2 Corinthians 3:8-18

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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Corinthians 3:15

But even unto this day, when Moses is read ,.... These words are an explanation of the former, and show that by the Old Testament is designed, more especially, Moses, or the writings of Moses; which were frequently read, and preached upon in the Jewish synagogues; see Acts 13:15 and that by "the veil untaken away", is meant, the veil upon their heart ; that is, the veil of blindness, ignorance of Christ, and the Gospel; of the prophecies of the Old Testament, and even of the law... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Corinthians 3:16

Nevertheless, when it shall turn to the Lord ,.... The heart, upon which the veil now is; or the body of the Jewish nation, as in the latter day; when they "shall turn", or "be turned", by the Spirit, power, and grace of God, to the Lord Jesus Christ, and look upon him whom they have pierced, and mourn, and embrace him as the true Messiah and only Saviour: the veil shall be taken away ; the veil of blindness and ignorance, respecting themselves, case, state, and condition, and the way of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Corinthians 3:17

Now the Lord is that Spirit ,.... "The Lord", to whom the heart is turned, when the veil is removed, is Jesus Christ; and he is "that Spirit", or "the Spirit": he, as God, is of a spiritual nature and essence; he is a spirit, as God is said to be, John 4:24 he is the giver of the Spirit of God, and the very life and spirit of the law, without whom as the end of it, it is a mere dead letter: or rather as by Moses in 2 Corinthians 3:15 is meant, the law of Moses, so by the "Lord" here may... 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 3:8

The ministration of the Spirit - The Gospel dispensation, which gives the true spiritual sense of the law. Be rather glorious? - Forasmuch as the thing signified is of infinitely more consequence than that by which it is signified. The Thing bread will preserve a man alive; the Word bread can give life to nothing. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Corinthians 3:9

The ministration of condemnation - The law, which ascertained sin, and condemned it to just punishment. The ministration of righteousness - The Gospel, the grand business of which was to proclaim the doctrine δικαιοσυνης , of justification; and to show how God could be just and yet the justifier of him who believeth in Jesus. Exceed in glory - For great, glorious, and awful as the law may be, in its opposition to sin, which is a reproach to man, and a dishonor to God; and in its... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Corinthians 3:10

For even that which was made glorious - The law, which was exhibited for a time in great glory and splendor, partly when it was given, and partly by the splendor of God in the tabernacle and first temple; but all this ceased and was done away; was intended to give place to the Gospel; and has actually given place to that system; so that now, in no part of the world is that law performed, even by the people who are attached to it and reject the Gospel. The glory that excelleth - The... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Corinthians 3:11

For if that which is done away, etc. - Here is another striking difference between the law and the Gospel. The former is termed το καταργουμενον , that which is counterworked and abolished; the latter το μενον , that which continues, which is not for a particular time, place, and people, as the law was; but for All times, all places, and all people. As a great, universal, and permanent Good vastly excels a good that is small, partial, and transitory; so does the Gospel dispensation, that... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Corinthians 3:12

Seeing - we have such hope - Such glorious prospects as those blessings which the Gospel sets before us, producing such confidence, as the fulfillment of so many promises has already done, that God will still continue to work for us and by us; We use great plainness of speech - Πολλῃ παρῥησιᾳ χρωμεθα· We speak not only with all confidence, but with all imaginable plainness; keeping back nothing; disguising nothing; concealing nothing: and here we differ greatly from the Jewish... read more

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