Let's talk about 2 Corinthians 3 in detail.

2 Corinthians 3 contains Paul's defense of his apostleship and his emphasis on the glorious ministry of the gospel. Paul explains the difference between the old and new covenants, and emphasizes the glory and power of the new covenant. The following is a detailed account of 2 Corinthians 3.

1. Paul’s letter of recommendation (verses 1-3)

Paul, in his defense of his apostleship, says that his letter to the church in Corinth is like a letter of recommendation. He emphasizes that there is no need for a letter of recommendation, and that the saints in the church in Corinth are his own letters of recommendation.

Text: "Shall we begin again to commend ourselves? Or do we need, as some men do, letters of commendation to you or from you? For you are ministered as an epistle of Christ, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on human tablets of the heart" (2 Corinthians 3:1-3).

2. The Ministry of the New Covenant (verses 4-6)

Paul emphasizes that he is a minister of the new covenant. He explains that he is ministering not by the letter of the law but by the Holy Spirit. He emphasizes that the new covenant gives life through the Holy Spirit, while the law brings death.

Text: “Since we have this confidence in God through Christ, let us not think that anything comes from ourselves. Our satisfaction comes from God alone. He has also made us sufficient to be ministers of the new covenant. “Not by the letter of the law, but by the Spirit. For the letter of the law kills, but the Spirit gives life” (2 Corinthians 3:4-6).

3. Contrast between the Old and New Covenants (verses 7-11)

Paul contrasts the old covenant with the new covenant and emphasizes the glory of the new covenant. Explain that the glory on Moses' face was temporary, but the glory of the new covenant is eternal.

Text: "For if the ministration of death, written in stones, was glorious so that the children of Israel could not gaze intently at the face of Moses because of the glory of his passing away, how much more glorious is the ministration of the Spirit!" (2 Corinthians 3:7-8)

Paul emphasizes that if the old covenant was glorious, the glory of the new covenant is even greater. The glory of the new covenant is said to be eternal, lasting, and far superior to the ministries of the law.

Text: “For if the ministry of condemnation has glory, the ministry of righteousness abounds in glory even more. That which was glorious is not glorified in it because of a greater glory” (2 Corinthians 3:9-10).

4. Spiritual freedom and change (verses 12-18)

Paul boldly preaches the truth of the new covenant, explaining that just as Moses covered his face, so too does one experience spiritual freedom and transformation in Christ. Through Christ, the veil is lifted, and the saints experience transformation as they behold the glory of the Lord.

Text: "Since we have such a hope, we use all confidence. We are not like Moses, who put a veil over his face so that the children of Israel would not look at the end of what was about to pass away. But their minds were hardened. For to this day the same veil remains untaken when the old testament is read. It is done away in Christ" (2 Corinthians 3:12-14).

Paul emphasizes that where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom, and as the saints behold the glory of the Lord, they are increasingly transformed into the image of the Lord.

Text: "Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another, just as by the Spirit of the Lord" (2 Corinthians 3:17-18).

conclusion

Chapter 3 of 2 Corinthians is where Paul defends his apostleship and emphasizes the glory and power of the new covenant. Paul uses the Corinthian church saints as letters of recommendation to prove his ministry and explains that the ministry of the Holy Spirit is more glorious and powerful than the letter of the law. It also emphasizes the spiritual freedom and transformation through which the veil is lifted through Christ and the believers are transformed as they see the glory of the Lord. This chapter shows the importance of deeply understanding the glory of the new covenant and the work of the Holy Spirit, and through this experiencing change and freedom in our relationship with God.