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In 2 Corinthians Chapter 3, Paul uses the imagery of God giving the Law to Moses on stone tablets to defend his apostleship, compare and contrast the Old Covenant with the New Covenant, and explain why the New Covenant is superior to the Old. With its transformative power, the New Covenant gives us hope; it promises to transform us into God’s image. To better understand this chapter, let’s dive deeper into this imagery.
Paul’s Letter of Recommendation: The True Mark of Ministry
The early church often used letters of recommendation to introduce and authenticate those ministering the Gospel from place to place. For example, believers in Ephesus wrote a letter to the church in Achaia asking them to welcome Apollos (Acts 18:27). Also, Paul wrote to the church in Rome, recommending Phoebe, a deacon in the church in Cenchrea (Romans 16:1). These letters helped churches to verify the authenticity of those claiming to be ministers of the Gospel.
Paul’s Response to the Question of His Credentials in 2 Corinthians 3
Apparently, “some people” had been questioning Paul’s authenticity and were asking to see Paul’s letters of recommendation. Paul pointed to the Corinthians, saying they were his letters of recommendation. He explained that his letters were written by Jesus with the Holy Spirit as ink, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts. These letters were evident in the Corinthians’ transformed lives, which were displayed for all to see.
Transformed Lives as the True Measure of Ministry
While letters of recommendation serve their purpose, the true sign of a valid ministry lies in the changed lives of those receiving the Gospel. Are their lives transformed? Do they look more like Jesus today than they did yesterday? Paul did not take credit for the transformation. Instead, he pointed to God, emphasizing that God qualified him to be a minister of the new covenant. He then described the new covenant by contrasting it with the old and highlighting its superior nature in bringing life and transformation.
Old vs. New Covenant: A Contrast in Glory
The Old Covenant, also known as the Mosaic Covenant, was a conditional covenant between God and Israel. It required the Israelites to obey God and keep His law in exchange for His protection and blessings (Exodus 34:10-35). However, the New Covenant was destined to replace the Old.
The Promise of the New Covenant
Jeremiah prophesied the arrival of the New Covenant in Jeremiah 31:31-33:
“Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah.32 It will not be like the covenant I made with their fathers when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt—a covenant they broke, though I was a husband to them,” declares the LORD. 33 “But this is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the LORD. I will put My law in their minds and inscribe it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they will be My people.”
Jesus fulfilled the Old Covenant and established the New Covenant, as stated in Luke 22:20:
“In the same way, after supper He took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is poured out for you.”
The Law vs. The Spirit Explained In 2 Corinthians 3
In 2 Corinthians Chapter 3, verses 6 through 16, Paul contrasts the Old and the New Covenants. He describes the Law of the Old Covenant as the “letter” that “kills,” referring to it as the ministry of death and condemnation. Nevertheless, the law itself is not bad; it is holy and good. On the contrary, it is our sin, which the law reveals, that condemns us to death and is powerless to save us. Jesus then introduces what Jeremiah prophesied: the New Covenant. Paul describes the New Covenant as the Spirit, which gives life and brings the ministry of the Spirit and righteousness. Through the New Covenant, we receive salvation through Jesus Christ. Because God has inscribed His law on our hearts with His Holy Spirit as the ink, we can now do what was impossible under the law: see God’s glory.
The Glory of the New Covenant: Reflecting God’s Image
Moses’ face shone with God’s glory after he talked with God and received the Law. Consequently, the Israelites feared coming near him, so he hid his face with a veil. After that, when Moses was with God, he uncovered his face and covered it again in the presence of the Israelites.
The Fleeting Glory of the Old Covenant
Another reason Moses covered his face and hid God’s glory behind a veil was that its glory was fleeting (2 Cor. 7). The Greek word “katargeó,” translated as “fleeting,” means to make inoperative or put out of use. Paul argues in 2 Corinthians Chapter 3 that although the ministry of condemnation was glorious, it still led to death. In contrast, the ministry of righteousness, which brings life, is far more glorious. Essentially, Paul described the Old Covenant as fleeting because its glory is overshadowed and rendered inoperative or put out of use by the enduring glory of the New Covenant. While the Old Covenant fades away, the New Covenant endures (v.11).
Christ Removes the Veil of Unbelief
Paul uses the imagery of the veil covering Moses’ face to describe the Israelites’ unbelief. Their minds are closed when the Law is read because their hearts are covered with a veil. Paul’s analogy describes not only the hearts and minds of the Israelites but also the hearts and minds of all unbelievers. (vv. 14-15) However, there is Good News: Christ removes the veil when we turn to Him for salvation! (v. 16)
Freedom to Reflect God’s Glory
Once Christ removes that veil, we can see clearly God’s glory with unveiled faces, a glory that we can contemplate because of Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross. You see, at His death, the veil of the Temple was torn, top to bottom (Matt. 27:1), removing the division between God and man. Unlike the Israelites who feared gazing upon God’s glory because they would die, we, as believers in Christ, have the freedom to sit in His presence and soak up His glory. This freedom in Christ empowers us to reflect His glory, transforming us daily into the image of Christ and changing the lives of those around us!
Conclusion
Like Paul, as followers of Christ, the only letters of recommendation we need are the visible results of our ministries. The fruit of our labor, the transformed lives of those we minister to, and the reflection of Jesus in our service are the true indicators of a valid ministry. Do we look more like Jesus every day? This is the question that truly matters.
