2 corinthians 3:7 - But if the service of death, written engraved on stones, came with glory, so that the children of Israel could not look steadfastly on the face of Moses for the glory of his face, which was passing away;
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What does "2 corinthians 3:7" mean?
This verse in 2 Corinthians 3:7 is part of Paul's larger argument comparing the Old Covenant (represented by the Law given through Moses) and the New Covenant (represented by the gospel of Jesus Christ). Let's break it down:
"But if the service of death, written engraved on stones, came with glory..." This refers to the Ten Commandments, which were given to Moses by God and written on stone tablets. Paul calls it "the service of death" because the law, while holy and just, ultimately reveals sin and condemns people to death (both physical and spiritual) because no one can perfectly keep it. It doesn't offer a means of true forgiveness or justification. The "glory" here is the visible manifestation of God's presence and power that accompanied the giving of the Law at Mount Sinai.
"...so that the children of Israel could not look steadfastly on the face of Moses for the glory of his face..." When Moses came down from Mount Sinai after receiving the Ten Commandments, his face shone with a brilliant glory because he had been in God's presence. The Israelites were afraid and unable to look at him directly (Exodus 34:29-35). This glory was a sign of the covenant's divine origin and power.
"...which was passing away;" This is the crucial point. Paul emphasizes that the glory that radiated from Moses' face was temporary and fading. This is symbolic of the Old Covenant itself: it was glorious in its time, but it was designed to be temporary and ultimately replaced by the New Covenant in Christ. The Old Covenant pointed towards something greater that was to come.
In essence, Paul is saying this:
The Old Covenant, though accompanied by impressive glory and power, was ultimately a system that condemned people and was designed to be temporary. Even the glory surrounding Moses was fleeting. The New Covenant, on the other hand, offers a lasting righteousness and a glory that far surpasses the glory of the Old.
The verse serves to set up a contrast:
Paul uses the fading glory of the Old Covenant to highlight the superior and permanent glory of the New Covenant. He wants to show that the gospel is not a step backward from the Law, but a much greater and more effective way of relating to God. The New Covenant brings life, justification, and a lasting transformation that the Law could never provide.
2 corinthians 3:7 - But if the service of death, written engraved on stones, came with glory, so that the children of Israel could not look steadfastly on the face of Moses for the glory of his face, which was passing away;
What does "2 corinthians 3:7" mean?
This verse in 2 Corinthians 3:7 is part of Paul's larger argument comparing the Old Covenant (represented by the Law given through Moses) and the New Covenant (represented by the gospel of Jesus Christ). Let's break it down:
"But if the service of death, written engraved on stones, came with glory..." This refers to the Ten Commandments, which were given to Moses by God and written on stone tablets. Paul calls it "the service of death" because the law, while holy and just, ultimately reveals sin and condemns people to death (both physical and spiritual) because no one can perfectly keep it. It doesn't offer a means of true forgiveness or justification. The "glory" here is the visible manifestation of God's presence and power that accompanied the giving of the Law at Mount Sinai.
"...so that the children of Israel could not look steadfastly on the face of Moses for the glory of his face..." When Moses came down from Mount Sinai after receiving the Ten Commandments, his face shone with a brilliant glory because he had been in God's presence. The Israelites were afraid and unable to look at him directly (Exodus 34:29-35). This glory was a sign of the covenant's divine origin and power.
"...which was passing away;" This is the crucial point. Paul emphasizes that the glory that radiated from Moses' face was temporary and fading. This is symbolic of the Old Covenant itself: it was glorious in its time, but it was designed to be temporary and ultimately replaced by the New Covenant in Christ. The Old Covenant pointed towards something greater that was to come.
In essence, Paul is saying this:
The Old Covenant, though accompanied by impressive glory and power, was ultimately a system that condemned people and was designed to be temporary. Even the glory surrounding Moses was fleeting. The New Covenant, on the other hand, offers a lasting righteousness and a glory that far surpasses the glory of the Old.
The verse serves to set up a contrast:
Paul uses the fading glory of the Old Covenant to highlight the superior and permanent glory of the New Covenant. He wants to show that the gospel is not a step backward from the Law, but a much greater and more effective way of relating to God. The New Covenant brings life, justification, and a lasting transformation that the Law could never provide.