2 Corinthians 3:1-18
1 "Are
we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, like some people,
letters of recommendation to you or from you?
2 You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and
read by everyone.
3 You show that you are a letter from CHRIST, the result of our ministry,
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 confidence we have
through CHRIST
before GOD.
5 Not that we are competent in
ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from GOD.
6 HE has made us competent as
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 that brought
death, which was engraved in letters on stone, came with glory, so that
the Israelites could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of its glory, transitory
though it was,
8 will not the ministry of THE SPIRIT be even more
glorious?
9 If the ministry that brought
condemnation was glorious, how much more glorious is the ministry that
brings RIGHTEOUSNESS!
10 For what was glorious has no glory
now in comparison with the SURPASSING GLORY.
11 And if what was transitory came
with glory, how much greater is the glory of that which lasts!
12 Therefore, since we have such a HOPE, we are
very bold.
13 We are not like Moses, who would
put a veil over his face to prevent the Israelites from seeing the end of
what was passing away.
14 But their minds were made
dull, for to this day the same veil remains when the old covenant is
read. It has not been removed, because only in CHRIST is it taken away.
15 Even to this day when Moses is
read, a veil covers their hearts.
16 But whenever anyone turns to THE LORD, the
veil is taken away.
17 Now THE LORD IS THE SPIRIT, and where THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD
is, there is FREEDOM.
18 And we all, who with unveiled
faces contemplate THE LORD’s GLORY, are being transformed into HIS
image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from THE LORD, WHO IS THE SPIRIT.”
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