For most certainly that which has been made glorious has not been made glorious in this respect, by reason of the glory that surpasses.
Parallel translations
- KJV For even that which was made glorious had no glory in this respect, by reason of the glory that excelleth.
- BSB Indeed, what was once glorious has no glory now in comparison to the glory that surpasses it.
- 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 from God the Father honor and glory, when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”
- Hag 2:7–9and I will shake all nations. The precious things of all nations will come, and I will fill this house with glory, says Yahweh of Armies.
- Job 25:5Behold, even the moon has no brightness, and the stars are not pure in his sight;
- Rev 22:5There will be no night, and they need no lamp light; for the Lord God will illuminate them. They will reign forever and ever.
- Phil 3:7–8However, I consider those things that were gain to me as a loss for Christ.
- Isa 24:23Then the moon shall be confounded, and the sun ashamed; for Yahweh of Armies will reign on Mount Zion, and in Jerusalem; and before his elders will be glory.
- Rev 21:23–24The city has no need for the sun, neither of the moon, to shine, for the very glory of God illuminated it, and its lamp is the Lamb.
- Acts 26:13at noon, O king, I saw on the way a light from the sky, brighter than the sun, shining around me and those who traveled with me.
- Hag 2:3‘Who is left among you who saw this house in its former glory? How do you see it now? Isn’t it in your eyes as nothing?
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.