2 Corinthians 3:7-18
Q.1. With what did Paul contrast the Gospel? Why will the ministry of the Spirit be attended with glory? Is the reading of the Old Covenant beneficial to the Jews? Why? – (2 Cor.2:7-14)
Paul compared the glory of the Gospel with the giving of the Law: (i) The Law was written on stone tablets … the New Covenant in human hearts (2 Cor.3:2-3). (ii) The Law was made up of letters … the New Covenant empowered by the Spirit of the living God (2 Cor.3:3). (iii) The letter of the Law brings death … the New Covenant of the Spirit gives life (2 Cor.3:6). Nevertheless, Paul reminded the Corinthians that the giving of the Law was attended with glory. However, the coming of the New Covenant will surpass it for glory – 7 But 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, 8 how will the ministry of the Spirit fail to be even more with glory? 9 For if the ministry of condemnation has glory, much more does the ministry of righteousness abound in glory (2 Cor.3:7-9). Paul argued that just as the glory that was hidden by a veil on the face of Moses faded, so the minds of Israelites could still become hardened while reading the Old Covenant – it is removed in Christ (2 Cor.3:14). Everything revolves around the person of Jesus Christ.
Q.2. What is the problem with the Old Covenant? How can the blindness of the Jews be ended? What changes when the Spirit comes to a believer? How far-reaching is this transformation? – (2 Cor.2:15-18)
The Old Covenant was a prelude to the New Covenant and was superseded by the ministry of the Holy Spirit. The blindness is only removed – whenever a person turns to the Lord, the veil is lifted (2 Cor.3:16). The Lord and the Spirit are inseparably linked together for – the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty (2 Cor.3:17). When a person comes to Christ, he is declared to be righteous and is clothed in Christ’s righteousness. However, many more changes need to be made. The indwelling of the Holy Spirit in the believer guarantees that what the Lord has begun will be completed in Christ. Paul summed it up by writing – But 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 (2 Cor.3:18). Christ’s work will be completed when He comes to claim all those whom He has purchased with His own precious blood.