2 Corinthians 3:9

2 Corinthians 3:9 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory.
• New International Version (NIV)If the ministry that brought condemnation was glorious, how much more glorious is the ministry that brings righteousness!
• English Standard Version (ESV)For if there was glory in the ministry of condemnation, the ministry of righteousness must far exceed it in glory.
• New King James Version (NKJV)For if the ministry of condemnation had glory, the ministry of righteousness exceeds much more in glory.

Context of 2 Corinthians 3:9

7Now if the ministry that brought death, chiseled in letters on stones, came with glory, so that the Israelites were not able to gaze steadily at Moses’s face because of its glory, which was set aside, 8how will the ministry of the Spirit not be more glorious? For if the ministry that brought condemnation had glory, the ministry that brings righteousness overflows with even more glory. 10In fact, what had been glorious is not glorious now by comparison because of the glory that surpasses it. 11For if what was set aside was glorious, what endures will be even more glorious.

2 Corinthians 3:9 word by word

εἰ γὰρ τῇ διακονίᾳ τῆς κατακρίσεως δόξα, πολλῷ μᾶλλον περισσεύει ἡ διακονία τῆς δικαιοσύνης δόξῃ.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Forγάρgar · forG1063
• ifεἰei · ifG1487
• the ministrationὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• the ministrationδιακονίαdiakonia · serviceG1248
• of condemnationκατάκρισιςkatakrisis · condemnationG2633
• gloryδόξαdoxa · gloryG1391
• muchπολύςpolus polos · muchG4183
• moreμᾶλλονmallon · moreG3123
• dothπερισσεύωperisseuō · to exceedG4052
• of righteousnessδικαιοσύνηdikaiosunē · righteousnessG1343
• inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722

Cross-references for 2 Corinthians 3:9

• 2 Corinthians 3:6He has made us competent to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter, but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.
• Exodus 19:12Put boundaries for the people all around the mountain and say: Be careful that you don’t go up on the mountain or touch its base. Anyone who touches the mountain must be put to death.
• Exodus 20:18All the people witnessed the thunder and lightning, the sound of the ram’s horn, and the mountain surrounded by smoke. When the people saw it they trembled and stood at a distance.
• Romans 1:18For God’s wrath is revealed from heaven against all godlessness and unrighteousness of people who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth,
• Romans 8:3For what the law could not do since it was weakened by the flesh, God did. He condemned sin in the flesh by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh as a sin offering,
• Galatians 3:10For all who rely on the works of the law are under a curse, because it is written, Everyone who does not do everything written in the book of the law is cursed.
• Hebrews 12:18For you have not come to what could be touched, to a blazing fire, to darkness, gloom, and storm,
• 2 Corinthians 5:21He made the one who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
• Isaiah 46:13I am bringing my justice near; it is not far away, and my salvation will not delay. I will put salvation in Zion, my splendor in Israel.
• Jeremiah 23:6In his days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell securely. This is the name he will be called: The Lord Is Our Righteousness.
• Romans 1:17For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith, just as it is written: The righteous will live by faith.
• Romans 3:21But now, apart from the law, the righteousness of God has been revealed, attested by the Law and the Prophets.
• Romans 4:11And he received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while still uncircumcised. This was to make him the father of all who believe but are not circumcised, so that righteousness may be credited to them also.
• Romans 5:15But the gift is not like the trespass. For if by the one man’s trespass the many died, how much more have the grace of God and the gift which comes through the grace of the one man Jesus Christ overflowed to the many.
• Romans 10:3Since they are ignorant of the righteousness of God and attempted to establish their own righteousness, they have not submitted to God’s righteousness.
• 1 Corinthians 1:30It is from him that you are in Christ Jesus, who became wisdom from God for us — our righteousness, sanctification, and redemption —

Commentaries on 2 Corinthians 3:9

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 9The ministration of condemnation - The law, which ascertained sin, and condemned it to just punishment. The ministration of righteousness - The Gospel, the grand business of which was to proclaim the doctrine , of justification; and to show how God could be just and yet the justifier of him who believeth in Jesus. Exceed in glory - For great, glorious, and awful as the law may be, in its opposition to sin, which is a reproach to man, and a dishonor to…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 9For if the ministration of condemnation - Of Moses in giving the Law, the effect of which is to produce condemnation. Law condemns the guilty; it does not save them. It denounces punishment; it contains no provisions of pardon. To pardon is to depart from the Law; and must be done under the operation of another system - since a law which contains a provision for the pardon of offenders, and permits them to escape, would be a burlesque in legislation. The…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 7-11The old covenant had moments of glory, like when the face of Moses shone from talking with the Lord (Exodus 34:29–35). The old way has been replaced by the new, eternal way (Hebrews 8:8–13).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 99. ministration of condemnation--the law regarded in the "letter" which "killeth" (2Co 3:6; Ro 7:9-11). The oldest existing manuscript seems to read as English Version. But most of the almost contemporary manuscripts, versions, and Fathers, read, "If to the ministration of condemnation there be glory." the ministration of righteousness--the Gospel, which especially reveals the righteousness of God (Ro 1:17), and imputes righteousness to men through faith…Read the comment

Topics related to 2 Corinthians 3:9

• Glory
• Gospel
• Law
• Minister, Christian

In the dictionaries

• Corinthians, Second Epistle to the
• Plainness
• Sufficiency
• Untaken
• Corinthians, Second Epistle to the
• Covenant, the New
• Exodus, the Book of
• Galatians, Epistle to the
• Imputation
• Law in the New Testament

Commentaries on 2 Corinthians 3

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings