Now if the ministry that brought death, which was engraved in letters on stone, came with glory, so that the Israelites could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of its glory, transitory though it was, will not the ministry of the Spirit be even more glorious? If the ministry that brought condemnation was glorious, how much more glorious is the ministry that brings righteousness! For what was glorious has no glory now in comparison with the surpassing glory. And if what was transitory came with glory, how much greater is the glory of that which lasts!
Therefore, since we have such a hope, we are very bold. We are not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face to prevent the Israelites from seeing the end of what was passing away. But their minds were made dull, for to 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. Even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts. But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.
- 2 Corinthians 3:7-18
The verse right before this passage is important to bring up again as we get into this section: “[God] has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant—not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life” (2 Corinthians 3:6). The NIV inserts a section heading between verses 6 and 7, but Paul’s idea of becoming ministers of the new covenant continues throughout this overall section.
In verses 7-8, Paul compares the old covenant, represented by the tablets of stone given to Moses, to the new covenant, inaugurated by the Spirit. Here, we encounter the theme of contrast that runs throughout this passage. The old covenant, characterized by the letter that kills, stands in contrast to the new covenant, which brings life. In this verse, Paul lays the groundwork for his exploration of the surpassing glory of the new covenant in Christ.
This is just the start of Paul’s references to the narrative of Moses from Exodus 34:29-35. When Moses came down from Mt Sinai with the Ten Commandments, his face was shining so brightly that the people could not look at him. If that was the greatness of the old covenant, how much greater is the glory of the new covenant in revealing God’s character! The ministry of God’s Spirit is so much greater than the letter of the law.
In verse 9, Paul reminds the Corinthians that the law brought condemnation by showing the people their sin, while the gospel now brings righteousness by showing the people their redemption. It is so much more glorious to bring life than to condemn!
In verses 10-11, Paul introduces a key theme that runs throughout the passage: transformation. He describes the ministry of the law, administered by Moses, as glorious, but ultimately overshadowed by the even greater glory of the new covenant. The ministry of condemnation, which reveals the reality of sin and its consequences, is contrasted with the ministry of righteousness, which brings forgiveness, reconciliation, and transformation through Christ. Here, Paul lays the groundwork for his exploration of the transformative power of the Spirit. The new covenant is life-giving, and it empowers believers to live in freedom and victory through the indwelling presence of the Spirit.
The “therefore” at the beginning of verse 12 summarizes the previous thoughts and points toward what we should do about it. We do have this certain hope in the new covenant because of Jesus Christ. Because of that, we are bold in living out our faith.
This boldness is contrasted with the actions of Moses in verse 13. Paul teaches that Moses put a veil over his face so that the people of Israel would not see the brightness of God’s glory fading from his face. The new covenant surpassed the old covenant and will never fade or pass away.
In verses 14-15, Paul highlights the role of faith in experiencing the transformative power of the Spirit. He draws a parallel between the veil that once obscured the glory of God from the Israelites and the veil that blinds the minds of unbelievers. Just as the Israelites were unable to see the fullness of God's glory because of their unbelief, so too unbelievers are unable to perceive the truth of the gospel because of their spiritual blindness. This verse underscores the importance of faith in apprehending the reality of God's presence and power in our lives.
Paul emphasizes the role of the Spirit for revelation in the believer's life. He describes the process of spiritual transformation as a gradual unveiling, likening it to the removal of a veil from the face. Just as Moses' face shone with increasing brightness as he beheld the glory of God, so too believers are transformed into the image of Christ as they behold his glory. But this veil is still in place for anyone who does not have faith in Jesus; a spiritual veil still covers their hearts.
It is only through the power of the Holy Spirit giving faith in Jesus Christ that this veil is lifted (verse 16). This verse underscores the centrality of the Spirit in the believer's life, who enables us to see and apprehend the reality of God's glory. The Spirit is the transformative power in the believer’s life, which is what truly brings us freedom (verse 17). We are set free from the power of sin and death and empowered to live in righteousness and holiness.
Verse 18 is the culmination of this passage, showing how each one of us is being transformed into the Lord’s image. As believers behold the glory of the Lord with unveiled faces, we are transformed by the Spirit, reflecting more and more of Christ's likeness in our lives. This verse serves as a powerful reminder of the transformative power of the gospel, which not only saves us from sin but also shapes us into the image of Christ.
This passage should continue to remind us of the power of the gospel message and how glorious it is. The glory of the old covenant has faded and been surpassed by the new covenant. We are no longer a part of the ministry of condemnation but rather the ministry of righteousness. When we have faith in Jesus through the power of the Holy Spirit, the veil is removed from our hearts and we are transformed in Christ!
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