II. The Characteristics of Paul's Ministry. 1:8- 7:16
A. Comforted and Comforting. 1:8- 2:14
B. Triumphant. 2:14-17
C. Accredited. 3:1-5
1. Do we begin again to commend ourselves? or need we, as some [others], epistles of commendation to you, or [letters] of commendation from you?
2 Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men:
3 [Forasmuch as ye are] manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart.
Do we begin again to commend ourselves {introduce ourselves, represent ourselves as worthy}?
Paul was well known to the Corinthian church. He had no need for letters of recommendation to them or from them, because that local church itself was an adequate commendation of his ministry. cp. 1Cor 3:10,11; 4:15,16; 9:1,2
Ye are our epistle...
written in our hearts...
The love of Christ, in the hearts of Paul and his co-workers, had initiated and composed the 'writing' of this body of believers, by bringing the Gospel to Corinth, caring for the local church in its infancy, nurturing them to maturity, correcting their errors, and warning of dangers. 2Cor 7:3; 12:15
manifestly declared {clearly visible} as the epistle of Christ... 2Cor 5:17
ministered {GK=diakoneo, served, attended, cared for} by us... cp. v.5,6
written... with the Spirit of the living God... Joh 3:5-8
written... not in tables of stone, but in the fleshly tables of the heart. cp. Eze 11:19,20; 36:26,27
The Old Covenant was engraved in tables of stone (the Ten Commandments).
But the New Covenant is written in the hearts of God's people.
The Old and New Covenants will be compared, in v.6-18.
4 And such trust {confidence} have we through Christ to God-ward:
5 Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency [is] of God;
Although Paul had a part in 'writing' this church, he was not 'sufficient' {competent, adequate, able} to accomplish the task (Joh 15:5). It was the Lord's work, from the start (1Cor 3:6,7). Paul was confident that the Lord would finish what He had begun (Php 1:6).
II. The Characteristics of Paul's Ministry. 1:8- 7:16
A. Comforted and Comforting. 1:8- 2:14
B. Triumphant. 2:14-17
C. Accredited. 3:1-5
D. Spiritual & Glorious - Not Legal. 3:6-18
6. Who also hath made us able {sufficient} ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.
7 But if the ministration of death, written [and] engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which [glory] was to be done away {GK=katargeo, made ineffective, anulled}:
8 How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious?
9 For if the ministration of condemnation [be] glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory.
10 For even that which was made glorious had no glory in this respect, by reason of the glory that excelleth.
11 For if that which is done away {made ineffective, anulled} [was] glorious, much more that which remaineth {GK=meno, abides, endures} [is] glorious.
...the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit...
"The contrast [between 'the letter' and 'the spirit'] is not between two methods of interpretation, literal and spiritual, but between two methods of divine dealing: one through the law, the other through the Holy Spirit." [in quotes, part of ScofRB note at Rom 7:6]
In Paul's usage, 'the Letter' refers to the Mosaic Law (the Old Covenant), which defined righteousness in terms of compliance with external commands and rituals. In contrast, 'the Spirit' refers to the New Covenant, which provides an internal righteousness, to those who are born of God's Spirit, through faith in Christ, who died for our sins and arose for our justification.
- The New Covenant -
is not of 'the letter' but of 'the spirit.'
See Paul's application of these words, in Rom 2:28,29; 7:6.
But if the ministration of death, written [and] engraven in stones, was glorious...
How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious?
We, who (like Paul) proclaim the Gospel of Christ, are 'ministers' of the New Covenant (v.6).
How does our New Covenant ministry compare with the Old Covenant ministry of Moses?
Both ministries were ordained by God. Therefore, both reflect His glory. v.7,8
The glory of the Old Covenant was so strong, that the people could not look on the face of its minister. Ex 34:29-35
If the sentence of death (the commandments engraved in stone) was glorious,
the provision of life through the Spirit is more glorious. v.7,8
If the ministry of condemnation was glorious,
the ministry that imputes righteousness 'super-abounds' with glory,
to such an extent that the formerly glorious law has no glory at all. v.9,10
If the temporary Old Covenant was glorious,
the permanent New Covenant is much more glorious. v.11
12. Seeing then that we have such hope {a confident expectation of this sort}, we use great plainness of speech {out-spokenness, frankness, boldness}:
13 And not as Moses, [which] put a vail over his face, that the children of Israel could not stedfastly look to the end of that which is abolished {made ineffective, annulled}:
14 But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which [vail] is done away in Christ.
15 But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart.
16 Nevertheless when it {ie., the heart} shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away.
Seeing then that we have 'such hope' {a confident expectation of this sort}...
The 'hope' of New Covenant believers is incomparably glorious, complete and unending.
...we use great plainness of speech {out-spokenness, frankness, boldness}: and not as Moses, who put a vail over his face... (v.13; Ex 34:33-35)
The glory on Moses' face was fading. Moses covered his face, to prevent the people from gazing on the fading glory of that which would become ineffective.
With the establishment of the New Covenant, the Old Covenant has served its purpose, has become obsolete, and is being displaced by God's more glorious and lasting provision in the Gospel of Christ. cp. Rom 10:4; Gal 3:23-26; Eph 2:14,15; Col 2:16,17; Heb 10:1-10
Therefore, the ministers of the New Covenant should proclaim the Gospel confidently, clearly, and boldly. Rom 1:16
But their minds were blinded: (cp. Mat 13:14,15; 2Cor 4:3,4) for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament...
Today, most of the Jewish people are still focused on the Old Covenant.
They fail to see that the Law was a temporary measure, meant to lead sinners to Christ.
They fail to see that the Law is fulfilled and satisfied by Christ, for us. Rom 10:1-4; Gal 3:23-25
Nevertheless when it {ie., the heart} shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away.
The Lord gives light to believing hearts, to enable them to see the things written about Christ in the OT Scriptures (2Cor 4:6; Luk 24:44-47). The day will come when all Israel will recognize and receive their Messiah, at His second coming. Hos 3:4,5; Jer 31:33,34; Joh 6:45-47; Rom 11:25-27
17 Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord [is], there [is] liberty.
18 But we all, with open {ie., unveiled} face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, [even] as by the Spirit of the Lord.
'The Spirit,' who displaces 'the Letter' of the Law, is our Lord who established the New Covenant, by which believers are born of God's Spirit. The Holy Spirit, who indwells God's children, is the Spirit of Christ within them (Joh 14:16-18; Rom 8:9).
'The Spirit of Life in Christ' sets us free from the power of sin and death.
...we all, with open {unveiled} face, beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed {GK=metamorphoo, transformed}... from glory to glory... by the Spirit of the Lord.
The glory of the Lord is not veiled from New Covenant believers. We are invited to freely gaze upon Him (eg., Rev 3:20; Joh 14:21-23). However, our view is somewhat obscured 'as in a glass' {a poor quality brass mirror} by our fleshly limitations (cp. 1Cor 13:12). As the Spirit enables us to grow in our understanding of our Lord's glory, He also increasingly transforms us into our Lord's likeness.
Rom 8:29; 12:2; 1Cor 15:49