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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 2 Corinthians 3:12-18

In these verses the apostle draws two inferences from what he had said about the Old and New Testament:? I. Concerning the duty of the ministers of the gospel to use great plainness or clearness of speech. They ought not, like Moses, to put a veil upon their faces, or obscure and darken those things which they should make plain. The gospel is a more clear dispensation than the law; the things of God are revealed in the New Testament, not in types and shadows, and ministers are much to blame if... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - 2 Corinthians 3:12-18

3:12-18 It is because we possess such a hope that we speak with such freedom. We do not draw a veil over things, as Moses did over his face so that the children of Israel should not gaze at the end of the glory which was doomed to fade away. But their minds were dulled. To this very day the same veil remains, still not drawn aside, when they read the record of the old relationship between God and man, because only in Christ is that veil abolished. Yes, to this day, whenever the books that... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Corinthians 3:14

But their minds were blinded ,.... This confirms the sense given of the foregoing verse, and shows, that not the Israelites only in Moses's time, but the Jews in the times of the Gospel, had their minds so blinded, that they could not behold the glory of the Gospel, nor Christ the end of the law; see Romans 11:7 . For until this day , to this very time, remaineth the same veil untaken away ; not the selfsame veil that was on Moses's face, but the veil of blindness, darkness, and... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Corinthians 3:14

But their minds were blinded - By resting in the letter, shutting their eyes against the light that was granted to them, they contracted a hardness or stupidity of heart. And the veil that was on the face of Moses, which prevented the glory of his face from shining out, may be considered as emblematical of the veil of darkness and ignorance that is on their hearts, and which hinders the glory of the Gospel from shining in. Until this day remaineth the same veil - They are still ignorant... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Corinthians 3:14

Verse 14 14.Their understandings were blinded. He lays the whole blame upon them, inasmuch as it was owing to their blindness, that they did not make any proficiency in the doctrine of the law. He afterwards adds, That veil remaineth even until this day. By this he means, that that dulness of vision was not for a single hour merely, but prefigured what the condition of the nation would be in time to come. “That veil with which Moses covered his face, when publishing the law, was the emblem of a... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Corinthians 3:12-18

The confidence inspired by this ministry and the veil on the hearts of those who will not recognize it. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Corinthians 3:12-18

The gospel as a transcendent benefactor. "Seeing then that we have such hope," etc. Amongst the invaluable services which the gospel confers on man, there are four suggested by the text. It gives him moral courage, spiritual vision, true liberty, and Christ-like glory. It gives him— I. MORAL COURAGE . "Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness [boldness] of speech: and not as Moses, which put a veil over his face, that the children of Israel could not steadfastly... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Corinthians 3:12-18

Boldness of speech; the two ministries; from glory to glory. Dwelling on the superior excellence of the gospel, it was natural for the apostle to speak of his hopefulness (such hope) and of the effect thereof on his ministry. He had spoken of his trust ( 2 Corinthians 3:4 ), and now he expresses the hope which filled his soul from "the intervening vision of the glory of his work" (Stanley) and its future results. He uses "great plainness of speech"—unreservedness, without disguise,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Corinthians 3:14

Their minds . This word is rendered" devices" in 2 Corinthians 2:11 ; "minds" in 2 Corinthians 3:14 and 2 Corinthians 4:4 ; and "thought" in 2 Corinthians 10:5 . It means that their powers of reason were, so to speak, petrified. Were blinded; rather, were hardened . The verb cannot mean" to blind." By whom were their minds hardened? It would be equally correct to say by themselves ( Hebrews 3:8 ), or by Satan ( 2 Corinthians 4:4 ), or by God ( Romans 11:7 , Romans 11:8 ... read more

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