2Corinthians 3

2 Cor 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?

How often have you heard a speaker introduced with a long introduction about his accomplishments? Dr. So and so, studied at such and such university. Ten years as an administrator and on and on, the build up goes.

Such were the false teachers who came to Corinth, with letters of commendation, establishing there authority. These false ones were sowing distrust in the church concerning Paul and his leadership. It is God who equips us for ministry. Paul felt the need to defend his ministry.

epistle -- A message, a letter of a more formal nature; a discourse or a speech written for the intent of publication or for the edifying of those who read it.

Paul was as a father to the church he founded, through the gospel.

1 Cor 4:15 For though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel.

Gal 1:11 But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man.
Gal 1:12 For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.

Paul truthfully says, you are my proof of ministry, you are a living epistle, the evidence of my ministry from God. What better evidence of the calling and favor of God, then fruit, souls brought to the Lord. Often, a false teacher will come to steal the sheep away from a ministry anointed of God. Jesus, the good shepherd warned of these wolves.

John 10:10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
John 10:11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.

1 Pet 2:4 To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious,
1 Pet 2:5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.

2 Cor 4:6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

2 Cor 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

Yes, his sufficiency was not in himself, but in Christ who worked through him, by the Holy Spirit.

Phil 3:4 Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more:
Phil 3:5 Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee;
Phil 3:6 Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.
Phil 3:7 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.
Phil 3:8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,
Phil 3:9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:

Our accreditation is not from man or experience, but from God. That doesn't mean we do not do our part. It means that are efforts will be met with success. The evidence being the fruit of our ministry. Paul indeed was an able apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Alive in the Spirit; not dead by the law

2 Cor 3:6 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.

"letter of the law" -- The written commandments of the word of God, in contrast to the inward operation of the Holy Spirit in the New Covenant believer.

Rom 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
Rom 8:2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.

Rom 2:28 For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh:
Rom 2:29 But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.

Rom 7:6 But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter.

2 Cor 3:7 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:
2 Cor 3:8 How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious?
2 Cor 3:9 For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory.

"glory" -- The manifestation of the worthy attributes of something or of God

John 17:5 And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.

Heb 1:3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;

John 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

2 Cor 3:10 For even that which was made glorious had no glory in this respect, by reason of the glory that excelleth.

The Ten commandments written in stone were glorious, Yet the source of the commandments has more glory. The Holy Spirit is the source and he dwells within the redeemed of the Lord Jesus Christ. Has the truth of the law ceased? No, but the Spirit of the law, which lives in you is greater then the letter of the law. The letter was interpreted by imperfect men, adding many restrictions, The Holy Spirit gives grace and truth, rest and freedom.

2 Cor 3:11 For if that which is done away was glorious, much more that which remaineth is glorious.
2 Cor 3:12 Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech:

"plainness of speech" -- boldness, freedom of speech

Acts 4:13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.

Acts 4:31 And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.

The Holy Ghost in the New Covenant is greater then the letter of the law, and man's customs around the law. Boldness comes from God, His spirit is gentle, yet wise. The Spirit of truth and love, the Spirit of our Lord.

The word of God is without error, yet it does not answer all questions. When jesus returns we will be like him, in our fullness in the spirit. Then we shall know all things.

1 Cor 13:9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.
1 Cor 13:10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.

God's word is everlasting, but our limitations shall be taken away, our fleshly nature, our limited knowledge, the scales will be removed from our understanding.

1 John 3:2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

Veiled

2 Cor 3:13 And not as Moses, which put a veil over his face, that the children of Israel could not stedfastly look to the end of that which is abolished:
2 Cor 3:14 But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same veil untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which veil is done away in Christ.

Rom 11:7 What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded
Rom 11:8 (According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear;) unto this day.

2 Cor 3:15 But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the veil is upon their heart.
2 Cor 3:16 Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the veil shall be taken away.
2 Cor 3:17 Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.

It is the Spirit of God in our heart that removes the blindness. We are loosed from the constraints of legalism and religious blindness and are free to serve God together with others who have the Spirit.

Luke 4:18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,
Luke 4:19 To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.

Gal 5:1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us ree, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.

Gal 5:13 For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not l iberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.

2 Cor 3:18 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.

1 Cor 13:12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

1 Pet 2:16 As free, and not using your liberty for a cloak of maliciousness, but as the servants of God.

In his love, Gary

2Corinthian Chapters

2Corinthians 4
2Corinthians 2
2Corinthians 1 Table of Contents
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