Lesson 4837

 (Lesson 4837) (04-27-25) 2nd Corinthians 3:1-11 

   “Do we begin again to commend ourselves? or need we, as some others, epistles of commendation to you, or letters of commendation from you? Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men: Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart. And such trust have we through Christ to God-ward: Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God; Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life. But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away: How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious? For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory. For even that which was made glorious had no glory in this respect, by reason of the glory that excelleth.” 

 

In today’s quote, Paul contrasted the old covenant, characterized by the Law given through Moses, with the new covenant, brought through Christ and the Spirit. He began by addressing the need for letters of commendation, stating that the Corinthians themselves are his letter, written not with ink but by the Spirit of the living God on tablets of human hearts. This illustrates that their transformed lives are a testament to his ministry. Paul emphasized that his sufficiency as a minister came from God, not from himself. He explained that the old covenant, written and engraved on stones, was a ministry of death and condemnation, though it came with glory. However, the new covenant, of the Spirit, is more glorious, as it brings righteousness and life. This passage highlights the superiority of the new covenant with Jesus Christ over the insufficiency of the old laws of the Jews, emphasizing the transformative power of the Spirit in the lives of those who believe in Jesus.  ~