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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 3:18

But we all with open face ,.... We are not like Moses, who had a veil on his face; nor like the Jews, who have one on their hearts: "but we all"; not ministers and preachers of the Gospel only, but all believers, whether Jews or Gentiles, greater or lesser believers, who are enlightened by the Spirit of God, and are converted to Christ: "with open face"; which may regard the object beheld, the glory of Christ unveiled, that has no veil on it, as Moses had on his face, when he delivered the... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Corinthians 3:18

But we all, with open face - The Jews were not able to look on the face of Moses, the mediator of the old covenant, and therefore he was obliged to veil it; but all we Christians, with face uncovered, behold, as clearly as we can see our own natural face in a mirror, the glorious promises and privileges of the Gospel of Christ; and while we contemplate, we anticipate them by desire and hope, and apprehend them by faith, and are changed from the glory there represented to the enjoyment of the... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Corinthians 3:18

Verse 18 18.But we all, with unveiled face. I know not how it had come into the mind of Erasmus, to apply to ministers exclusively, what is evidently common to all believers. The word κατοπτριζεσθαι, it is true, has a double signification among the Greeks, for it sometimes means to hold out a mirror to be looked into, and at other times to look into a mirror when presented. (417) The old interpreter, however, has correctly judged, that the second of these is the more suitable to the passage... 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 3:18

But we all. An appeal to personal experience in evidence of the freedom. With open face; rather, with unveiled face; as Moses himself spoke with God, whereas the Jews could not see even the reflected splendour on the face of Moses till he had shrouded it with a veil. Beholding as in a glass. This is at least as likely to be the true meaning as "reflecting as a mirror," which the Revised Version (following Chrysostom and others) has substituted for it. No other instance occurs in... read more

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