Focused Passage

2 Corinthians 3:7-18

Letters of Christ, New Covenant Ministry, and Unveiled Glory

Paul moves from refusing the need for self-commendation, to identifying the Corinthians as a Spirit-written letter of Christ, to contrasting letter-and-death with Spirit-and-life, to showing that the fading Mosaic glory gives way to the surpassing glory of new covenant ministry, and finally to the unveiled freedom and transformation found in the Lord by the Spirit.

Berean Standard Bible, Public Domain - Translation notes - Reference sources

7 Now if the ministry of death, which was engraved in letters on stone, came with such glory that the Israelites could not gaze at the face of Moses because of its fleeting glory,

8 will not the ministry of the Spirit be even more glorious?

9 For if the ministry of condemnation was glorious, how much more glorious is the ministry of righteousness!

10 Indeed, what was once glorious has no glory now in comparison to the glory that surpasses it.

11 For if what was fading away came with glory, how much greater is the glory of that which endures!

12 Therefore, since we have such a hope, we are very bold.

13 We are not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face to keep the Israelites from gazing at the end of what was fading away.

14 But their minds were closed. For to this day the same veil remains at the reading of the old covenant. It has not been lifted, because only in Christ can it be removed.

15 And even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts.

16 But 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 And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into His image with intensifying glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 7

Original words

Now δὲ G1161 Conjunction if Εἰ G1487 Conjunction the G3588 Article - Nominative Feminine Singular ministry διακονία G1248 Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular - τοῦ G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Singular of death θανάτου G2288 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular which was engraved ἐντετυπωμένη G1795 Verb - Perfect Participle Middle or Passive - Nominative Feminine Singular in ἐν G1722 Preposition letters γράμμασιν G1121 Noun - Dative Neuter Plural on stone λίθοις G3037 Noun - Dative Masculine Plural came ἐγενήθη G1096 Verb - Aorist Indicative Passive - 3rd Person Singular with ἐν G1722 Preposition {such} glory δόξῃ G1391 Noun - Dative Feminine Singular that ὥστε G5620 Conjunction the τοὺς G3588 Article - Accusative Masculine Plural vvv υἱοὺς G5207 Noun - Accusative Masculine Plural Israelites Ἰσραὴλ G2474 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular could δύνασθαι G1410 Verb - Present Infinitive Middle or Passive not μὴ G3361 Adverb gaze ἀτενίσαι G816 Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active at εἰς G1519 Preposition the τὸ G3588 Article - Accusative Neuter Singular face πρόσωπον G4383 Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular of Moses Μωϋσέως G3475 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular because of διὰ G1223 Preposition - τὴν G3588 Article - Accusative Feminine Singular vvv τοῦ G3588 Article - Genitive Neuter Singular vvv αὐτοῦ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular [its] προσώπου G4383 Noun - Genitive Neuter Singular - τὴν G3588 Article - Accusative Feminine Singular fleeting καταργουμένην G2673 Verb - Present Participle Middle or Passive - Accusative Feminine Singular glory δόξαν G1391 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Verse 8

Original words

- πῶς G4459 Adverb will ἔσται G1510 Verb - Future Indicative Middle - 3rd Person Singular not οὐχὶ G3780 Adverb the G3588 Article - Nominative Feminine Singular ministry διακονία G1248 Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular of the τοῦ G3588 Article - Genitive Neuter Singular Spirit πνεύματος G4151 Noun - Genitive Neuter Singular {be} even more μᾶλλον G3123 Adverb vvv ἐν G1722 Preposition glorious δόξῃ G1391 Noun - Dative Feminine Singular
Verse 9

Original words

For γὰρ G1063 Conjunction if εἰ G1487 Conjunction the τῇ* G3588 Article - Dative Feminine Singular ministry διακονία G1248 Noun - Dative Feminine Singular - τῆς G3588 Article - Genitive Feminine Singular of condemnation κατακρίσεως G2633 Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular was glorious δόξα G1391 Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular how much πολλῷ G4183 Adjective - Dative Neuter Singular more μᾶλλον G3123 Adverb . . . περισσεύει G4052 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular glorious δόξῃ G1391 Noun - Dative Feminine Singular {is} the G3588 Article - Nominative Feminine Singular ministry διακονία G1248 Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular - τῆς G3588 Article - Genitive Feminine Singular of righteousness δικαιοσύνης G1343 Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular
Verse 10

