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2 Corinthians 3 Commentary

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Paul notes that he does not need letters of recommendation from anyone to validate his ministry. The Corinthian believers are themselves living letters that show that Christ has worked in their lives through the Spirit, whom Paul first preached to them about. Believers have the Spirit living within them.

Paul’s confidence is in God through Christ. Any adequacy he may have is from God. He introduces the new covenant of the Spirit, who gives life.

The ministry of the Spirit, the new covenant, will reveal the true glory of God. We will move from the glory of the Law to the glory of the Spirit.

We have hope, for the Spirit lives within us. The veil that used to separate us from seeing God’s glory has been removed from our eyes. When believers turn to God, we see the true glory of the Lord. We are in the process of transforming into the image of Christ.


Paul argues that he does not need letters of recommendation from anyone to validate his ministry. The Corinthian believers are themselves living letters of recommendation, who show that Christ has worked in their lives through the Spirit, whom Paul first preached to them about. The Spirit lives within believers.

Paul's confidence is in God and Christ. Any sufficiency he may have is from God. He discusses the new covenant of the Spirit, who gives life. The ministry of the Spirit and the new covenant will reveal the true glory of God. The gospel moves believers from the glory of the Law to the glory of the Spirit.

We have hope, for the Spirit lives inside of us. The veil that used to separate us from seeing God's glory has been taken off of our eyes. When believers turn to God, we glimpse the true glory of the Lord, and experience the transformation into Christ-likeness.