Indeed, what was once glorious has no glory now in comparison to the glory that surpasses it.
Parallel translations
- WEB For most certainly that which has been made glorious has not been made glorious in this respect, by reason of the glory that surpasses.
- KJV For even that which was made glorious had no glory in this respect, by reason of the glory that excelleth.
- NKJV For even what was made glorious had no glory in this respect, because of the glory that excels.
- NASB For indeed what had glory in this case has no glory, because of the glory that surpasses it.
- NLT In fact, that first glory was not glorious at all compared with the overwhelming glory of the new way.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
The old covenant's glory is so eclipsed by the new that it seems to have no glory by comparison. The surpassing splendor of the gospel outshines all that came before.
Overview
Paul presses the contrast to its height: the genuine glory of the old covenant pales beside the overwhelming glory of the new. Like a lamp outshone by the sun, the law's brightness fades in the light of Christ. This underscores the unique and supreme glory of the gospel of the new covenant.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 9
- 2 Pet 1:17For He received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to Him from the Majestic Glory, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”
- Hag 2:7–9I will shake all the nations, and they will come with all their treasures, and I will fill this house with glory, says the LORD of Hosts.
- Job 25:5If even the moon does not shine, and the stars are not pure in His sight,
- Rev 22:5There will be no more night in the city, and they will have no need for the light of a lamp or of the sun. For the Lord God will shine on them, and they will reign forever and ever.
- Phil 3:7–8But whatever was gain to me I count as loss for the sake of Christ.
- Isa 24:23The moon will be confounded and the sun will be ashamed; for the LORD of Hosts will reign on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem, and before His elders with great glory.
- Rev 21:23–24And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, because the glory of God illuminates the city, and the Lamb is its lamp.
- Acts 26:13About noon, O king, as I was on the road, I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, shining around me and my companions.
- Hag 2:3‘Who is left among you who saw this house in its former glory? How does it look to you now? Does it not appear to you like nothing in comparison?’
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
In Christ all God's promises are 'Yes and Amen'; though rich, he became poor to make us rich, and in him God reconciles the world, making us new creations.
How 2 Corinthians 3:10 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.