2 Corinthians 3

1Are we beginningG756 to commendG4921 ourselvesG1438 againG3825? OrG2228 do we needG3361G5535, likeG5613 someG5100 people, lettersG1992 of recommendationG4956 toG4314 youG4771 orG2228 fromG1537 youG4771? 2You yourselvesG4771 areG1510 ourG1473 letterG1992, inscribedG1449 onG1722 ourG1473 heartsG2588, knownG1097 andG2532 readG314 byG5259 everyoneG3956G444. 3It is clearG5319 thatG3754 you areG1510 a letterG1992 from ChristG5547, the result of our ministryG1247G5259G1473, writtenG1449 notG3756 with inkG3188 butG235 with the SpiritG4151 of the livingG2198 GodG2316, notG3756 onG1722 tabletsG4109 of stoneG3035 butG235 onG1722 tabletsG4109 of humanG4560 heartsG2588.

4

SuchG5108 confidenceG4006 beforeG4314 GodG2316 is oursG2192 throughG1223 ChristG5547. 5NotG3756 thatG3754 we areG1510 competentG2425 inG575 ourselvesG1438 to claim thatG3049 anythingG5100 comes fromG1537 usG1438, butG235 ourG1473 competenceG2426 comes fromG1537 GodG2316. 6AndG2532 HeG3739 has qualifiedG2427 usG1473 as ministersG1249 of a newG2537 covenantG1242, notG3756 of the letterG1121 butG235 of the SpiritG4151; forG1063 theG3588 letterG1121 killsG615, butG1161 theG3588 SpiritG4151 gives lifeG2227.

The Glory of the New Covenant

(Exodus 34:10–35)

7NowG1161 ifG1487 theG3588 ministryG1248 of deathG2288, which was engravedG1795 inG1722 lettersG1121 on stoneG3037, cameG1096 withG1722 such gloryG1391 thatG5620 theG3588 IsraelitesG5207G2474 couldG1410 notG3361 gazeG816 atG1519 theG3588 faceG4383 of MosesG3475 because ofG1223 its fleetingG2673 gloryG1391, 8willG1510 notG3780 theG3588 ministryG1248 of theG3588 SpiritG4151 be even moreG3123 gloriousG1722G1391? 9ForG1063 ifG1487 theG3588 ministryG1248 of condemnationG2633 was gloriousG1391, how muchG4183 moreG3123G4052 gloriousG1391 is theG3588 ministryG1248 of righteousnessG1343! 10IndeedG2532G1063, whatG3588 was once gloriousG1392 has no glory nowG3756G1392 inG1722 comparison toG3313G1752 theG3588 gloryG1391 that surpassesG5235 it. 11ForG1063 ifG1487 whatG3588 was fading awayG2673 came withG1223 gloryG1391, how much greaterG4183G3123 is the gloryG1391 of that whichG3588 enduresG3306!

12ThereforeG3767, since we haveG2192 suchG5108 a hopeG1680, we areG5530 veryG4183 boldG3954. 13We are notG3756 likeG2509 MosesG3475, who would putG5087 a veilG2571 overG1909 hisG846 faceG4383 to keepG4314 theG3588 IsraelitesG5207G2474 from gazingG816 atG1519 theG3588 endG5056 of whatG3588 was fading awayG2673.

14ButG235 theirG846 mindsG3540 were closedG4456. ForG1063 toG891 this dayG2250 theG3588 sameG846 veilG2571 remainsG3306 atG1909 theG3588 readingG320 of theG3588 oldG3820 covenantG1242. It has not been liftedG3361G343, because onlyG3754 inG1722 ChristG5547 can it be removedG2673. 15And evenG235 toG2193 this dayG4594 whenG2259G302 MosesG3475 is readG314, a veilG2571 coversG2749G1909 theirG846 heartsG2588. 16ButG1161 wheneverG2259G1437 anyone turnsG1994 toG4314 the LordG2962, theG3588 veilG2571 is taken awayG4014.

17NowG1161 theG3588 LordG2962 isG1510 theG3588 SpiritG4151, andG1161 whereG3757 theG3588 SpiritG4151 of the LordG2962 is, there is freedomG1657. 18AndG1161 weG1473, who with unveiledG343 facesG4383 allG3956 reflectG2734 theG3588 gloryG1391 of the LordG2962, are being transformed intoG3339 His imageG1504 with intensifying gloryG575G1391G1519, which comesG2509 fromG575 the LordG2962, who is the SpiritG4151.