A Study of 2 Corinthians 3

Transcription

1 A Study of 2 Corinthians....Page 1 of 9 A Study of 2 Corinthians 3 I. Outline. I. THE UNWRITTEN GRACE OF GOD (3:1 6) A. The Pharisees [rather, Judaizing Christians who opposed Paul, DRL] written letters of recommendation (3:1): Boastful Jewish leaders carry about with them long letters of recommendation. B. The apostle s living letters of recommendation (3:2 6): Paul has no such need for dead and formal letters, as the transformed lives of his converts literally shout about his effectiveness and God s grace. II. THE UNVEILED GLORY OF GOD (3:7 18): Paul contrasts the law of Moses with the gospel of grace, showing the superiority of the latter over the former. A. The law of Moses (3:7, 9a, 10a, 11a, 13 15) 1. It was accompanied by a fading glory (3:7, 10a). 2. It was temporary (3:11a). 3. It led to death (3:9a). 4. It functioned as a veil, restricting God s glory (3:13 14a, 15). 5. It prevented Christlikeness in the lives of unsaved Jews and Gentiles (3:14b). B. The gospel of grace (3:8, 9b, 10b, 11b 12, 16 18) 1. It is accompanied by an unfading glory (3:10b). 2. It is eternal (3:11b). 3. It leads to life (3:8). 4. It functions as a mirror, reflecting God s glory (3:16 18). 5. It produces Christlikeness in the lives of saved Jews and Gentiles (3:9b). 6. It produces boldness (3:12). -- Willmington, H. L. (1999). The Outline Bible (2 Co 3). Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers. II. Summary. Paul's Letter of Recommendation: It seems Paul was criticized for using personal examples in his first epistle. The apostle makes it clear that he needs neither boasting nor letters of commendation as the Lord's apostle. In fact, he said they were his letter. Their conversion was deeply etched in his heart and was on display in Corinth, a center of world trade. Christ was the author, Paul his secretary, the heart the place of record, and the Holy Spirit the means of leaving a lasting impression (2 Cor 3:1-3). Assured by Christ, Paul confidently counted them as his letter of recommendation. Of course, the work he did in Corinth was through God's power. God made Paul a messenger, not of a legal age, but of a spiritual age. This new law gives life in place of condemnation (2 Cor 3:4-6). The Greater Glory of the New Covenant: The law of Moses was written in stone and condemned men to die since they were not perfect. Yet, Moses, as a minister of that covenant, was glorified to the point that no one could look upon his face. Moses' law was directed to the outward man and condemned, yet brought glory. The law brought by the Spirit and directed to the inward man should bring more glory (2 Cor 3:7-8). The Old Law could not free man from sin, while the New can. Since the Old brought glory, the New should outshine it as the sun outshines the moon. Even though the Old Law was made glorious, the New, in comparison made it as if it had no glory. Like the rising sun obscures the moon, the New

2 A Study of 2 Corinthians....Page 2 of 9 Law obscures the Old. It remains while the other is obscured, thus displaying its greater glory (2 Cor 3:9-11). Because we have hope of life and not of condemnation, Paul was not timid in speech. Knowing God was on his side, he spoke openly (2 Cor 3:12). Seeing Christ's Glory with the Veil Removed: Just as Moses used a veil to cover the glory shining on his face (Ex 34:33), so he used types and shadows to cover the glory of the Lord. Christians can now see Christ's glory with the veil of types and shadows taken away. In reading Moses' law, the veil of types and shadows still covered Christ for the Jews. Their hardened hearts refused to see Christ. However, they could see him in the New Testament (2 Cor 3:13-14). Those rejecting Christ still fail to see him in the Old Testament. They overlook the purpose of that covenant (Gal 3:24). However, those who sincerely strove to see God's will found the veil removed. Earlier (verses 6-7) Moses was used to stand for the letter. In the same way Christ stands for the Spirit. In Him is freedom (2 Cor 3:15-17). One of the greatest freedoms enjoyed by those in the New Covenant is seeing Christ clearly. Christians see His glory reflected in the New Covenant and their faces are made to shine with His glory as Moses' face shone (2 Cor 3:18). --Gary C. Hampton, The God of All Comfort, An e-sword Module. III. Chronology. BIBLE PERIOD: The Period of the Church. If you are not familiar with the 15 Bible Periods, please click here: IV. Words/Phrases to Study Corinthians NEED WE, AS SOME OTHERS, EPISTLES OF COMMENDATION TO YOU He possibly refers to the Judaizing teachers (2Co_11:13) who had come to Corinth with letters of commendation from other churches; and when leaving that city obtained similar letters from the Corinthians to other churches. The letter Paul wrote commending Phoebe is a model: I commend unto you Phoebe our sister, who is a servant of the church that is at Cenchreae: that ye receive her in the Lord, worthily of the saints, and that ye assist her in whatsoever matter she may have need of you: for she herself also hath been a helper of many and of mine own self. (Rom_16:1-2). Against the usefulness of such letters in general Paul here says nothing. Such letters of commendation deserve notice as an important element in the early church. A Christian traveling with such a letter from any church was certain to find a hearty welcome at any other. They guaranteed at once his soundness in the faith and his personal character, and served to give a reality of the brotherly love existing between those in Christ [David Lipscomb, Commentary on Romans through Philemon, an e-sword Module] Corinthians YE ARE OUR EPISTLE The church itself owed its existence to him. He could point to his work, to the disciples, as his letter of commendation. He was known by his fruits [B.W. Johnson, The People s New Testament, an e-sword Module] Corinthians WRITTEN NOT WITH INK, BUT WITH THE SPIRIT OF THE LIVING GOD The Spirit made its impress first upon the heart of Paul, then through his preaching what was thus impressed converted them. Christ by the Holy Spirit, and he in his preaching presented it to the Corinthians, and they, like the Thessalonians, received from him the word of the message and accepted it not as the word of men, but, as it is in truth, the word of God, which also worked in them that believed (1 Thessalonians 2:13), and as a result became an

