Your Answer:  Fading Glory

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Not that we are adequate in ourselves to consider anything as coming from ourselves, but our adequacy is from God, 6 who also made us adequate as servants of a new covenant, not of the letter, but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. 7 But if the ministry of death*, in letters engraved on stones, came with glory, so that the sons of Israel could not look intently at the face of Moses because of the glory of his face, fading as it was, 8 how shall the ministry of the Spirit fail to be even more with glory? 9 For if the ministry of condemnation has glory, much more does the ministry of righteousness abound in glory. 10 For indeed what had glory, in this case has no glory on account of the glory that surpasses it. 11 For if that which fades away was with glory, much more that which remains is in glory." 2 Corinthians 3:5-11 (NAS)

The following chart may be helpful in understanding the comparison that is being made here between the Law of Moses (which includes the ten commandments) and the Law of Christ:

Old Covenant

Also called:

  • Covenant of the Letter (vs. 6)
  • Ministry of death, in letters engraved on stone (vs. 7)
  • Ministry of condemnation (vs. 9)
  • Law of Moses (1 Corinthians 9:9)
  • Law of Sin and Death (Romans 8:2)
  • Old Testament (2 Corinthians 3:14 -KJV)

New Covenant

 Also called:

  • New Covenant of the Spirit, not of the letter (vs. 6)
  • Ministry of the Spirit (vs. 8)
  • Ministry of Righteousness (vs. 9)
  • Law of Christ (1 Corinthians 9:21)
  • New Testament (2 Corinthians 3:6 - KJV)

 

The letter kills... (vs. 6)

...but the Spirit gives life (vs. 6)

But if the ministry of death, in letters engraved on stones, came with glory, so that the sons of Israel could not look intently at the face of Moses because of the glory of his face, fading as it was... (vs. 7)

"...how shall the ministry of the Spirit fail to be even more with glory?" (vs. 8)

For if the ministry of condemnation has glory... (vs. 9)

"...much more does the ministry of righteousness abound in glory. (vs. 9)

For indeed what had glory, in this case has no glory on account of the glory that surpasses it. 11 For if that which fades away was with glory, much more that which remains is in glory. (vs 10-11)

The glory (of the New Covenant) surpasses it (the glory of the Old). (vs. 10)

Unlike the Old Covenant (which "fades away"), the New Covenant "remains in glory." (vs. 11)

The reflected glory on Moses' face is described as a "fading" glory.  The glory of the new covenant of Christ is described as a glory surpassing the glory of Moses' face.

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