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2 Corinthians Chapter Three

 
Chapter Three general Review
 
OBJECTIVES IN STUDYING THIS CHAPTER
 
1) To learn how one becomes an "epistle of Christ"
 
2) To see the contrast between the old and new covenants
 
3) To appreciate the role of the Spirit in the new covenant, and in
 producing our transformation
 
SUMMARY
 
Having just begun vindicating his ministry as an apostle of Jesus
Christ, Paul reminds the Corinthians that he really needs no letter of
accreditation, for they are his epistles of commendation. Through his
ministry, in which he had written upon their hearts with the Spirit of
the living God, they themselves have become an epistle of Christ (1-3).
This he says, with full realization that it is God who has made him
sufficient as a minister of the new covenant, which is a ministry of
the Spirit who gives life (4-6).
 
Paul then proceeds to contrast the new covenant with the old covenant,
to illustrate the glorious nature of his ministry. With Exodus
34:29-35 as his reference, he equates the glory of the old covenant
with the glory on Moses' face that was temporary. But if the old
covenant, described as one of death and condemnation, had glory, then
how much more glorious is the new covenant, a ministry of the Spirit
and of righteousness which is not passing away (7-11)!
 
Paul then declares that those who listen only to the Old Testament
still have a veil on their hearts (12-15). But when we turn to the
Lord (whom Paul equates with the Spirit), the veil is taken away and
there is liberty. Also, by beholding the glory of the Lord with
unveiled face we are being transformed into the same glorious image by
the Spirit of the Lord (16-18)
 
OUTLINE
 
I. THE "ACCREDITED" NATURE OF PAUL'S MINISTRY (1-3)
 
 A. PAUL HAS NO NEED FOR LETTERS OF COMMENDATION (1)
 1. He does not mean by his words to commend himself (1a)
 2. For Paul does not need, as might others, letters of 
 recommendation (1b)
 
 B. THE CORINTHIANS ARE PAUL'S EPISTLES OF COMMENDATION (2-3)
 1. They are evidence of his handiwork, which all can know and 
 read (2)
 2. They are an "epistle of Christ", upon whose hearts Paul has
 written with the Spirit of the living God (3)
 
II. THE "GLORIOUS" NATURE OF PAUL'S MINISTRY (4-18)
 
 A. HIS TRUST AND SUFFICIENCY IS FROM GOD (4-6)
 1. His trust is not based upon confidence in himself, but in 
 Christ and the sufficiency that God provides (4-5)
 2. God has made him sufficient as a minister of the new covenant
 (6)
 a. A covenant of the Spirit, not of the letter
 b. A covenant that gives life, not death
 
 B. THE GLORY OF THE NEW COVENANT (7-18)
 1. In contrast with the Old Covenant, written and engraved on 
 stones (7-11)
 a. The ministry of death vs. the ministry of the Spirit (7-8)
 b. The ministry of condemnation vs. the ministry of 
 righteousness (9-10)
 c. That which is passing away vs. that which remains (11)
 2. In comparison with the Lawgiver, Moses (12-16)
 a. With the more glorious nature of the new covenant, Paul 
 could speak with great boldness (12)
 b. With the reading of Moses (the Old Testament), however, a
 veil remains on the heart (12-15)
 1) An allusion to the events of Exodus 34:29-35
 2) With the veil on Moses' face, the children of Israel 
 could not see that the glory of his face was fading (13)
 3) Israel's inability to see then is like their inability
 today, unless they come to Christ (14-15)
  c. But when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed, just
 as Moses did when he returned to the presence of the Lord
 (16)
 3. Summary explanation (17-18)
 a. Paul explains that the Lord of verse 16 is the Spirit of 
 the Lord, who provides liberty (17)
 b. When we (like Moses) are able to behold with unveiled face
 the glory of the Lord, the Spirit of the Lord transforms us
 into the same image (18)
 
REVIEW QUESTIONS FOR THE CHAPTER
 
1) What are the main points of this chapter?
 - The "accredited" nature of Paul's ministry (1-3)
 - The "glorious" nature of Paul's ministry (4-18)
 
2) Who was Paul's "epistle of commendation"? (1-2)
 - The Corinthians themselves
 
3) What writing instrument had Paul used to make the Corinthians an
 "epistle of Christ"? And upon what had he written? (3)
 - The Spirit of the living God
 - Tablets of flesh, of the heart
 
4) Who made Paul sufficient as a minister of the new covenant? (5-6a)
 - God
 
5) Of what is the new covenant? And what does it give? (6b)
 - The Spirit
 - Life
 
6) How is the "old covenant" described in verses 7-9?
 - The ministry of death, written and engraved on stones
 - The ministry of condemnation
 - Glorious
 
7) How is the "new covenant" described in verses 7-9?
 - The ministry of the Spirit
 - The ministry of righteousness
 - More glorious
 
