1 Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, as some do, letters of recommendation to you, or from you? 2 You yourselves are our letter of recommendation, written on our hearts, to be known and read by all. 3 And you show that you are a letter from Christ delivered by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.
4 Such is the confidence that we have through Christ toward God. 5 Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God, 6 who has made us sufficient to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.
7 Now if the ministry of death, carved in letters on stone, came with such glory that the Israelites could not gaze at Moses’ face because of its glory, which was being brought to an end, 8 will not the ministry of the Spirit have even more glory? 9 For if there was glory in the ministry of condemnation, the ministry of righteousness must far exceed it in glory. 10 Indeed, in this case, what once had glory has come to have no glory at all, because of the glory that surpasses it. 11 For if what was being brought to an end came with glory, much more will what is permanent have glory.
12 Since we have such a hope, we are very bold, 13 not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face so that the Israelites might not gaze at the outcome of what was being brought to an end. 14 But their minds were hardened. For to this day, when they read the old covenant, that same veil remains unlifted, because only through Christ is it taken away. 15 Yes, to this day whenever Moses is read a veil lies over their hearts. 16 But when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed. 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.
(ESV)
STOP! Think a little 🤔 What is God saying to you?
- What is the writer saying?
- How do I apply this to my life?
In contrast to the false teachers who were peddling God’s word in self-interest (2 Cor 2:17), Paul asks if he needs to commend himself or bring letters of recommendation. Instead, he points to the Corinthians themselves as his letter of recommendation. The fruit that has come from his ministry among them is all the proof that they need that He can be trusted. While they represent the fruit of Paul’s ministry, they are not a product of Paul’s ministry. They are a letter of Christ’s, a product of the Holy Spirit’s work in their lives. Thus a letter written by the Spirit of the living God is much better than any letter that could be written by pen and ink. Also, this letter is not written on tablets of stone like Moses received from God, but directly on the hearts of believers.
Earlier in his letter, Paul asked who can be sufficient for the work God does through them (2 Cor 2:16) and now he answers his question—his sufficiency is not from himself, but from God. They don’t see their accomplishments in ministry as a result of their own skill or wisdom but entirely from God. God is the one who made them sufficient ministers of the new covenant of Christ. This new covenant through Christ is the only way to be reconciled to God. The letter, a reference to the law of the old covenant kills because it requires perfect obedience, something impossible for any person to accomplish. But the Spirit gives life. When Moses descended from Mount Sinai, the Israelites were afraid to approach him because of the radiance of his face (Ex 34:29-30). If the old covenant, which brought condemnation and was going to be phased out, came with such glory, then how much more does the ministry of the Spirit, the new covenant which is permanent, have surpassing glory. Paul’s point is clear that the new covenant is superior in every way.
Because of the certain hope found in the new covenant, Paul could be bold in his speech and action, unlike Moses who veiled his face when he addressed Israel. It is not certain why Moses veiled his face, perhaps it was as a testimony of their hardness of heart. This turned out to be prophetic because Paul says that this hardness of heart has prevailed and they were still not able to see that the old covenant was only a preliminary step before Christ brought in the new covenant. Only through Christ can that veil be removed. Now, believers, have the veil removed like Moses did when he went before the Lord. Believers behold the glory of the Lord as we gaze into the Word of God like a mirror(Jas 1:22-25). When we focus on God’s Word, then we are transformed into the same image of Christ through the process of sanctification that comes from the Spirit. Becoming more like Christ doesn’t come from personal wisdom, determination, or ability, but as Paul said of his ministry, our sufficiency to be Christlike comes from submitting ourselves to the Holy Spirit’s ministry through the Word of God.
Just like salvation doesn’t come from anything we can do but is completely from God, so becoming more like Christ doesn’t happen by self-effort. You can’t try harder to be more like Christ. You need to submit to the work of the Holy Spirit in you as a result of spending time in God’s word. It’s not about trying harder, it’s about spending more time in His presence. Are you spending enough time in His presence?
Major Stories of the Bible Reading Plan
The Day of the Lord: 2 Peter 3