Foundation Text

2 Corinthians 3:6-18

Greek Key Terms

  • G1242 διαθήκη (diatheke) - covenant, testament
  • G1121 γράμμα (gramma) - letter, written code
  • G4151 πνεῦμα (pneuma) - Spirit
  • G0615 ἀποκτείνω (apokteino) - kill, put to death
  • G2227 ζωοποιέω (zoopoieo) - make alive, give life
  • G1391 δόξα (doxa) - glory
  • G2571 κάλυμμα (kalymma) - veil, covering

Context: Paul contrasts his apostolic ministry of the new covenant with the Mosaic covenant ministry. Drawing on the account of Moses' veiled face (Exodus 34:29-35), Paul argues the new covenant surpasses the old in every way: Spirit vs. letter, life vs. death, permanent glory vs. fading glory, unveiled access vs. veiled obscurity.

OT-to-OT Development

  • Paul's exposition builds on Exodus 34:29-35 (Moses' shining face veiled from Israel)
  • Connects with Jeremiah 31:31-34 (new covenant promise of internal transformation)
  • Synthesizes with Ezekiel 36:26-27 (new heart, new Spirit within)
  • Deuteronomy 30:6 anticipated the need for heart circumcision to love God
  • The "letter kills" echoes the death-producing effect of law apart from Spirit (Rom 7:9-11)

Connections

Christological Connection: The "letter kills, but the Spirit gives life" (v. 6) reveals that the law, though holy and good (Rom 7:12), could only expose sin and condemn (Rom 3:19-20; 7:7-13). Christ fulfilled the law's righteous requirement (Rom 8:3-4) and, by His death and resurrection, inaugurated the new covenant ministry of the Spirit. The veil over Israel's heart when Moses is read (v. 15) is taken away only "whenever anyone turns to the Lord" (v. 16) - that is, to Christ. The Spirit of the Lord brings freedom from the condemning ministry of the law (v. 17). Believers, with unveiled faces, "are being transformed into His image with intensifying glory" (v. 18) - progressive sanctification by the Spirit into the image of Christ. The surpassing glory of the new covenant is Christ Himself, revealed by the Spirit to transformed hearts.

Connection Method(s): Contrast (primary), Promise-Fulfillment — Paul sets the new covenant ministry of the Spirit against the Mosaic ministry of the letter: Spirit against letter, life against death, righteousness against condemnation, enduring glory against fading glory. The Sinai covenant stands here as the superseded pole, not as a type escalated into the new. The new covenant Paul serves is the one Jeremiah promised (Jeremiah 31:31-34), written on hearts by the Spirit (2 Corinthians 3:3, 6). Moses' veil (Exodus 34:29-35) is Paul's picture of the old covenant read without Christ, and "whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away" (v. 16).

Trajectory Table: 164 - Two Covenants (Law and Promise)

Linked Mentions 1
Trajectory Tables 1
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