3 A Study of 2 Corinthians....Page 3 of 9 epistle of Christ to the world that could be read and known that God approved him as his teacher [David Lipscomb] Corinthians OUR SUFFICIENCY IS OF GOD God sent the Spirit who impressed the truth on his heart and led him to preach to them and confirm the teaching by signs and wonders and mighty works. (2 Corinthians12:12) [David Lipscomb] Corinthians ABLE MINISTERS OF THE NEW TESTAMENT The statement Paul makes here, that God has made [Paul] sufficient to be [a] minister[s] of a new covenant, serves as an interim conclusion to the passage that began in 2 Corinthians 2.14 with the question: Who is sufficient for these things? (2 Corinthians 2.16) [Paul Barnett, NICNT, an e-sword Module] Corinthians NOT OF THE LETTER, BUT OF THE SPIRIT: FOR THE LETTER KILLETH, BUT THE SPIRIT GIVETH LIFE The letter is the law, which found its most characteristic expression in the commandments engraven upon the tablets of stone, while the contrast with this is the Spirit, the source of that new order or constitution of things which was established by Jesus Christ. The contrast is between the law and the gospel, between Moses and Christ, between laws imposed from without and from within.... The law imposed a command to which men were not equal; it virtually condemned them (verse 9) condemned them to death. As men could only disobey the law, and life lay alone in obedience, the law could only lead to death (Romans ). In this sense, therefore, the letter kills [J.W. Shepherd] Corinthians THE MINISTRATION OF DEATH At the thought of the new covenant he now digresses as he considers the wonder of what he is talking about. What a contrast there is between the two covenants. The first, the old covenant, did come with glory. But it proved to be a ministry of death in that it could not give life because of man s insufficiency, and could only therefore sentence to death. Yet as it was given, did not the glory of God shine on the face of Moses? Yes, but the significant fact was that Israel could not even look at him (Exodus 34.29; Exodus 34.35). That was in itself an indication of the situation. They could not accept the glory because of the sinfulness of their hearts. They could not bear the holiness of God. What God was giving was glorious, but man shied from it. He could not bear it. And even then the glory connected with its giving was a passing glory, a fading glory. Eventually it passed away. Thus indicating its temporary nature [Peter Pett, Commentary Series on the Bible, an e-sword Module] Corinthians SEEING THEN THAT WE HAVE SUCH HOPE, WE USE GREAT PLAINNESS OF SPEECH The Law of Moses made nothing perfect, but the bringing of a better hope did (Hebrews 7.19). The hope of the freedom from sin in this world, and of an everlasting inheritance in the world to come, was the better hope brought in by Jesus Christ.... In Paul s case it was a firm conviction of his divine mission and of the truth and glory of the gospel which he proclaimed fully, intelligibly, and without regard to consequences, that the people might see the purpose and end of the law [David Lipscomb] Corinthians BUT THEIR MINDS WERE BLINDED The veil upon the Jews hearts was like the veil over Moses face, which obscured the face of Moses. A veil obscured the Jews true understanding of the end of the law of Moses, the prophecies, types, and shadows which pointed to and predicted the Person and work of Christ. This was a hardening, as set forth above. It kept them even in Paul s time from perceiving the import of the Old Testament, when it was read in the synagogues and other places. It was a veil of

