II Corinthians 3 Commentary: The Sufficiency of Christ
Do we begin again to commend ourselves? or need we, as some others, epistles of commendation to you, or letters of commendation from you?
Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men:
Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart.
And such trust have we through Christ to God-ward:
Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God;
Who also 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.
But 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:
How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious?
For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory.
For even that which was made glorious had no glory in this respect, by reason of the glory that excelleth.
For if that which is done away was glorious, much more that which remaineth is glorious.
Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech:
And 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:
But 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.
But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart.
Nevertheless 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.
But we all, with open 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.
II Corinthians 3 delves into the heart of Paul's apostolic ministry and the surpassing glory of the new covenant in Christ. In this chapter, Paul defends his ministry, contrasts the old and new covenants, and emphasizes the transformative power of the Holy Spirit. This chapter offers profound insights into the nature of Christian ministry and the believer's ongoing transformation into the image of Christ.
The Living Letter of Recommendation (II Corinthians 3:1-3)
Paul addresses a potential challenge to his authority. Instead of boasting or presenting letters of recommendation like some false teachers (II Corinthians 3:1), Paul points to the Corinthians themselves as his credentials. Their transformed lives, their conversion from pagan idolatry to faith in Christ, serve as a powerful testament to the authenticity of his ministry. They are a "letter from Christ" (II Corinthians 3:3), written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone, but on human hearts.
This is not self-promotion, but a humble acknowledgement of God's work. Their changed lives are the evidence that Paul delivered not himself, but Christ to them. This highlights a crucial principle: genuine ministry produces tangible, life-altering results. If a church or ministry isn't seeing lives transformed, its effectiveness should be carefully examined. The goal isn't just comfortable pews and aesthetically pleasing surroundings, but the radical spiritual transformation of individuals into kingdom disciples.
God's Sufficiency in Ministry (II Corinthians 3:4-6)
Paul is quick to deflect any personal credit for the Corinthians' transformation. He insists that their sufficiency comes from God (II Corinthians 3:5). He and his co-workers are not inherently qualified or uniquely gifted. Instead, God has empowered and enabled them to be ministers of the new covenant.
The contrast between the "letter" and the "Spirit" (II Corinthians 3:6) is crucial. The "letter" refers to the law, which reveals our sinfulness and condemns us. The law shows our inability to meet God's standards. However, the Spirit gives life and transformation through Christ's sacrifice to those who believe. The old covenant, with its focus on external rules, could only condemn, while the new covenant, empowered by the Spirit, brings life and righteousness.
This calls for a shift from self-confidence to God-confidence. Regardless of our abilities, we are incapable of producing spiritual results through earthly means. We must rely on the Holy Spirit to accomplish His kingdom agenda through us.
The Surpassing Glory of the New Covenant (II Corinthians 3:7-11)
Paul contrasts the old covenant, "the ministry of death, carved in letters on stone," with the new covenant, "the ministry of the Spirit" (II Corinthians 3:7-8). The old covenant, while glorious in its own right (evident in the radiant face of Moses after his encounter with God in Exodus 34:29-32), was ultimately a ministry of condemnation because the sinful hearts of the people were unable to keep the law. It required the death of animals to atone for sin, a constant reminder of human failure.
The new covenant, however, is a ministry of righteousness (II Corinthians 3:9). It offers God's grace and forgiveness through faith in Christ. This new covenant far surpasses the old in glory because it brings about a permanent transformation in the believer. Any attempt to return to the law for righteousness is a spiritually backward step. The new covenant endures forever, transforming sinners into saints.
Unveiled Faces and Transforming Glory (II Corinthians 3:12-18)
Because Paul is a minister of the new covenant, which allows those in Christ to see God's glory, Paul can be far more bold than Moses (II Corinthians 3:12). Moses veiled his face to protect the Israelites from the fading glory (II Corinthians 3:13). Paul uses this incident to introduce a discussion of the transformation God wanted in the lives of the Corinthians (and in our lives), producing a glory that increases and doesn’t fade.
The veil represents the spiritual blindness that prevents people from seeing the truth of the gospel (II Corinthians 3:14-15). This veil is removed when someone turns to the Lord in faith (II Corinthians 3:16). Those in Christ can look at Him with unveiled faces, beholding the glory of God.
This unveiled vision initiates a transformative process: "And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit" (II Corinthians 3:18).
Transformation is not merely accumulating information or modifying behavior. It's an internal change that reflects the character of Christ, bringing about a corresponding external change. It's the Holy Spirit's work, using our exposure, openness, and obedience to the Word of God (James 1:21-25) to grow us from one level of spiritual development to the next.
We are being transformed into the image of Christ (Colossians 1:15). This doesn't mean physical resemblance, but mirroring Jesus in our attitudes, actions, character, and conduct. Spiritual transformation is the development of Christlikeness within the believer, expressed externally in righteous words and deeds.
This transformation is only made possible by the work of the Spirit in our lives as we look to the Lord through his glorious Word (II Corinthians 3:18). But we must approach him with honesty and integrity, turning to the Lord with no veil of unbelief over our faces (II Corinthians 3:16). Approaching God's Word with unveiled faces as we obediently welcome his truth into our lives (see Jas 1:19-25), giving the Holy Spirit permission to do his transforming work from one level of spiritual development to the next. "Glory to glory" (II Corinthians 3:18) is the stage of spiritual development that is usually introduced by a trial (see Jas 1:2-4).
II Corinthians 3 offers a powerful reminder that our sufficiency is in Christ, and that through the Holy Spirit, we are being transformed into His likeness, reflecting His glory to the world.
