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Date Posted: 00:51:07 12/02/02 Mon
Author: Stan
Subject: 2 Corinthians 3
In reply to: Stan 's message, "2 Corinthians 2" on 00:49:04 12/02/02 Mon

2 Corinthians 3

1
Do we begin again to commend ourselves? or need we, as some others, epistles of commendation to you, or letters of commendation from you?

( I have no doubt that Paul is talking about the super preachers bringing in their own big letters. )

2
Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men:

( They themselves were Paul's letter of commendation because they had corrected themselves, setting the example for others to see and follow. )

3
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.

( They were Paul's letter by Christ. Human tables, living in the heart and minds of the people )

4
And such trust have we through Christ to God-ward:
5
Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God;

( Paul never took the credit or thought himself above anyone. He always gave God the credit, through Christ our Lord. )

6
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.

( The new is not different, but rather the fulfillment of the old. )

7
But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious,

( The Old Testament, the law of Moses........... )

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:

( This would be a bit difficult to understand without going to the scripture Paul is talking about. )

Exodus 34
34
[I]But when Moses went in before the Lord to speak with Him, he took the veil off, untill he came out. And he came out, and spake unto the children of Israel [that] which he was commanded.

( When Moses faced God, he didn't need a viel. Spiritually speaking, this is the uncovering of the eyes to see God. Thats what Pauls getting at here. The viel we wear today is the viel of Christ. )

35
And the children of Israel saw the face of Moses, that the skin of the face of Moses shone: and Moses put the veil upon his face again, untill he went in again to speak with Him.

( His countenance radiated the Glory of God. So......... )

8
How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious?

( In other words, The Spirit through which the Old Testament was fulfilled, and with Christ there is an everlasting renewing of the spirit. We being now glorified through Him. )

9
For if the ministration of condemnation be glory,

( The teaching of the O.T. )

much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory.

( Christ is the only true righteous One. Through Him is the greatest glory of all, the presence of the Almighty. )

10
For even that which was made glorious had no glory in this respect, by reason of the glory that excelleth.

( Meaning anything compared to the Glory of God/Christ had no glory. )

11
For if that which is done away was glorious, much more that which remaineth is glorious.

( 'Remaining' meaning permanent, everlasting. )

12
Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech:

( Because of this, they can speak frankly and boldly )

13
And not as Moses, which put a vail over his face, that the children of Israel could not stedfastly look to the end of that which is abolished:

( They were blind to it. They couldn't handle it. )

14
But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in Christ.

( Done away when you face Him. Untill we face God, that vail will always be there. The Vail we put on now is Jesus Christ. He opens eyes and opens ears. )

15
But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart.

( It's still that way with many to this day. Their minds are still blinded because they haven't faced God. Spiritually speaking. )

16
Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away.

( As it was when Moses faced God. He took off the vail to face the presence of God. We see the unfolding of the analogy Paul has given now. )

17
Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.

( Christ comes in the volume of the book. The book is the Word. The Word is the truth. And the truth sets you free. So don't let people mess with your liberty, and don't abuse the liberty we have been given by His grace. )

18
But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

( "open faced" meaning "the unvailing". And seeing the Lord as clearly as beholding your own face in a mirror and are thus transformed to the same glory in the Spirit of everlasting life through Jesus Christ our Lord. )

Praise God for opening our eyes.

stan

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