4 A Study of 2 Corinthians....Page 4 of 9 prejudice and unbelief, their spiritual understanding being thereby darkened. When Christ the Messiah came, the Jews therefore rejected Him (John 1.11); they killed Him (Acts 2.36); the Jewish leaders rejected the stone which became the head of the corner (Acts ), the only One through whom is salvation. Their religion had become legalistic, for they thought they could be saved by the old covenant (and by their traditions) apart from God s grace, fulfilled in Christ, in the cross, and in the precious blood of Christ (Matthew 15.3, 9; Mt 26.28). Indeed,...being ignorant of God s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own, they did not subject themselves to the righteousness of God (Rom 10.3). Sadly, they would neither hear, believe on, nor confess the name of the Lord, nor were they therefore counted among those who would call upon His name through meeting the conditions of salvation so that they could be saved (Rom ). Truly, they were a gainsaying people [Curtis Cates, Difficult Passages #1, in Studies in 2 Corinthians, Edited by Dub McClish, 1989, pp., ] Corinthians BUT WE ALL, WITH OPEN FACE BEHOLDING AS IN A GLASS THE GLORY OF THE LORD, ARE CHANGED INTO THE SAME IMAGE FROM GLORY TO GLORY Our faces are not covered. We bedhold as in a glass the glory of the Lord. Through surrender to the New Covenant the Lord s Spirit makes us more and more like our glorious Lord. When we look into the New Covenant we see the Lord s glory reflected. The more we look into the perfect law of liberty with an honest and obedient heart the more our character will become like the Lord Jesus. Why not gaze into the New Testament and become like its main character? [Charles Box, Charles Box Commentaries, an e-sword Module]. V. Lessons & Applications Corinthians 3.2 YE ARE OUR EPISTLE WRITTEN IN OUR HEARTS, KNOWN AND READ OF ALL MEN Paul told the church at Corinth that it was an epistle of Christ, ministered by us. So churches today are letters of Christ telling the world what Jesus can do for people. In some of these letters the world reads how the Lord can transform a drunkard into a clean man, a loving husband, and a provident father, a good citizen and a fine example for the boys of the community to follow. In others, the world is told how the Lord can lift a woman out of shame and immorality to make of her a chaste wife and devoted mother, an effective church worker, and an example of modesty and purity for all the girls of the community to follow. However, some of these letters are telling the world that the Lord cannot do anything worthwhile for people. Of course they are giving out a false impression, but it remains a fact that the Lord has not been able to do them much good, and only because they refuse to allow Him to have His way in their life [Roy H. Lanier, Sr., Teacher s Annual Lesson Commentary, 1956, p. 62] Corinthians NOT OF THE LETTER, BUT OF THE SPIRIT: FOR THE LETTER KILLETH, BUT THE SPIRIT GIVETH LIFE Some try to use this reference to say that the letter of the Law means one s trying to keep the commandments, as opposed to the spirit of the Law, that would only deal with a person s attitude. Their argument is that we do not have to follow the Law of Christ to the letter, as they would say but that we need just to have a good heart. First, the context is of a contrast of the Old Law with the New Law. But those who try to make this argument have very loose rules of interpretation and manifest an ignorance of keeping verses in context! Second, the Bible will NOT substantiate their views. Such verses as... Matthew 7.21; Luke 6.46; Hebrews 5.8-9; Revelation These, and the REST of the New

