Do we begin again to commend ourselves? or need we, as some others, epistles of commendation to you, or letters of commendation from you?
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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.
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Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God;
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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.
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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:
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For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory.
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For even that which was made glorious had no glory in this respect, by reason of the glory that excelleth.
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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:
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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.
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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.
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Chapter Study & Analysis
Overview
2 Corinthians 3 contrasts the Old Covenant of the letter, which kills, with the New Covenant of the Spirit, which gives life. Paul describes the glory of the New Covenant as exceeding the old and explains that we are being transformed into Christ’s image from glory to glory.
CONTEMPORARY APPLICATIONS
1. Living Epistles: Our lives are "epistles of Christ," read by all men (v. 2-3). People may never read the Bible, but they read our conduct. We must ensure our lives accurately reflect the message of Jesus.2. Sufficiency from God: Our sufficiency is not of ourselves, but of God (v. 5). We are not qualified for spiritual work by our own merit, but by the enabling power of the Holy Spirit.
3. Transformation by Beholding: As we look upon the glory of the Lord, we are changed into the same image (v. 18). Spiritual growth happens as we consistently fix our gaze and heart on Jesus.
Practical Lessons
FORMAL PRAYER
God of Glory, who hast given us the Spirit of life: we thank Thee that our sufficiency is in Thee alone. Take away the veil from our hearts and transform us into the image of Thy Son, from glory to glory, by Thy Spirit. Amen.