

Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.

v18But we all, with opin face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord." (King James Version)

[David Koot]

I must confess to being a bit puzzled as to why you would choose the NEB, Ben. It is not one that is used often, in fact I have heard objections expressed to it. You will not find it in your typical Christian bookstore, at least in this area. As for the KJV, it is, indeed, an old warhorse, but a bit challenging to understand at times, and, of course, relies on rather late manuscripts. Do you find some significant differences between the NASB and these two other versions, in how they have rendered this passage?

[benherndon]

Notice I'm not interpreting or exegete-ing. Who am I? If I check out different translations then I can see whether or not there is a difference between them.

The NKJV is so close to the KJV that I won't quote it....but here it is from the NIV which is currently the most favored of all Bibles by 'the people' of today based on availability and sales.....

"v6 He made us competent as ministers of the new covenant--not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter killls, but the Spirit gives life.

v7 Now if the ministry that brought death, which was engraved on stone, came with glory, so that the Israelites could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of its glory, fading though it was,

v8 will not the ministry of the Spirit be even more glorious?

v9 If the ministry that condemns men is glorious, how much more glorious is the ministry that brings righteousness!

v10 For what was glorious has no glory now in comparison with the surpassing glory.

v11 And if what was fading away came with glory, how much greater is the glory of that which lasts?

v12 Therefore, since we have such a hope, we are very bold.

V13 We are not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face to keep the Israelites from gazing at it while the radiance was fading away.

v14 But their minds were made dull, for unto this day the same veil remains when the old covenant is read. It has not been removed, because only in Christ is it taken away.

v15 Even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts.

v16 But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.

v17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, thre is freedom.

v18 And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever increasing glory, who is the Spirit."

Ben

[benherndon]

This is from Today English Version, TEV:

"v6 ..it is he who made us capable of serving the new covenant, which consists not of a written law but of the Spirit. The written law brings death, but the Spirit gives life.

v7 The Law was carved in letters on stone tablets, and God's glory appeared when it was given. Even though the brightness on Moses' face was fading, it was so strong that the people of Israel could not keep their eyes fixed on him. If the Law, which brings death when it is in force, came with such glory,

v8 how much greater is the glory that belongs to the activity of the Spirit!

v9 The system which brings condemnation was glorious: how much more glorious is the activity which brings salvation!

v10 We may say that because of the far brighter glory now the glory that was so bright in the past is gone.

v11 For if there was glory in that which lasted for a while, how much more glory is there in that which lasts forever!

v12 Because we have this hope, we are very bold.

v13 We are not like Moses, who had to put a veil over his face so that the people of Israel would not see the brightness fade and disappear.

v14 Their minds, indeed, were closed; and to this very day their minds are covered with the same veil as they read the books of the old covenant. The veil is removed only when a person is joined to Christ.

v15 Even today, whenever the read the Law of Moses, the veil still covers their minds.

v16 But it can be removed, as the scripture says about Moses: "His veil was removed when he turned to the Lord."

v17 Now, "the Lord" in this passage is the Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is present, there is freedom.

v18 All of us, then, reflect the glory of the Lord with uncovered faces; and that same glory, coming from the Lord, who is the Spirit, transforms us into his likeness in an ever greater degree of glory."

[David Koot]

This is from Today English Version, TEV:

The TEV is not recognized in the industry as an accurate translation. It is a paraphrase, and one which reflects the doctrinal views of the editors.

Dave

[benherndon]

I have no preference for the NEB, David. I have many versions and just began to pick them up and show some variety of versions on that chapter. I like the NASB a lot....but I find that virtually all the peer reviewed versions say the same thing, really. I'm not highly picky about how it has to be 'said'...I look at the context mostly. However, being SDA trained and knowing SDAs pretty well, when I saw, yesterday, the NEB, I thought to myself, that ought to be pretty plain to any SDA.

Let's see what the few SDAs that will 'deal' with this chapter, how they 'deal' with it. Not to argue...just to learn!

Ben

[Robert]

Originally Posted By: benherndon

This is from Today English Version, TEV:

The TEV is not recognized in the industry as an accurate translation. It is a paraphrase, and one which reflects the doctrinal views of the editors.

