2 Corinthians 3

Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition

3 Do we begin again to commend ourselves? Or do we need (as some do) epistles of commendation to you, or from you?

²You are our epistle, written in our hearts, which is known and read by all men:

³Being manifested, that you are the epistle of Christ, ministered by us, and written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in the fleshly tables of the heart.

⁴And such confidence we have, through Christ, towards God.

⁵Not that we are sufficient to think any thing of ourselves, as of ourselves: but our sufficiency is from God.

⁶Who also hath made us fit ministers of the new testament, not in the letter, but in the spirit. For the letter killeth, but the spirit quickeneth.

⁷Now if the ministration of death, engraven with letters upon stones, was glorious; so that the children of Israel could not steadfastly behold the face of Moses, for the glory of his countenance, which is made void:

⁸How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather in glory?

⁹For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more the ministration of justice aboundeth in glory.

¹⁰For even that which was glorious in this part was not glorified, by reason of the glory that excelleth.

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

¹²Having therefore such hope, we use much confidence:

¹³And not as Moses put a veil upon his face, that the children of Israel might not steadfastly look on the face of that which is made void.

¹⁴But their senses were made dull. For, until this present day, the selfsame veil, in the reading of the old testament, remaineth not taken away (because in Christ it is made void).

¹⁵But even until this day, when Moses is read, the veil is upon their heart.

¹⁶But when they shall be converted to the Lord, the veil shall be taken away.

¹⁷Now the Lord is a Spirit. And where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.

¹⁸But we all beholding the glory of the Lord with open face, are transformed into the same image from glory to glory, as by the Spirit of the Lord.

2 Corinthians 3

New International Version

3 Are we beginning to commend ourselves^(A) again? Or do we need, like some people, letters of recommendation^(B) to you or from you? ²You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everyone.^(C) ³You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God,^(D) not on tablets of stone^(E) but on tablets of human hearts.^(F)

⁴Such confidence^(G) we have through Christ before God. ⁵Not that we are competent in ourselves^(H) to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God.^(I) ⁶He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant^(J)—not of the letter^(K) but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.^(L)

The Greater Glory of the New Covenant

⁷Now if the ministry that brought death,^(M) which was engraved in letters on stone, came with glory, so that the Israelites could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of its glory,^(N) transitory though it was, ⁸will not the ministry of the Spirit be even more glorious? ⁹If the ministry that brought condemnation^(O) was glorious, how much more glorious is the ministry that brings righteousness!^(P) ¹⁰For what was glorious has no glory now in comparison with the surpassing glory. ¹¹And if what was transitory came with glory, how much greater is the glory of that which lasts!

¹²Therefore, since we have such a hope,^(Q) we are very bold.^(R) ¹³We are not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face^(S) to prevent the Israelites from seeing the end of what was passing away. ¹⁴But their minds were made dull,^(T) for to this day the same veil remains when the old covenant^(U) is read.^(V) It has not been removed, because only in Christ is it taken away. ¹⁵Even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts. ¹⁶But whenever anyone turns to the Lord,^(W) the veil is taken away.^(X) ¹⁷Now the Lord is the Spirit,^(Y) and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.^(Z) ¹⁸And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate^[a]^(AA) the Lord’s glory,^(AB) are being transformed into his image^(AC) with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.