2Cor 3:4-18 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for 2Cor 3:4-18: 3:4-18 The contrast between Paul’s ministry and the others’ ministries leads Paul to contrast the old covenant of written laws (Exod 31:18 ) with the new covenant written on human hearts (Jer 31:33 ). Summary for 2Cor 3:4-6: 3:4-6 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 ), 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 ).

Summary for 2Cor 3:4-18: 3:4-18 ^a The contrast between Paul’s ministry and the others’ ministries leads Paul to contrast the old covenant of written laws (Exod 31:18 ^b) with the new covenant written on human hearts (Jer 31:33 ^c).
Summary for 2Cor 3:4-6: 3:4-6 ^d 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 ^e), 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 ^f).
Summary for 2Cor 3:7-11: 3:7-11 ^g The old covenant had its moments of glory, such as when Moses’ face . . . shone from his communion with the Lord (Exod 34:29-35 ^h).

• The old way has been replaced by the new way, which is eternal (Heb 8:8-13 ⁱ).
Summary for 2Cor 3:12-15: 3:12-15 ^j 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 ^k 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 ^l; John 1:1-14 ^m; Col 1:15 ⁿ; Heb 1:1-4 ^o) 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 ^p; Gal 4:19 ^q; Phil 3:21 ^r; 1 Jn 3:2 ^s).