8) What is said of the glory of the old covenant when compared with the
 glory of the new covenant? (10)
 - It had no glory
 
9) How else are the old and new covenants described in verse 11?
 - The old covenant is that which is "passing away"
 - The new covenant is that which "remains"
 
10) What remains on the heart when only the Old Testament is read?
 (14-15)
 - A veil
 
11) What happens when one turns to the Lord? (16)
 - The veil is taken away
 
12) In turning to the Lord, who is it one is actually turning to, and
 what does one find? (17)
 - The Spirit of the Lord
 - Liberty
 
13) As we behold the glory of the Lord with unveiled face, what
 happens? (18)
 - We are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory
 
14) By whom does this transformation take place? (18)
 - The Spirit of the Lord

Transformation By Beholding (3:18)
 
INTRODUCTION
 
1. What is the goal of the Christian life? What is it we are to become?
 a. In Ro 8:29, we learn what is the ultimate goal of the Christian
 as predetermined by God
 b. It is simply this: "...to be conformed to the image of His Son"
 -- To become like Christ is our ultimate goal!
 
2. But how does this take place? How does one become like Christ? Take
 a look at these words of Paul:
 
 "But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the 
 glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from
 glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord. (2 Cor 3:18)
 
3. In this verse, with the help of its context, we learn how it is
 possible...
 a. To reach that ultimate goal as predestined by God
 b. To be "...conformed to the image of His Son"
 
[The passage which serves as our text (2 Co 3:18) is not an easy one,
but since it reveals important insights into the goal of the Christian
life, it is worth taking the effort to carefully consider what it says.
For example, we first observe that...]
 
I. THE CHRISTIAN LIFE IS ONE OF TRANSFORMATION
 
 A. "WE ALL...ARE BEING TRANSFORMED..."
 1. The word "transformed"...
 a. Comes from the Greek word metamorphoo {met-am-or-fo'-o}
 b. Which means "to change into another form, to transform, to
 transfigure"
 c. The word "metamorphosis" is derived from this word, which
 we use to describe the process of a caterpillar changing
 into a butterfly
  d. It's used to describe Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration
 - cf. Mt 17:1-2
 1) He was "transfigured before them."
 2) His face "shone like the sun" and His clothes "became
 as white as the light"
 2. Christians likewise are to undergo a transformation...
 a. Not only based upon our text (2 Co 3:18)
 b. But also Ro 12:1-2, where our transformation is so we may
 "prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of
 God"
 3. Note in our text that Paul said "we all"
 a. Transformation is for ALL Christians
 b. Not just for a select few!
 
 B. "...TRANSFORMED INTO THE SAME IMAGE..."
 1. Here we learn the object of our transformation, which is to 
 become like Christ
 2. As we noticed in Ro 8:29, this is part of God's predetermined
 plan for those in Christ
 3. Jesus intimated as such in Lk 6:40 ("...everyone who is 
 perfectly trained will be like his teacher.")
 
 C. "...FROM GLORY TO GLORY..."
 1. This phrase suggests that our transformation is progressive
 a. It does not happen all at once, but gradually
 b. As Paul said we are "being transformed" (present tense), 
 not "have been transformed" (past tense)
 2. Transformation therefore involves a growth process
 a. We expect those who have been Christians but a short time 
 to have made only some progress
 b. But we should also expect those who have been Christians a
 good while to have made much progress!
 3. The Christian life is not to be static, but a dynamic 
 process...
 a. In which changes are taking place
 b. In which a person is becoming more and more like their 
 Savior, Jesus Christ!
 -- Compare this with what Solomon wrote about the just - Pro
 4:18
 
[When transformation does not take place, something is wrong, and it 
may be a failure to appreciate and utilize our second point gleaned 
from this passage...]
 
II. TRANSFORMATION COMES BY BEHOLDING
 
 A. "WITH UNVEILED FACE, BEHOLDING AS IN A MIRROR..."
 1. We must remember the context of Paul's words to appreciate his
 point
  a. He had alluded to how Moses out of necessity put a veil on
 his face when speaking to the people - cf. 2 Co 3:13
 b. For when Moses had gone to Mount Sinai to receive the 
 commandments of the Lord, being in the presence of God made
 his face shine brightly - cf. Ex 34:29-35
 2. In like manner our transformation takes place as we 
 "behold..."
 a. Note that we do it with "unveiled face"
 1) The Israelites were unable to behold any of the glory 
 that shone from Moses' face because his was veiled
 2) But Christians are able to look upon the Lord's glory 
 without impediment
 b. "Beholding as in a mirror" is actually just one word in 
 the Greek and has three possible ways to be translated:
 1) "beholding as in a mirror (or glass)"
 2) "reflecting as in mirror"
 3) "beholding" (with no necessary reference to a mirror)
 -- In view of the context and the comparison with Moses, 
 the main idea seems to be the "beholding", without any
 particular reference to a mirror
 c. "Beholding" suggests contemplation and meditation, not a 
 momentary glance
 3. Thus the Christian life is to be one of contemplation, if 
 transformation is to take place
 a. That Christians are to engage in contemplation is evident
 from several passages
 b. Such as Ph 4:8; Co 3:1-2
 c. Sadly, our fast-paced lifestyles often discourage the kind
 of contemplation needed to adequately "behold"
 -- Without contemplation (beholding), however, there can be no
 transformation!
 
