Verse 7
7. Ministration of death The law, so far as it designates the old testament, or the old testament system, revealed not only wrath, but mercy; yet it waited for the new testament to reveal clearly the true source of that mercy in the mediation of Christ. But law here signifies the decalogue, as is shown by the words engraven in stones. The decalogue revealed not mercy; and to all sinners its ministration was an administration of death. Yet though engraven on stones, and of death, it had its glory.
Was glorious Literally, was in glory.
So that Proves the glory by the fact to be stated.
Face of Moses When Moses came down from Mount Sinai, from communion with God, his face shone so resplendently with the divine glory that the people could not gaze upon it. Exodus 34:29-35. Moses, therefore, vailed his face to the people and unvailed it before God. Using this beautiful image as a type of the glory of the dispensation of the law, Paul draws a comparison to show how much more truly glorious is the (apostolic) ministration of the gospel. And it is to be specially noted that it is from one of the most brilliant points of the Mosaic history that the genius of Paul infers the evanescence of the Mosaic dispensation.
The glory of the law dispensation was not only of death, but, as symbolized by the radiance upon Moses’s face, was transient was visible to the eye, was varied, and has left a vail on Israel’s heart. The gospel ministration is of the spirit, of justification, permanent, open, freedom, unfolding in evolutions of glory. To the Gentile Corinthians, anxious for freedom from the Jewish ritual, as well as to the Jews who sympathized with the progressive spirit of Paul, this comparison must have been very welcome. To the Judaists it must have appeared very powerful and very unacceptable.
To be done away As figured by its evanescence upon Moses’s face.
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