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

7But if the ministry of death, engraved in letters 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, 8how will the ministry of the Spirit fail to be even more with glory? For if the ministry of condemnation has glory, much more does the ministry of righteousness excel in glory. 10For indeed what had glory in this case has no glory, because of the glory that surpasses it. 11For if that which fades away was with glory, much more that which remains is in glory.

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

• For ifεἰei · ifG1487
• the ministryδιακονίαdiakonia · serviceG1248
• of condemnationκατάκρισιςkatakrisis · condemnationG2633
• has gloryδόξαdoxa · gloryG1391
• muchπολύςpolus polos · muchG4183
• moreμᾶλλονmallon · moreG3123
• of righteousnessδικαιοσύνηdikaiosunē · righteousnessG1343
• excelπερισσεύωperisseuō · to exceedG4052

Cross-references for 2 Corinthians 3:9

• 2 Corinthians 3:6who also made us adequate as servants of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.
• Exodus 19:12But you shall set boundaries for the people all around, saying, ‘Beware that you do not go up on the mountain or touch the border of it; whoever touches the mountain shall certainly be put to death.
• Exodus 20:18And all the people were watching and hearing the thunder and the lightning flashes, and the sound of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking; and when the people saw it all, they trembled and stood at a distance.
• Romans 1:18For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of people who suppress the truth in unrighteousness,
• Romans 8:3For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh,
• Galatians 3:10For all who are of works of the Law are under a curse; for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who does not abide by all the things written in the book of the Law, to do them.”
• Hebrews 12:18For you have not come to a mountain that can be touched and to a blazing fire, and to darkness and gloom and whirlwind,
• 2 Corinthians 5:21He made Him who knew no sin to be sin in our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
• Isaiah 46:13I bring near My righteousness, it is not far off; And My salvation will not delay. And I will grant salvation in Zion, And My glory for Israel.
• Jeremiah 23:6In His days Judah will be saved, And Israel will live securely; And this is His name by which He will be called, ‘The Lord Our Righteousness.’
• Romans 1:17For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written: “But the righteous one will live by faith.”
• Romans 3:21But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets,
• Romans 4:11and he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while uncircumcised, so that he might be the father of all who believe without being circumcised, that righteousness might be credited to them,
• Romans 5:15But the gracious gift is not like the offense. For if by the offense of the one the many died, much more did the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many.
• Romans 10:3For not knowing about God’s righteousness and seeking to establish their own, they did not subject themselves to the righteousness of God.
• 1 Corinthians 1:30But it is due to Him that you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and 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