God’s Word Translation
2 Corinthians 3:17
17This Lord is the Spirit. Wherever the Lord’s Spirit is, there is freedom.
2 Corinthians 3:17 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.
- New International Version (NIV)Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.
- English Standard Version (ESV)Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.
Context of 2 Corinthians 3:17
15Yet, even today, when they read the books of Moses, a veil covers their minds. 16But whenever a person turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. This Lord is the Spirit. Wherever the Lord’s Spirit is, there is freedom. 18As all of us reflect the Lord’s glory with faces that are not covered with veils, we are being changed into his image with ever-increasing glory. This comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.
Read all of 2 Corinthians 32 Corinthians 3:17 word by word
ὁ δὲ κύριος τὸ πνεῦμά ἐστιν· οὗ δὲ τὸ πνεῦμα κυρίου ἐλευθερία.Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for 2 Corinthians 3:17
- 2 Corinthians 3:6He has also qualified us to be ministers of a new promise, a spiritual promise, not a written one. Clearly, what was written brings death, but the Spirit brings life.
- John 6:63Life is spiritual. Your physical existence doesn’t contribute to that life. The words that I have spoken to you are spiritual. They are life.
- 1 Corinthians 15:45This is what Scripture says: “The first man, Adam, became a living being.” The last Adam became a life-giving spirit.
- Psalms 51:12Restore the joy of your salvation to me, and provide me with a spirit of willing obedience.
- Isaiah 61:1The Spirit of the Almighty Lord is with me because the Lord has anointed me to deliver good news to humble people. He has sent me to heal those who are brokenhearted, to announce that captives will be set free and prisoners will be released.
- Romans 8:2The standards of the Spirit, who gives life through Christ Jesus, have set you free from the standards of sin and death.
- Galatians 4:6Because you are God’s children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into us to call out, “Abba! Father!”
- 2 Timothy 1:7God didn’t give us a cowardly spirit but a spirit of power, love, and good judgment.
Commentaries on 2 Corinthians 3:17
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 17Now the Lord is that Spirit - In 2 Corinthians 3:6, 2 Corinthians 3:8, the word , spirit, evidently signifies the Gospel; so called because it points out the spiritual nature and meaning of the law; because it produces spiritual effects; and because it is especially the dispensation of the Spirit of God. Here Jesus Christ is represented as that Spirit, because he is the end of the law for justification to every one that believes; and because the residue…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 17Now the Lord is that Spirit - The word “Lord” here evidently refers to the Lord Jesus; see 2 Corinthians 3:16. It may be observed in general in regard to this word, that where it occurs in the New Testament unless the connection require us to understand it of God, it refers to the Lord Jesus. It was the common name by which he was known; see John 20:13; John 21:7, John 21:12; Ephesians 4:1, Ephesians 4:5. The design of Paul in this verse seems to be to…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 12-18Verses 12-18 It is the duty of the ministers of the gospel to use great plainness, or clearness, of speech. The Old Testament believers had only cloudy and passing glimpses of that glorious Saviour, and unbelievers looked no further than to the outward institution. But the great precepts of the gospel, believe, love, obey, are truths stated as clearly as possible. And the whole doctrine of Christ crucified, is made as plain as human language can make it…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 16-18Believers who turn to the Lord find freedom in the Spirit. We gain something Moses never experienced as we become more like Christ (4:4; John 1:1–14; Colossians 1:15; Hebrews 1:1–4) and reflect the Lord's glory. Experiencing divine glory in this life helps us become like Christ in the next life (Romans 8:29; Galatians 4:19; Philippians 3:21; 1 John 3:2).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 14-1814-18. Parenthetical: Of Christians in general. He resumes the subject of the ministry, 2Co 4:1. minds--Greek, "mental perceptions"; "understandings." blinded--rather, "hardened." The opposite to "looking steadfastly at the end" of the law (2Co 3:13). The veil on Moses' face is further typical of the veil that is on their hearts. untaken away ... which veil--rather, "the same veil ... remaineth untaken away [literally, not unveiled], so that they do not…Read the comment
Topics related to 2 Corinthians 3:17
In the dictionaries
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
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
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