Contrasts Between The Old And New Covenants
CONTRASTS BETWEEN THE OLD AND NEW COVENANTS
2 CORINTHIANS 3:7-11
Because no one could ever fully keep God’s laws, the old way brought a sense of failure and guilt. But the new way spells life and hope.
We are now prepared for a series of contrasts in which the old and the new covenant are discussed together. There are three lines of approach which the apostle takes; 3:7-11 take two of them.
First, the law set the standard, but offered no power to reach it. For that reason Paul does not mince his words: the law “kills” (3:6); it is “the dispensation of death” (3:7) which, in turn, leads to “condemnation” (3:9). These strong terms can only mean that the law set the target of a perfect standard; but people, who are sinfully weak, are unable to attain it.
Paul finds no fault with the law in itself (Romans 7:12,14), but discovers that the law mocked and taunted by calling him to an impossibly high level, but offering him no assistance or dynamic of attainment. In this way, what God intended as good is turned into a death-dealing instrument (Romans 7:l3)—and the reason? Read Romans 8:3a.
Secondly, Paul goes on to teach that the law had an honorable purpose, but it was only temporary. The illustration of the law’s “intermediate character” (as Galatians 3:16ff. describe it) is seen in the way in which the glory of both the law (3:7,11) and the lawgiver, Moses (3:7), was only a passing one. The background reference is clearly Exodus 34:29-35, which describes the splendor which shone from Moses’ face when he returned from fellowship with God. That radiance, however, faded in time and at length disappeared. From the lawgiver, Paul argues to what he represents, ie Judaism, whose glory, once historically a reality, is now fading away. Indeed, its day is over and its impermanence has given way to what has come to stay: the gospel (3:10-11).
All of this contrast adds up to one firm conclusion: the Christian ministry is meant, by divine intention, to supersede the old Judaic ceremonial order. The glory of God is to be sought now, not in the law or the temple or the priesthood, but in the face of Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 4:6; Titus 2:13). John’s introduction says the same (John 1:17).