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2 Corinthians 3:8

How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious?
2 Corinthians 3:8 · King James Version
Parallel translations
  • WEB won’t service of the Spirit be with much more glory?
  • BSB will not the ministry of the Spirit be even more glorious?
  • NKJV how will the ministry of the Spirit not be more glorious?
  • NASB how will the ministry of the Spirit fail to be even more with glory?
  • NLT Shouldn’t we expect far greater glory under the new way, now that the Holy Spirit is giving life?

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

If the law's ministry had glory, the ministry of the Spirit must be far more glorious. The new covenant surpasses the old in splendor.

Overview

Paul argues from lesser to greater: if even the death-dealing law shone with glory, the life-giving ministry of the Spirit shines all the more. The new covenant is not a downgrade but the climax of God's glorious work. This exalts the surpassing glory of the gospel age inaugurated by Christ and applied by the Spirit.

Cross-references & the web

Cross-references · 22

  • 1 Cor 3:16Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
  • Eph 2:18For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.
  • 2 Th 2:13But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:
  • Gal 5:22–23But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
  • Joel 2:28–29And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:
  • John 1:17For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.
  • Gal 3:14That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
  • 1 Pet 1:2Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.
  • Isa 59:21As for me, this is my covenant with them, saith the LORD; My spirit that is upon thee, and my words which I have put in thy mouth, shall not depart out of thy mouth, nor out of the mouth of thy seed, nor out of the mouth of thy seed’s seed, saith the LORD, from henceforth and for ever.
  • Isa 11:2And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD;
  • Isa 44:3For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground: I will pour my spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring:
  • Acts 2:32–33This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses.
  • Jude 1:19–20These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit.
  • 1 Cor 12:4–11Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.
  • 2 Cor 3:6Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.
  • 2 Cor 11:4For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.
  • 2 Cor 3:17Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.
  • Gal 3:2–5This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
  • Acts 2:17–18And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:
  • Rom 8:9–16But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
  • Gal 5:5For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.
  • John 7:39(But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)

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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 3:8 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

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