Commentary on the Epistles to the Corinthians John Calvin (continued)
Commentary on the Corinthians
per Christum. 1292
15. But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart.
15. Sed usque in hodiernum diem, quum legitur Moses, velamen eorum cordibus impositum est.
16. Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away.
16. At ubi conversus fuerit ad Dominum, auferetur velamen. 17. Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.
17. Dominus Spiritus est: ubi autem Spiritus Domini, illic libertas. 18. 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, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.
18. Nos autem omnes retecta facie gloriam Domini in speculo conspicientes, in eandem imaginem transformamur a gloria in gloriam, tanquam a Domini Spiritu.
12. Having therefore this hope. Here he advances still farther, for he does not treat merely of the nature of the law, or of that enduring quality of which we have spoken, but also of its abuse. True, indeed, this also belonged to its nature, that, being covered with a veil, it was not so manifest to the eye, and that by its brightness it inspired terror, and accordingly Paul says elsewhere, what amounts to the same thing — that the people of Israel had received from it the spirit of bondage unto fear. (Romans 8:15.) Here, however, he speaks rather of an abuse that was foreign and adventitious. 1293 There was at that time in all quarters a grievous stumbling-block arising from the wantonness of the Jews, inasmuch as they obstinately rejected Christ. 1294 In consequence of this, weak consciences were shaken, being in doubt, whether they should embrace Christ, inasmuch as he was not acknowledged by the chosen people. 1295 This kind of scruple the Apostle removes, by instructing them, that their blindness had been prefigured even from the beginning, inasmuch as they could not behold the face of Moses, except through the medium of a veil. As, therefore, he had stated previously, that the law was rendered glorious by the lustre of Moses' countenance, so now he teaches, that the veil was an emblem of the blindness that was to come upon the people of Israel, for the person of Moses represents the law. The Jews, therefore, acknowledged by this, that they had not eyes to behold the which is hardly considered as a subject for criticism. Thus we call Caesar's Diary Caesar's Commentaries, from their Latin name, though very different in meaning from the English word.'' --- Campbell on the Gospels, Dissertation 5, p. 3 section 3. --- Ed.
1292"Pource qu'elle est abolie, ou, laquelle est;" — "Because it is abolished, or, which is." 1293"D'vn abus accidental, et qui estoit venu d'ailleurs;" — "Of an abuse that was accidental, and that had come from another quarter."
1294"De ce qu'ils reiettoyent Iesus Christ d'vne malice endurcie;" — "Inasmuch as they rejected Christ with a hardened malice."
1295"Veu que le peuple esleu ne le recognoissoit point pour Sauueur;" — "Inasmuch as the chosen people did not acknowledge him as a Savior."