Paul declares that the Lord is a Spirit. He is talking about the Holy Spirit, one of the three members of the Trinity: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Spirit. In addition to being Christ, the Lord is also the Spirit. Paul has described in the previous verses the one and only way by which the veil of separation between human understanding and God's glory is removed. It happens when a person "turns to the Lord" by trusting in Christ's death in their place for the forgiveness of their sin. Sin is what holds the veil in place, and forgiveness of sin is what removes the veil.

The power to remove that veil and open human minds to God's glory comes through the Holy Spirit. Paul adds that where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom from the veil that keeps people from seeing God's glory. Through faith in Christ and the power of the Spirit, the veil is removed and God's glory is revealed in the person of Jesus Christ. That freedom from spiritual blindness or hardened minds is the difference between life and death.

Second Corinthians 3:7–18 contains Paul's comparison of the glory of God revealed in two covenants. The first is the Old Covenant with Israel, second is the far greater glory revealed in the new covenant of God's grace through faith in Christ. The glory of the Old Covenant is fading just as it did on Moses' face after he had been with God. Those who come to God through faith in Christ are forgiven for their sins and able to look on God's glory. The veil of unbelief must be removed by the Spirit through Christ. Those who see Him begin to become like Him.

Second Corinthians 3 begins with Paul's insistence that Christ's presence in the hearts of the Corinthians should be all the evidence they need that his ministry is true. He compares the limited glory revealed by the Old Covenant between God and Israel with the far greater glory revealed by Christ to all who come to Him by faith. That glory is revealed only when the veil of unbelief is removed through Christ by the Holy Spirit's power. Those who see God's glory in Christ begin to be changed to become like Him.

Earlier chapters described the Corinthians' response to Paul's earlier instructions. Here, Paul once again defends the legitimacy of his role as an apostle of Christ. He then compares the old covenant of the law of Moses with the new covenant of faith in Christ. The old covenant revealed human sinfulness, God's condemnation, and the death required to pay for sin. The new covenant brings God's forgiveness for sin to all who trust in Christ, making it possible to look on His glory and to begin to be changed by it into the image of Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit. This launches Paul into a description of the value of the gospel, in contrast to the struggles of earthly life.

Second Corinthians returns to similar themes as those Paul mentioned in his first letter to this church. Paul is glad to hear that the church in Corinth has heeded his advice. At the same time, it is necessary for Paul to counter criticisms about his personality and legitimacy. Most of this text involves that subject. The fifth chapter, in contrast, contains comforting words which Christians have quoted often in times of hardship. Paul also details his expectations that the church in Corinth will make good on their promise to contribute to the needs of suffering believers in Jerusalem.

Accessed 12/18/2024 8:04:48 AM

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