Original Douay–Rheims Annotations2 Corinthians 3
English College of Douai–Rheims
Read 2 Corinthians 3 in the Bible2 Corinthians 3:5
Of ourselves.
◦ This maketh first against the Heretics called Pelagians, that hold our meritorious actions or cogitations to be of free-will only, and not of God's special grace. Secondly against the Protestants, who on the contrary side refer all to God, and take away man's freedom and proper motion in his thoughts and doings: the Apostle confessing our good cogitations to be our own, but not as coming of ourselves, but of God.
- ◦ God's grace & free will both must concur.
2 Corinthians 3:6
The letter killeth.
◦ As the letter of the old Law not truly understood, nor referred to Christ, commanding and not giving grace and spirit to fulfill that which was commanded, did by occasion kill the carnal Jew: so the letter of the new Testament not truly taken nor expounded by the Spirit of Christ (which is only in his Church) killeth the Heretic: who also being carnal and void of spirit, gaineth nothing by the external precepts or good lessons of the Scriptures, but rather taketh hurt by the same. See S. Augustine to. 10. Ser. 70. & 100. de tempore. & li. de Sp. & lit. c. 5. 6. & seq.
- ◦ The letter killeth both Jew and Heretic.
2 Corinthians 3:9
Much more.
◦ The preeminence of the new Testament and of the priesthood or Ministry thereof before the old, is, that the new, by all her Sacraments and Priests as ministers immediate of grace and remission of sins, doth so ex opere operato give the spirit of life and charity into the hearts of the faithful, as the old did give the letter or external act of the Law.
- ◦ The preeminence of the new Testament, Sacraments, &c.
2 Corinthians 3:14
The self-same veil.
[1] As the Jews reading the Old Testament, by reason of their blindness (which God for the punishment of their incredulity suffereth to remain as a cover upon their eyes and hearts) cannot see Christ in the Scriptures which they daily hear read in their Synagogues, but shall, when they believe in him and have the cover removed, perceive all to be most plainly done and spoken of him in their law & Scriptures: even so Heretics having (as S. Augustine [2] noteth) a far greater cover of blindness and incredulity over their hearts in respect of the Catholic Church which they impugn, than the Jews have concerning Christ, cannot see, though they read or hear the Scriptures read never so much, the marvelous evidence of the Catholic Church and truth in all points: but when they shall return again to the obedience of the same Church, they shall find the Scriptures most clear for her and her doctrine, and shall wonder at their former blindness.
- 1 The heretics more blind in not seeing the Church, than the Jews in not seeing Christ.
- 2 Aug. in Psal. 30. Conc. 2.
2 Corinthians 3:17
Liberty.
[1] The Spirit and grace of God in the new Testament dischargeth us of the bondage of the Law and sin, but is not a warrant to us of fleshly licence, as S. Peter writeth [2]: nor dischargeth Christians of their obedience to order, law, and power of Magistrates spiritual or temporal, as some Heretics of these days do seditiously teach.
- 1 True Christian liberty.
- 2 1. Pet. 2, 16.
Original Douay–Rheims Annotations — English College of Douai–Rheims. CC0 1.0
2 Corinthians 3:3
The Epistle of Christ.
[1] S. Paul and other holy writers of Scriptures did set down many things in writing, by pen, ink, and paper, all which be of the Holy Ghost: but the special and proper book of Christ's truth and Gospel, is not the external writing in those dead creatures, but in the hearts of the faithful, being the proper subject of these truths and graces preached in the new Testament, and the habitacle of the Holy Ghost. In the which book of faithful men's hearts S. Paul wrote diverse things not uttered in any Epistle: as sundry of the Apostles wrote the Christian religion in the hearts of their hearers only, and in other material books not at all. Whereof S. Irenæus li. 3. c. 4. saith, [2] What and if the Apostles also had left no Scriptures, ought we not to follow the order of the tradition, which they delivered unto them to whom they committed the Churches? To the which ordinance many nations of those barbarous people that have believed in Christ, do consent, without letter or ink, having salvation written in their hearts, and keeping diligently the tradition of the elders. And S. Hierom. (cont. Io. Hieros. c. 9. ad Pam.) In the Creed of our faith and hope, which being delivered by tradition from the Apostles, is not written in paper and ink, but in the tables carnal of the heart. And this is the Church's book also, whereby and wherein she keepeth faithfully all truth written in the hearts of those to whom the Apostles did preach, with the like diligence as she keepeth and preserveth the other book which is of holy Scriptures, from all corruption of Heretics and other injuries.