Original words

Indeed καὶ G2532 Conjunction . . . γὰρ G1063 Conjunction what τὸ G3588 Article - Nominative Neuter Singular was once glorious δεδοξασμένον G1392 Verb - Perfect Participle Middle or Passive - Nominative Neuter Singular vvv οὐ G3756 Adverb has no glory now δεδόξασται G1392 Verb - Perfect Indicative Middle or Passive - 3rd Person Singular in ἐν G1722 Preposition - τούτῳ G3778 Demonstrative Pronoun - Dative Neuter Singular - τῷ G3588 Article - Dative Neuter Singular comparison to μέρει G3313 Noun - Dative Neuter Singular . . . εἵνεκεν G1752 Preposition the τῆς G3588 Article - Genitive Feminine Singular glory [that] δόξης G1391 Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular surpasses [it] ὑπερβαλλούσης G5235 Verb - Present Participle Active - Genitive Feminine Singular
Verse 11

Original words

For γὰρ G1063 Conjunction if εἰ G1487 Conjunction what τὸ G3588 Article - Nominative Neuter Singular was fading away καταργούμενον G2673 Verb - Present Participle Middle or Passive - Nominative Neuter Singular [came] with διὰ G1223 Preposition glory δόξης G1391 Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular how much greater πολλῷ G4183 Adjective - Dative Neuter Singular . . . μᾶλλον G3123 Adverb [is the] ἐν G1722 Preposition glory δόξῃ G1391 Noun - Dative Feminine Singular of that which τὸ G3588 Article - Nominative Neuter Singular endures μένον G3306 Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Neuter Singular
Verse 12

Original words

Therefore οὖν G3767 Conjunction since we have Ἔχοντες G2192 Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Plural such τοιαύτην G5108 Demonstrative Pronoun - Accusative Feminine Singular a hope ἐλπίδα G1680 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular we are χρώμεθα G5530 Verb - Present Indicative Middle or Passive - 1st Person Plural very πολλῇ G4183 Adjective - Dative Feminine Singular bold παρρησίᾳ G3954 Noun - Dative Feminine Singular
Verse 13

Original words

[We are] καὶ G2532 Conjunction not οὐ G3756 Adverb like καθάπερ G2509 Adverb Moses Μωϋσῆς G3475 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular [who] would put ἐτίθει G5087 Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular a veil κάλυμμα G2571 Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular over ἐπὶ G1909 Preposition his αὐτοῦ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular - τὸ G3588 Article - Accusative Neuter Singular face πρόσωπον G4383 Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular to keep πρὸς G4314 Preposition the τοὺς G3588 Article - Accusative Masculine Plural vvv υἱοὺς G5207 Noun - Accusative Masculine Plural Israelites Ἰσραὴλ G2474 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular [from] μὴ G3361 Adverb - τὸ G3588 Article - Accusative Neuter Singular gazing ἀτενίσαι G816 Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active at εἰς G1519 Preposition the τὸ G3588 Article - Accusative Neuter Singular end τέλος G5056 Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular of what τοῦ G3588 Article - Genitive Neuter Singular was fading away καταργουμένου G2673 Verb - Present Participle Middle or Passive - Genitive Neuter Singular
Verse 14

