Introduction: 2 Corinthians 3 is a spiritual chapter where the Apostle Paul speaks about the new covenant of the Spirit, comparing it with the old covenant of the letter of the law. Paul points out the transformation that occurs through the Spirit, which brings life and righteousness to believers, unlike the law that ultimately leads to condemnation. The chapter encourages believers to seize the freedom and glory that come with the indwelling Spirit of the Lord, making the point of how the Gospel surpasses the old ways of living by the law, bringing hope and removing the veil that once clouded our understanding.
I. Paul’s Qualifications as a Minister (2 Corinthians 3:1-3)
In these verses, Paul starts the chapter defending his ministry, asserting that he does not need letters of recommendation as his work is written on the hearts of the believers in Corinth. The people themselves are the evidence of Paul’s ministry, therefore he does not need to be “recommended”.
Cross reference verses:
- 1 Corinthians 9:2 “If to others I am not an apostle, at least I am to you; for you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord.”
- Jeremiah 31:33 “I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people.”
- Ezekiel 36:26 “And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.”
II. The New Covenant in the Spirit (2 Corinthians 3:4-6)
These verses speak of Paul’s confidence in his ministry through Christ and not through his own ability as a preacher. He compares the new covenant of the indwelling Holy Spirit, which gives life, with the old covenant of the letter, which brings death by revealing the sin inside.
Cross reference verses:
- Jeremiah 31:31 “Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah.”
- Ezekiel 11:19 “And I will give them one heart, and a new spirit I will put within them. I will remove the heart of stone from their flesh and give them a heart of flesh.”
- Romans 2:29 “But a Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter. His praise is not from man but from God.”
III. The Glory of the New Covenant Compared to the Old (2 Corinthians 3:7-11)
Here, Paul talks about the glory of Moses’ face, which was a result of the old covenant, but fades away over time. In contrast, the glory of the new covenant is permanent and exceeds the old, for it brings righteousness to believers instead of condemnation by revealing the sin inside them.
Cross reference verses:
- Exodus 34:29-35 “When Moses came down from Mount Sinai…the skin of his face shone because he had been talking with God.”
- Romans 3:21-22 “But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law…the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe.”
- Hebrews 8:6 “But as it is, Christ has obtained a ministry that is as much more excellent than the old as the covenant he mediates is better since it is enacted on better promises.”
IV. Unveiling through Christ and the Spirit (2 Corinthians 3:12-18)
Paul speaks of the freedom and transformation that come from the Lord’s Spirit. He states that where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty, there is freedom. Also, the veil that once clouded the hearts of the people in reading the old covenant law is removed in Christ.
Cross reference verses:
- Isaiah 25:7 “And he will swallow up on this mountain the covering that is cast over all peoples, the veil that is spread over all nations.”
- Romans 8:2 “For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.”
- John 8:36 “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”
Conclusion: 2 Corinthians 3 exhorts us to recognize the surpassing glory of the new covenant, a covenant not of the letter that kills, but of the Spirit that gives life. Through Paul’s teachings, we understand that our qualifications come from God’s work in our hearts, that the new covenant is enacted on better promises, and that true liberty is found in the Spirit of the Lord. This chapter encourages us to live unencumbered by the old law and embrace the transformative power of the Spirit, enabling us to reflect the glory of God with unveiled faces. Let us then approach God with confidence, as we are ministers of a new and living covenant established by Christ.
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