SECOND CORINTHIANS

 

Second Corinthians 3

1 ¶ Are we back to recommending ourselves? or do we need, as some, letters of recommendation to you, or letters of recommendation from you?

2 You are our letter written in our hearts, known and read by all men:

3 Anyone can see that you are Christ’s letter prepared by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not on tablets of stone, but in the heart on tablets of flesh.

4 That is how Christ gives us confidence in regard to God:

5 For we are not adequate in ourselves to think that we can accomplish anything in our own strength; but our ability is from God;

6 ¶ Who has also made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter kills, but the spirit gives life.

7 Now if the ministry of death, written and engraved on stone, was so glorious, that the children of Israel could not look directly at the face of Moses because his face was radiant; with a glory that was already fading:

8 Will not the ministry of the spirit be even more glorious?

9 For if the ministry of condemnation is glorious, the ministry of righteousness is far more glorious.

10 And that which was once glorious is no longer glorious, when compared with its much greater glory.

11 For if that which was temporary was glorious, that which is permanent is much more glorious.

12 ¶ Therefore seeing that we have such hope, we speak very clearly:

13 In contrast to Moses, who hid his face behind a veil, so that the children of Israel could not see the last rays of that which was fading away:

14 But their minds were blinded: for to this very day when the old testament is read the same veil remains and has not been taken away; for it is only removed in Christ.

15 Yes, even to this day, when Moses is read, the veil is upon their heart.

16 Nevertheless whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.

17 Now the Lord is the Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.

18 But we all, with unveiled faces reflect as in a mirror the glory of God, and, by the Spirit of the Lord, are being transformed with ever increasing glory to be like Him.