2Cor 3 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for 2Cor 3:1-3: 3:1-3 Paul’s ministry was validated by the lives of those who were changed by the Good News rather than by a letter of recommendation (cp. Acts 18:27 ). Christ, the author of this transformation, used Paul to lead believers to him. The marks of genuineness are not in letters written ... with pen and ink on parchment, but in the fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5:22-23 ) in human lives and carved . . . on human hearts .

Summary for 2Cor 3:1-3: 3:1-3 ^a Paul’s ministry was validated by the lives of those who were changed by the Good News rather than by a letter of recommendation (cp. Acts 18:27 ^b). Christ, the author of this transformation, used Paul to lead believers to him. The marks of genuineness are not in letters written ... with pen and ink on parchment, but in the fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5:22-23 ^c) in human lives and carved . . . on human hearts.
Summary for 2Cor 3:4-18: 3:4-18 ^d The contrast between Paul’s ministry and the others’ ministries leads Paul to contrast the old covenant of written laws (Exod 31:18 ^e) with the new covenant written on human hearts (Jer 31:33 ^f).
Summary for 2Cor 3:4-6: 3:4-6 ^g The old written covenant is the Mosaic law as interpreted by the Jewish rabbis. It ends in death for adherents who see it as a way of salvation. The law is good (Rom 7:12-14 ^h), but those who use it to gain merit fail. It leads either to transgression or to pride; either way, the law brings condemnation (2 Cor 3:9 ⁱ).
Summary for 2Cor 3:7-11: 3:7-11 ^j The old covenant had its moments of glory, such as when Moses’ face . . . shone from his communion with the Lord (Exod 34:29-35 ^k).

• The old way has been replaced by the new way, which is eternal (Heb 8:8-13 ^l).
Summary for 2Cor 3:12-15: 3:12-15 ^m The old covenant, represented by Moses’ veil, led to fear and did not remove spiritual blindness.
Summary for 2Cor 3:16-18: 3:16-18 ⁿ The believer who turns to the Lord has freedom in the Spirit. We receive something Moses never knew as we become more and more like Christ (4:4 ^o; John 1:1-14 ^p; Col 1:15 ^q; Heb 1:1-4 ^r) and reflect the glory of the Lord. Divine glory in this present life leads to our being like Christ in the next life (Rom 8:29 ^s; Gal 4:19 ^t; Phil 3:21 ^u; 1 Jn 3:2 ^v).