 B. "BEHOLDING...THE GLORY OF THE LORD"
 1. Here is the object of our contemplation: the Lord's glory!
 a. It is not just the act of contemplation, but the object of
 our contemplation that transforms us!
 b. Just as it was the "glory of the Lord" that caused Moses'
 face to shine, so it is "the glory of the Lord" that 
 transforms us!
 2. What is "the glory of the Lord" we are to behold?
 a. It would involve the glory He manifested while on earth 
 - cf. Jn 1:14
 b. For the glory of the Lord is reflected in every aspect of 
 His birth, life, teaching, miracles, good deeds, death, 
 resurrection, ascension, and current reign as our king and
 high priest!
  -- Thus the Scriptures (especially the gospels) are the tools
 we use to "behold His glory", as we read on...
 
 C. "...JUST AS BY THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD"
 1. This phrase reminds us of the role the Spirit has in our 
 "beholding"
 a. What we know of Jesus came through the ministry of the 
 Spirit
 1) The Spirit's ministry was to glorify Jesus - Jn 16:12-14
 2) He reminded the apostles, and inspired their writings 
 - cf. Jn 14:26; 1 Co 2:12-13
 b. So as we contemplate upon the Word, we are able to behold 
 the glory of the Lord by virtue of what the Spirit has 
 done!
 2. Indeed, this may explain what Paul meant in saying "Now the 
 Lord is the Spirit..." - 2 Co 3:17
 a. In verse 16, he had said "...when one turns to the Lord,
 the veil is taken away"
 b. But how can one "turn to the Lord" today?
 1) Only through the Spirit Whom the Lord Jesus sent to 
 continue His work
 2) Paul had already spoken of "the new covenant...of the 
 Spirit" which "gives life" - 2 Co 3:6
 a) One finds "liberty" (from sin, the Old Law, death)
 where "the Spirit of the Lord" is found - 2 Co 3:17
 b) For it is the new covenant of the Spirit that offers
 such things
 c. In this context, the Spirit is therefore "the Lord" (verse
 17) before Whom we must stand with "unveiled face" in 
 order to be transformed
 d. Of course, the "ministers" of this "new covenant...of the
 Spirit" were the apostles and inspired writers of the New
 Testament - 2 Co 3:5-6
 1) Thus when we turn to their writings, we are turning to
 the Spirit!
 2) And when we turn to the Spirit, we are turning to the 
 Lord!
 3) And when we turn to the Lord, we behold Him in all His
 glory!
 4) And when we behold His glory, we are gradually changed 
 "into the same image from glory to glory"!
 
CONCLUSION
 
1. In Co 3:9-11 we are told...
 
 "Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man 
 with his deeds, and have put on the new man who is renewed in
 knowledge according to the image of Him who created him, where
 there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised,
 barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all."
 
2. This verse by Paul is yet another reminder that the Christian life
 is one that involves a transformation...
 a. In which we are being "renewed"
 b. And that the object of our "renewal" is to become like Jesus!
 
3. From our study, I hope that we been impressed with the importance of
 "beholding" the glory of the Lord if we wish to be transformed
 a. The Christian life must include contemplation and meditation upon
 the glory of the Lord as revealed by the Spirit through the 
 apostles and writers of the New Testament
 b. We cannot be transformed by infrequent and casual glimpses of the
 Lord's glory!
 
Are you "beholding...the glory of the Lord"? Do you take the time to 
contemplate upon the glory of our Lord as revealed by the Spirit of God
in the Holy Scriptures? 
 
Consider what time you spend in studying the Bible as you seek to
answer these questions...

－－《Executable Outlines》

Living Recommendation

The Letter Kills

The Spirit Gives Life

I. Believers Are Letters of Recommendation

1. Two Recommendation Letters

2. Written on Tablets of Human Hearts

3. Made by the Spirit of God

II. Ministers of a New Covenant

1. The Ministry that Condemns

2. The Ministry that Brings Righteousness

3. The Everlasting Glory

III. The Spirit of the Lord Gives Freedom

1. Covered by a Veil

2. Turn to the Lord

3. Reflect the Lord’s Glory