Original words

But Ἀλλὰ G235 Conjunction their αὐτῶν G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Plural - τὰ G3588 Article - Nominative Neuter Plural minds νοήματα G3540 Noun - Nominative Neuter Plural were closed ἐπωρώθη G4456 Verb - Aorist Indicative Passive - 3rd Person Singular For γὰρ G1063 Conjunction to ἄχρι G891 Preposition - τῆς G3588 Article - Genitive Feminine Singular [this] σήμερον G4594 Adverb day ἡμέρας G2250 Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular the τὸ G3588 Article - Nominative Neuter Singular same αὐτὸ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative Neuter 3rd Person Singular veil κάλυμμα G2571 Noun - Nominative Neuter Singular remains μένει G3306 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular at ἐπὶ G1909 Preposition the τῇ G3588 Article - Dative Feminine Singular reading ἀναγνώσει G320 Noun - Dative Feminine Singular of the τῆς G3588 Article - Genitive Feminine Singular old παλαιᾶς G3820 Adjective - Genitive Feminine Singular covenant διαθήκης G1242 Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular vvv μὴ G3361 Adverb It has not been lifted ἀνακαλυπτόμενον G343 Verb - Present Participle Middle or Passive - Nominative Neuter Singular [because] only ὅτι G3754 Conjunction in ἐν G1722 Preposition Christ Χριστῷ G5547 Noun - Dative Masculine Singular can it be removed καταργεῖται G2673 Verb - Present Indicative Middle or Passive - 3rd Person Singular
Verse 15

Original words

And even ἀλλ’ G235 Conjunction to ἕως G2193 Preposition this day σήμερον G4594 Adverb when ἡνίκα G2259 Adverb . . . ἂν G302 Particle Moses Μωϋσῆς G3475 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular is read ἀναγινώσκηται G314 Verb - Present Subjunctive Middle or Passive - 3rd Person Singular a veil κάλυμμα G2571 Noun - Nominative Neuter Singular covers κεῖται G2749 Verb - Present Indicative Middle or Passive - 3rd Person Singular . . . ἐπὶ G1909 Preposition their αὐτῶν G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Plural - τὴν G3588 Article - Accusative Feminine Singular hearts καρδίαν G2588 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Verse 16

Original words

But δὲ G1161 Conjunction whenever ἡνίκα G2259 Adverb . . . ἐὰν G1437 Conjunction [anyone] turns ἐπιστρέψῃ G1994 Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 3rd Person Singular to πρὸς G4314 Preposition [the] Lord Κύριον G2962 Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular the τὸ G3588 Article - Nominative Neuter Singular veil κάλυμμα G2571 Noun - Nominative Neuter Singular is taken away περιαιρεῖται G4014 Verb - Present Indicative Middle or Passive - 3rd Person Singular
Verse 17

Original words

Now δὲ G1161 Conjunction the G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular Lord Κύριος G2962 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular is ἐστιν G1510 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular the τὸ G3588 Article - Nominative Neuter Singular Spirit Πνεῦμά G4151 Noun - Nominative Neuter Singular and δὲ G1161 Conjunction where οὗ G3757 Adverb the τὸ G3588 Article - Nominative Neuter Singular Spirit Πνεῦμα G4151 Noun - Nominative Neuter Singular of [the] Lord [is] Κυρίου G2962 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular [there is] freedom ἐλευθερία G1657 Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular
Verse 18

Original words

And δὲ G1161 Conjunction we, [who] ἡμεῖς G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 1st Person Plural with unveiled ἀνακεκαλυμμένῳ G343 Verb - Perfect Participle Middle or Passive - Dative Neuter Singular faces προσώπῳ G4383 Noun - Dative Neuter Singular all πάντες G3956 Adjective - Nominative Masculine Plural reflect κατοπτριζόμενοι G2734 Verb - Present Participle Middle - Nominative Masculine Plural the τὴν G3588 Article - Accusative Feminine Singular glory δόξαν G1391 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular of [the] Lord Κυρίου G2962 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular are being transformed into μεταμορφούμεθα G3339 Verb - Present Indicative Middle or Passive - 1st Person Plural - τὴν G3588 Article - Accusative Feminine Singular [His] αὐτὴν G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Feminine 3rd Person Singular image εἰκόνα G1504 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular vvv ἀπὸ G575 Preposition vvv δόξης G1391 Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular vvv εἰς G1519 Preposition with intensifying glory δόξαν G1391 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular which comes καθάπερ G2509 Adverb from ἀπὸ G575 Preposition [the] Lord Κυρίου G2962 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular [who is the] Spirit Πνεύματος G4151 Noun - Genitive Neuter Singular

Berean Standard Bible (BSB): CC0 Public Domain Scripture text. Focused passages are drawn from the same reader contract as the full chapter. Reference sources explains external study-link sources.