Do we begin again to commend ourselves? or need we, as some others, epistles of commendation to you, or letters of commendation from you?
Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men:
Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart.
And such trust have we through Christ to God-ward:
Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God;
Who also 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.
But 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:
How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious?
For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory.
For even that which was made glorious had no glory in this respect, by reason of the glory that excelleth.
For if that which is done away was glorious, much more that which remaineth is glorious.
Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech:
And 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:
But 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.
But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart.
Nevertheless 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.
But we all, with open 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.
II Corinthians 3 delves into the heart of Paul's apostolic ministry and the surpassing glory of the new covenant in Christ. In this chapter, Paul defends his ministry, contrasts the old and new covenants, and emphasizes the transformative power of the Holy Spirit. This chapter offers profound insights into the nature of Christian ministry and the believer's ongoing transformation into the image of Christ.
The Living Letter of Recommendation (II Corinthians 3:1-3)
Paul addresses a potential challenge to his authority. Instead of boasting or presenting letters of recommendation like some false teachers (II Corinthians 3:1), Paul points to the Corinthians themselves as his credentials. Their transformed lives, their conversion from pagan idolatry to faith in Christ, serve as a powerful testament to the authenticity of his ministry. They are a "letter from Christ" (II Corinthians 3:3), written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone, but on human hearts.
This is not self-promotion, but a humble acknowledgement of God's work. Their changed lives are the evidence that Paul delivered not himself, but Christ to them. This highlights a crucial principle: genuine ministry produces tangible, life-altering results. If a church or ministry isn't seeing lives transformed, its effectiveness should be carefully examined. The goal isn't just comfortable pews and aesthetically pleasing surroundings, but the radical spiritual transformation of individuals into kingdom disciples.
God's Sufficiency in Ministry (II Corinthians 3:4-6)
Paul is quick to deflect any personal credit for the Corinthians' transformation. He insists that their sufficiency comes from God (II Corinthians 3:5). He and his co-workers are not inherently qualified or uniquely gifted. Instead, God has empowered and enabled them to be ministers of the new covenant.
The contrast between the "letter" and the "Spirit" (II Corinthians 3:6) is crucial. The "letter" refers to the law, which reveals our sinfulness and condemns us. The law shows our inability to meet God's standards. However, the Spirit gives life and transformation through Christ's sacrifice to those who believe. The old covenant, with its focus on external rules, could only condemn, while the new covenant, empowered by the Spirit, brings life and righteousness.
This calls for a shift from self-confidence to God-confidence. Regardless of our abilities, we are incapable of producing spiritual results through earthly means. We must rely on the Holy Spirit to accomplish His kingdom agenda through us.
The Surpassing Glory of the New Covenant (II Corinthians 3:7-11)
Paul contrasts the old covenant, "the ministry of death, carved in letters on stone," with the new covenant, "the ministry of the Spirit" (II Corinthians 3:7-8). The old covenant, while glorious in its own right (evident in the radiant face of Moses after his encounter with God in Exodus 34:29-32), was ultimately a ministry of condemnation because the sinful hearts of the people were unable to keep the law. It required the death of animals to atone for sin, a constant reminder of human failure.
The new covenant, however, is a ministry of righteousness (II Corinthians 3:9). It offers God's grace and forgiveness through faith in Christ. This new covenant far surpasses the old in glory because it brings about a permanent transformation in the believer. Any attempt to return to the law for righteousness is a spiritually backward step. The new covenant endures forever, transforming sinners into saints.
Unveiled Faces and Transforming Glory (II Corinthians 3:12-18)
Because Paul is a minister of the new covenant, which allows those in Christ to see God's glory, Paul can be far more bold than Moses (II Corinthians 3:12). Moses veiled his face to protect the Israelites from the fading glory (II Corinthians 3:13). Paul uses this incident to introduce a discussion of the transformation God wanted in the lives of the Corinthians (and in our lives), producing a glory that increases and doesn’t fade.
The veil represents the spiritual blindness that prevents people from seeing the truth of the gospel (II Corinthians 3:14-15). This veil is removed when someone turns to the Lord in faith (II Corinthians 3:16). Those in Christ can look at Him with unveiled faces, beholding the glory of God.
This unveiled vision initiates a transformative process: "And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit" (II Corinthians 3:18).
Transformation is not merely accumulating information or modifying behavior. It's an internal change that reflects the character of Christ, bringing about a corresponding external change. It's the Holy Spirit's work, using our exposure, openness, and obedience to the Word of God (James 1:21-25) to grow us from one level of spiritual development to the next.
We are being transformed into the image of Christ (Colossians 1:15). This doesn't mean physical resemblance, but mirroring Jesus in our attitudes, actions, character, and conduct. Spiritual transformation is the development of Christlikeness within the believer, expressed externally in righteous words and deeds.
This transformation is only made possible by the work of the Spirit in our lives as we look to the Lord through his glorious Word (II Corinthians 3:18). But we must approach him with honesty and integrity, turning to the Lord with no veil of unbelief over our faces (II Corinthians 3:16). Approaching God's Word with unveiled faces as we obediently welcome his truth into our lives (see Jas 1:19-25), giving the Holy Spirit permission to do his transforming work from one level of spiritual development to the next. "Glory to glory" (II Corinthians 3:18) is the stage of spiritual development that is usually introduced by a trial (see Jas 1:2-4).
II Corinthians 3 offers a powerful reminder that our sufficiency is in Christ, and that through the Holy Spirit, we are being transformed into His likeness, reflecting His glory to the world.