Darby Translation Notes2 Corinthians 3

1:4 encourages (a-2) Parakaleo, as Matt. 2.18; 5.4; Acts 20.12; 1Thess. 3.7. I do not say 'comfort,' as that is rather conveyed in paramutheomai, so translated in 1Thess. 2.11; 5.14; 'console,' John 11.19,31; and 'consolation,' 1Cor. 14.3. The difference is slight, but here, as in Acts 20, there is the sense of 'cheered,' and this might replace 'encourage' and 'encouragement' if there were a suitable noun.

3:2 read (d-11) The Greek means also 'well known;' a thing read of all, not private. There is a play on words, giving force to the statement. 'read' being a compound of 'know.' see ch. 1.13.

3:3 be (e-4) Lit. '[ye] being manifested that ye are.'

3:5 competent (f-5) I do not particularly prefer 'competent' to 'sufficient,' (as in ch. 2.16) but the sense is lost in ver. 6, if we say 'sufficient' there.

3:6 covenant; (g-12) The omission of the article makes it characteristic, as in the case of 'letter' and 'spirit;' perhaps it may be rendered 'competent [as] new covenant ministers.' kills, (h-22) Or 'For letter kills.'

3:7 began (i-12) It is not said that the ministry was glorious, but that the system was introduced with glory. It is in contrast with 'subsist in glory' (ver. 8). Moses, (k-30) See Ex. 34.29-35.

3:11 annulled (a-4) 'That annulled,' or 'done away,' may appear a little harsh, but the apostle uses it as a formula for the old covenant done away in Christ. If this be borne in mind, the sense will be clearer by the use of it. It contrasts 'that annulled' with 'that which abides.' so vers. 13 and 14.

3:14 darkened, (b-6) As 'hardened,' Mark 3.5; 'blinded,' Rom. 11.7. annulled. (c-25) I have no doubt that the text is right, and that Moses covered his face while he talked to the people, and that the Hebrew, Ex. 34.33, means nothing else, and ver. 34 proves it.

3:16 away.) (d-13) The parenthesis begins at ver. 7.

3:18 transformed (e-15) As Rom. 12.2. From metamorphoo, translated 'transfigured' in Matt. 17.2 and Mark 9.2. Spirit. (f-31) See vers. 6,17.