Dave

Ben, I agree with this statement....

[benherndon]

David, are you willing to explain to us the difference between the translation of this chapter in the KJV compared to the one in the NEB, if there is a difference?

Ben

[Clio]

Dr. Ben...

I must be particularly dense today. How is this chapter confusing?

The covenant of the law was a covenant that was ratified with symbolic blood and could only be kept in force with a perpetual renewing of that symbolic blood that had no transformative power.

It was accepted "in proxy" for the Blood to be shed by the Son of the King which would alter lines of inheritance, infuse those who were Blood-Bought through faith with the "essence" or Spirit of the Son of the King, and would be marked by the giving of the King of a fine suit of garments suitable for a marriage (or adoption) and a suit of armor.

Through the second or "new" covenant we are free from death because we are no longer members of the family of Adam, but members of the Family of the King of Kings, joint heirs with Jesus our Kinsman Redeemer. Thus as it states in Scripture we are truly free.

How is this difficult to understand? Why do so many not see it? :duno

[David Koot]

Okay, while we are waiting for John317 to weigh in on the Greek, will someone please explain what s/he finds significant as to differences between the recognized Bible versions that have been cited here. that would not include the TEV, as that is not a recognized, accurate Bible translation, but a paraphrase.

Dave

[benherndon]

No difference in the meaning or teaching between any of them. They all say the same thing including the TEV......("My 2 cents"..with apologies to Taylor, was it? )

Let's see what John317 has to say.

Ben

[benherndon]

While we are waiting for John317, here is the Jerusalem Bible on 2Cor 3:

(This is written in prose style with verse numbers along the margins and not exactly placed as in most other versions)

v6 "He is the one who has given us the qualifications to be the administrators of this new covenant, which is not a covenant of written letters on stone but of the Spirit: the written letteers bring death, but the Spirit gives life. V7 Now if the administering of death, in the written letters engraved on stones, was accomopanied by such a brightness that the Israelites could not bear looking at the face of Moses, though it was a brightnes that faded, v8 then how much greater will be the brightness that surrounds the administering of the Spirit! v9 For if there was any splendour in administering condemnation, there must be very much greater splendour in administering justification. v10 In fact, compared with this greater splendour, the thing that used to have such splendour now seems to have none; v11 and if what was so temporary had any splendour, there must be much more in what is going to last for ever. v12 Having this hope, we can be quite confident; v13 not like Moses, who put a veil over his face so that the Israelites would not notice the ending of what had to fade. v14 And anyway, their minds had been dulled; indeed, to this very day, that same veil is still there when the old covenant is being read, a veil never lifted, since Christ alone can remove it. v15 Yes, even today, whenever Moses is read, the veil is over their minds v16 It will not be removed until they turn to the Lord. v17 Now this Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. v18 and we, with our unveiled faces reflecting like mirrors the brightness of the Lord, all grow brighter and brighter as we are turned into the image that we reflect; this is the work of the Lord who is Spirit."

[David Koot]

No difference in the meaning or teaching between any of them. They all say the same thing

Which is? What is your point? Why do you see this passage as important?

Dave

[Robert]

Through the second or "new" covenant we are free from death because we are no longer members of the family of Adam, but members of the Family of the King of Kings, joint heirs with Jesus our Kinsman Redeemer. Thus as it states in Scripture we are truly free.

I understand your meaning, but we are members of the heavenly king by FAITH. We are not in reality "free from death" until we receive our glorified lives....

[Clio]

We are free from the second death and that is the only one that matters because by entry into the Blood Covenant our earthly life is forfeit at the King's need from the moment we accept His Grace.

Mine is given freely, He graciously asked me to Live for Him.

Clio

[Robert]

We are free from the second death and that is the only one that matters....

Okay....

[David Koot]

Just tagging on here . . . Still waiting for a response from Ben about this passage--what "the point" is. And, of course, from John317, with some exegesis. Meanwhile, Robert's treatment of the passage on p. 1 is about what I would have done, using the English-language Bible.