5 A Study of 2 Corinthians....Page 5 of 9 Testament, attest to the fact that one must obey God in order to be saved [David B. Jones, Epistles to Corinth, Editor: Bobby Liddell, p. 444] Corinthians BUT THEIR MINDS WERE BLINDED That which had been very difficult to understand in prophecy ( the mystery ) was made very clear when Christ fulfilled those prophecies. How could prophecies depict God s Suffering Servant as reigning as King? How could He be killed, yet live forevermore? How could He be so humble and lowly, yet be so exalted? In Christ s life, it became so clear. Seeming congtradictions became a beautiful harmony. To become great is first to serve, to be happy is first to give, to live is first to die, to be exalted is first to be humble, to rejoice is first to suffer. How unlike the philosophy of the world! How incongruent with the thinking of the Jews! For the unprejudiced, the obscure became so clear.... They refused to see the end of the law of Moses Jesus Christ, the Messiah; they willfully rejected the insight into the new covenant, which was given in the old. The New Testament is the Old Testament revealed, except to those too blind to see [Curtis Cates, p. 25] Corinthians BUT WE ALL, WITH OPEN FACE BEHOLDING AS IN A GLASS THE GLORY OF THE LORD, ARE CHANGED INTO THE SAME IMAGE FROM GLORY TO GLORY The idea of beholding the glory of the Lord is not an indifferent matter. The original word for beholding as in a mirror is a present participle, and it implies a continuous process. And every one that hath this hope set on him purifieth himself, even as he is pure (1 John 3.3; 1 Peter 1.22; Col 3.1-4). The truth is that we can look upon the glory of the Lord, only as we obey that which the Spirit has set forth regarding Him. I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. So much so did Paul believe this and practice that principle that later on in his life he could say: It is no longer I that live, but Christ liveth in me (Gal 2.20).... The lives of many Americans have been enriched by Hawthorne s story of the Great Stone Face. A boy, as the story is told, lived in the shadow of the Great Stone Face; and all during his lifetime he dreamed of a day when a man would come to their village with a face that would reflect the calm and peace of the Man of the Mountains. But while waiting for the benevolent man to come, the boy never ceased to look upon and study the face which was ever before him. Years passed, but his dream, remained unfulfilled. His hopes however, never faltered; for he verily believed that he would one day see the man with a face like the one in the mountains. At last this boy came to be an old man; and one evening as he stood before a small crowd in the village, a man exclaimed, Your face, sir, is exactly like that of the Great Stone face. Thus, the very one who had dreamed so long of a face which would match the one of the Mountains had wrought such a likeness in himself. [Leslie G. Thomas, Teacher s Annual Lesson Commentary, 1968, pp., ]. VI. Questions. True or False 01. Paul wrote with plainness of speech. 02. Paul referred to these Christians as his epistle. 03. Not to turn to the Lord takes away the vail spoke of by Paul.

6 A Study of 2 Corinthians....Page 6 of Paul claimed to be an ABLE minister. 05. Paul says there is no way to take away the vail. 06. Where liberty is found. 07. Fleshy tables. 08. A glory that excelleth. 09. Glory of Moses face. 10. Blinded minds. I Found it in Verse(s) Short Answer 11. It was who needed letters of commendation, but not Paul where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is. 13. What was to happen to the ministration of death? 14. The covenant done away was glorious, but the covenant that remained was Why did Moses put a vail on his face? Each Question is worth 7 Points My Score is: Answers will be found on next week s handout ANSWERS to 2 Corinthians 2 Questions 01 False (13); 02 True (1); 03 True (15); 04 True (6); 05 False (9); 06 17; 07 11; 08 3; 09 8; 10 4; 11 joy, joy (3); 12 sufficient (16); 13 tears (4); 14 end, know, proof (9); 15 Troas (12).

7 A Study of 2 Corinthians....Page 7 of 9 VII. Seek-A-Word Puzzle. The words may be backwards, diagonal, upside down, etc. See if you can find them all. The more you use the words of the Bible, the greater blessed you will be! You might be surprised at how much this little exercise will help you retain important truths. THANK YOU for the good effort you are putting forth in Bible study. DRL AWAY BEHOLD CHILDREN CHRIST COMMEND DONE EPISTLE EVEN FACE GLORIOUS GLORY HEART ISRAEL LETTER LORD MADE MINISTERS MINISTRATION MORE MOSES MUCH READ REMAINETH SAME SPIRIT STEDFASTLY STONE SUCH SUFFICIENT TABLES TESTAMENT VAIL WHEN

8 A Study of 2 Corinthians....Page 8 of 9 VIII. Crossword Puzzle. 2 Corinthians 3 (KJV) ACROSS 02) These saints were declared to be the epistle of. 05) Part of Moses body mentioned by Paul. 07) Paul would use great plainness of 08) The of death was glorious. 10) Not of the, but of the spirit. 12) Modified by the word able. 13) The ministration of exceeds in glory. DOWN 01) But their were blinded. 02) This ministration is exceeded in glory. 03) The vail can be away. 04) Such caused Paul to speak plainly. 06) Paul talked about the glory of Moses. 09) We are changed into the image. 11) Beholding as in a the glory

9 A Study of 2 Corinthians....Page 9 of 9 IX. EXTRA CREDIT FOR SUPER Bible Students... Will you please consider answering these three SIMPLE questions based on the Bible text of this chapter? I will try to make use of your answers. Bring them with you next week. Tear out this last sheet from the Study Guide and be prepared to put it in a basket. I think it will be a great help to all of those in the class if you will do so. Thank you in advance for your marvelous cooperation!