Main Highlights
Paul contrasts the ministry of the New Covenant, which brings life and glory, with the Old Covenant, which brought condemnation.
Key Verses
“Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, as some, letters of commendation to you or from you? You are our letter, written in our hearts, known and read by all people; clearly you are being shown to be a letter of Christ delivered by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.”- 2 Corinthians 3:1-3 “Such confidence we have through Christ toward God. Not that we are adequate in ourselves to consider anything as coming from ourselves, but our adequacy is from God, who also made us adequate as ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.”- 2 Corinthians 3:4-6 “But 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, how will the ministry of the Spirit not be even more with glory? For if the ministry of condemnation has glory, much more does the ministry of righteousness overflow with glory. For indeed, what was glorious has no glory in this respect, compared to that which surpasses it in glory.”- 2 Corinthians 3:7-10
Related Scripture
“I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.”- Ezekiel 36:26
Scholar Insight
"“Paul’s argument in this chapter is that the new covenant is superior to the old covenant in terms of its efficacy, its glory, and its permanence.” - Linda L. Belleville, 2 Corinthians (IVP New Testament Commentary Series), p. 115."
Theological Analysis
What we learn about God
God is the one who makes us adequate as ministers of the new covenant. (2 Corinthians 3:5-6)
Christological Connection
We have confidence through Christ toward God. (2 Corinthians 3:4)
Systematic Theology
Pneumatology - the role of the Holy Spirit in the New Covenant.
Law & Grace
The letter of the law kills, but the Spirit gives life. (2 Corinthians 3:6) Emphasizing grace over legalism.
Personal Application
We should embrace the New Covenant and allow the Spirit to transform our hearts. “clearly you are being shown to be a letter of Christ delivered by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.” (2 Corinthians 3:3)