New Covenant Life – 2 Corinthians 3

Pride and Prejudice tells the complicated tale of two people in particular, Elizabeth Bennet and Fitzwilliam Darcy, who must overcome their own pride and prejudice to realize how commendable they each are as life mates for one another. They could have arrived at this conclusion more readily with honest and open communication, but perhaps discovering each other’s good character indirectly was more powerful.

Paul is working to overcome a prejudice against him that has developed in the Corinthian congregation, but in defending and commending himself risks looking conceited. He addresses this head on and shows the basis of his confidence is not from himself.

Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, as some do, letters of recommendation to you, or from you? You yourselves are our letter of recommendation, written on our hearts, to be known and read by all. And you show that you are a letter from 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.

Such is the confidence that we have through Christ toward God. Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God, who has made us sufficient to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

Now if the ministry of death, carved in letters on stone, came with such glory that the Israelites could not gaze at Moses’ face because of its glory, which was being brought to an end, will not the ministry of the Spirit have even more glory? For if there was glory in the ministry of condemnation, the ministry of righteousness must far exceed it in glory. Indeed, in this case, what once had glory has come to have no glory at all, because of the glory that surpasses it. For if what was being brought to an end came with glory, much more will what is permanent have glory.

Since we have such a hope, we are very bold, not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face so that the Israelites might not gaze at the outcome of what was being brought to an end. But their minds were hardened. For to this day, when they read the old covenant, that same veil remains unlifted, because only through Christ is it taken away. Yes, to this day whenever Moses is read a veil lies over their hearts. But when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit. (2 Corinthians 3 ESV)

The teachers whom the Corinthians have sold their souls to came to them with letters of recommendation, commending themselves to this church.  But they brought with them a focus on the Old Covenant and Moses, teaching that transformation comes through keeping the letter of the law.  Paul should need no commendation since he is the one who brought Corinth the gospel.  And his ministry is that of the New Covenant.  The Law couldn’t change a person’s heart and enable him to obey.  Only the Holy Spirit can do that and He is the one who makes anyone sufficiently transformed.

If the Old Covenant came with glory, and it did, as evidenced in the glow that would temporarily cover Moses’ face when he met with God in the tent of meeting (Exodus 34:29-36), then how much greater is the glory of the New Covenant through the Holy Spirit.  The Law brought condemnation when it was apparent no one could keep it.  The New Covenant brings righteousness so its glory is greater.  Moses timidly veiled his face to hide the fading glory that scared the Israelites, and those who don’t believe the gospel are still experiencing a veil between them and God’s glory, that is only removed when one turns to the Lord.  And those who know the Lord find freedom and a gaze upon His face that transforms them internally like Moses’ face was transformed externally.

Real transformation comes as we spend intimate time with the Lord, the Triune God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  Just as you become more like someone through repeated time spent with them in intimate relationship, so you are made like Jesus when you spend repeated time with God. And just as you are changed by repeated time with someone without attempting the transformation, so time spent with God is not working to keep the letter of the law but an inward transformation that leads to obedience. In the New Covenant God is doing the transforming.

Discussion Questions for Small Groups

1. Did you have a hero when you were young who ended up being a disappointment?
2. Is Paul registering disappointment with Moses in his remarks?
3. How does Paul describe the difference between the old and new covenants?
4. Where does Paul’s confidence regarding the New Covenant come from?
5. Do you feel the confidence Paul feels in representing the New Covenant? Why or why not?
6. Do you agree with the concept shared here that Christian transformation comes from spending intimate time with God? If not, what do you think is the means of Christian transformation?