3:1ffIn this chapter Paul contends that everyone stands guilty before God. Paul has dismantled the common excuses of people who refuse to admit they are sinners: (1) “There is no God” or “I follow my conscience” (1:18-32); (2) “I'm not as bad as other people” (2:1-16); (3) “I'm a church member” or “I’m a religious person” (2:17-29). No one will be exempt from God’s judgment of sin. Every person must accept the fact that he or she is sinful and condemned before God and receive God's wonderful gift of salvation. 31ff What a depressing picture Paul is painting! All of us— pagan Gentiles, humanitarians, and religious people—are condemned by our own actions. The law, which God gave to show the way to live, holds up our evil deeds to public view. Is there any hope for us? Yes, says Paul. The Jaw condemns us, itis true, but the law is not the basis of our hope. God himself is. He, in his righteousness and wonderful love, offers us eternal life. We receive our salvation not through law but through faith in Jesus Christ. We do not—cannot—eanrn it; we accept it as a gift from our loving heavenly Father.
Life Application Study Bible2 CorinthiansChapter 3
2 Corinthians 3
New Living Translation · Life Application Study Bible · Original page: 1964
A few verse numbers on this page were hard to read in the scan and are marked with a dotted underline — compare with the original page image if in doubt.
1Are we beginning to praise ourselves again? Are we like others, who need tobringyou 3:1 letters of recornmendation, or who ask you to write such letters on their behalf? Surely 2Cor 5:12; 10:12 not! 2The only letter of recommendation we need is you yourselves. Your lives are a letter 3:2 written in our* hearts; everyone can read it and recognize our good work among you. 1 Gor 9:2 3Clearly, you are aletter from Christ showing the result of our ministry among you. This “let- 33 24:12; 31:18; ter” is written not with pen and ink, but with the Spirit of the living God. It is carved not on eee tablets of stone, but on human hearts. Jer 31:33 4We are confident of all this because of our great trust in God through Christ. 5It is not Ezek 36:26 that we think we are qualified to do anything on our own. Our qualification comes from *8o, 45-10 God. 6He has enabled us to be ministers of his new covenant. This is a covenant not of writ- 2 Cor 2:16 3:6 ten laws, but of the Spirit. The old written covenant ends in death; but under the new cov- 27 34.4 enant, the Spirit gives life. Luke 22:20 Rom 2:27, 7:6; 8:2 The Glory of the New Covenant Heb 8:8-13 7The old way,* with laws etched in stone, led to death, though it began with such glory that 3 1 34:20-98 the people of Israel could not bear to look at Moses’ face. For his face shone with the glory of God, even though the brightness was already fading away. 8Shouldn’t we expect far greater glory under the new way, now that the Holy Spirit is giving life? 9If the old way, which brings 3:9 condemnation, was glorious, how much more glorious is the new way, which makes us right pout eee ot with God! 10In fact, that first glory was not glorious at all compared with the overwhelming 3:10.11 glory of the new way. 11So if the old way, which has been replaced, was glorious, how much xed 34:28-30 more glorious is the new, which remains forever! _ 12Since this new way gives us such confidence, we can be very bold. 1We are not like 3:13 Moses, who put a veil over his face so the people of Israel would not see the glory, even Exod 34:93-85 though it was destined to fade away. ‘But the people’s minds were hardened, and to this 3:14 day whenever the old covenant is being read, the same veil covers their minds so they can- pets to a not understand the truth. And this veil can be removed only by believing in Christ. "Yes, 2 Cor 4:4 even today when they read Moses’ writings, their hearts are covered with that veil, and they 3:16, 57 do not understand. Rom 11:23 16But whenever someone turns to the LORD, the veil is taken away.
17For the LORD is the3:2 Some manuscripts read your. 3:7 Or ministry; also in 3:8, 9, 10, 11, 12.3:17Gal 4:6-73:1-3 Some false teachers had started carrying forged lettersof recommendation to authenticate their authority. In no uncertainterms, Paul stated that he needed no such letters. The believersto whom Paul and his companions had preached were enoughof a recommendation. Paul did use letters of introduction, however,many times. He wrote them on behalf of Phoebe (Romans 16:1, 2)
Textual footnotes
- 3:2 Greek the oracles of God. 3:4 Ps 51:4 (Greek version).
- 3:9 Greek or Greeks.
Life Application Notes 6 notes
3:2The Jewish nation had great benefits. (1) They were entrusted with God’s laws (“the whole revelation of God,” Exodus 19-20; Deuteronomy 4:8). (2) They were the race through whom the Messiah came to earth (Isaiah 11:1-10; Matthew 1:1-17). (3) They were the beneficiaries of covenants with God himself (Genesis 17:1-16; Exodus 19:3-6). But these privileges did not make them better than anyone else (see 3:9). in fact, because of them the Jews were even more responsible to live up to God’s requirements.
3:5-8Some may think they don’t have to worry about sin because (1) it's God’s job to forgive; (2) God is so loving that he won't judge; (3) sin isn’t so bad—it teaches valuable lessons; or (4) we need to stay in touch with the culture around us. {tis far too easy to take God’s grace for granted. But God cannot overlook sin. No matter how many excuses they make, sinners will have to answer to God for their sin.
3:10-12Paul is referring to Psalm 14:1-3. “No one is righteous” means “no one is innocent.” Every person is valuable in God’s eyes because God created us in his image, and he loves us. But no one is good enough (that is, no one can earn right standing with God). Though we are valuable, we have fallen into sin. But God, through Jesus his Son, has redeemed us and offers to forgive us if we turn to him in faith.
3:10-18Paul uses these Old Testament references to show that humanity in general, in its present sinful condition, is unacceptable before God. Have you ever thought to yourself, “Well, I’m not too bad. I’m a pretty good person”? Look at these verses and see if any of them apply to you. Have you ever lied? Have you ever hurt someone's feelings by your words or tone of voice? Are you bitter toward anyone? Do you become angry with those who strongly disagree with you? In thought, word, and deed, you, like everyone else in the world, stand guilty before God. We must remember who we are in his sight—alienated sinners. Don't deny that you are a sinner. Instead, allow your desperate need to point you toward Christ.
3:19The last time someone accused you of wrongdoing, what was your reaction? Denial, argument, and defensiveness? The entire worid will be silent before God. No excuses or arguments will remain. Have you reached the point with God where you are