2 Corinthians 3:9

For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory. MINISTRATION OF CONDEMNATION - the law regarded in the "letter" which "killeth" (; Romans 7:9). B g read as English version. But A C Delta G f, Vulgate (oldest manuscript), read 'If to the ministration of condemnation there be glory.' THE MINISTRATION OF RIGHTEOUSNESS. The Gospel, which reveals the righteousness of God (), imputes righteousness to men through faith in Christ (Romans 3:21; ;...

1-11 Even the appearance of self-praise and courting human applause, is painful to the humble and spiritual mind. Nothing is more delightful to faithful ministers, or more to their praise, than the success of their ministry, as shown in the spirits and lives of those among whom they labour. The law of Christ was written in their hearts, and the love of Christ shed abroad there. Nor was it written in tables of stone, as the law of God given to Moses, but on the fleshy (not fleshly, as fleshliness denotes sensuality) tables of the heart, Ezekiel 36:26. Their hearts were humbled and softened to receive this impression, by the new-creating power of the Holy Spirit. He ascribes all the glory to God. And remember, as our whole dependence is upon the Lord, so the whole glory belongs to him alone. The letter killeth: the letter of the law is the ministration of death; and if we rest only in the...

Verse 2 Corinthians 3:9. _THE MINISTRATION OF CONDEMNATION_] The _law_, which ascertained sin, and condemned it to just punishment. _THE MINISTRATION OF RIGHTEOUSNESS_] The Gospel, the grand business of which was to proclaim the doctrine δικαιοσυνης, _of_ _justification_; and to show how _God_ could _be just_ and _yet the_ _justifier of him who believeth in Jesus_. _EXCEED IN GLORY._] For great, glorious, and awful as the law may be, in its opposition to sin, which is a reproach to man, and a dishonour to God; and in its punishment of sin; yet it must be vastly exceeded by that system which, evidencing an _equal_ abhorrence of sin, finds out a method to _forgive_ it; to take away its _guilt_ from the conscience, and remove all its infection from the soul. That this...

FOR IF THE MINISTRATION OF CONDEMNATION - Of Moses in giving the Law, the effect of which is to produce condemnation. Law condemns the guilty; it does not save them. It denounces punishment; it contains no provisions of pardon. To pardon is to depart from the Law; and must be done under the operation of another system - since a law which contains a provision for the pardon of offenders, and permits them to escape, would be a burlesque in legislation. The tendency of the Mosaic institutions, therefore, was to produce a sense of condemnation. And so it will be found by all who attempt to be justified by the Law. It will tend to, and result in, their condemnation. BE GLORY - Be glorious; or be glory itself - It was glorious as a manifestation of the holiness and justice of God; and glorious in the attending circumstances. No event in our world has been more magnificent in the circumstances...

EXPOSITION Defence against the charge of self-recommendation, which St. Paul does not need (2 Corinthians 3:1). His sufficiency comes from God (2 Corinthians 3:4), who has made him minister of a covenant far more glorious than that given to Hosea (verses 7-11). This ministry needs no veil upon the face (verses 12, 13), such as to this day darkens the hearts of the Jews (verses 14, 15), though it shall one day be removed (verses 16-18). 2 CORINTHIANS 3:1 _St. Paul's ministry is his sufficient letter of commendation. _ 2 Corinthians 3:1

FOR IF THE MINISTRATION OF CONDEMNATION BE GLORY,.... So the Jews call the law, for they say, אין כבוד אלא תורה, "there is no glory but the law" f; this is another head of opposition or difference between the law and the Gospel, from whence the superior glory of the one to the other is argued. The law is "the ministration of condemnation"; as sin is a transgression of the law, it accuses for it, convinces of it, pronounces guilty, and adjudges to death on account of it; which is the condemnation it ministers; and this it does to all Adam's posterity, and for his sin too; and to all the actual transgressors of it, to all unbelievers, to all that are under it; even to God's elect themselves, as considered in Adam, and in themselves as transgressors; and this it ministers to their consciences when convicted, though it is never executed on them, because of the suretyship engagement and perfo...

RIGHTEOUSNESS (_ See Scofield) - (Romans 3:21). _...

2 CORINTHIANS 3:9 th|/ diakoni,a| {B} A majority of the Committee, impressed by the weight of the external evidence supporting th|/ diakoni,a|, was inclined to regard the nominative as due to scribal assimilation to the preceding (and following) diakoni,a....

4. THE MINISTRY OF THE NEW COVENANT IN CONTRAST WITH THE OLD. CHAPTER 3 _ 1. The Epistle of Christ. (2 Corinthians 3:1)_ 2. The True Sufficiency. (2 Corinthians 3:4) 3. The Old and New Ministry Contrasted. (2 Corinthians 3:7) 4. The Glory in the Face of Moses and the Glory in the Face of Christ. (2 Corinthians 3:12 .) It was customary in the church to give letters of commendation (Acts 18:27; Rom

This opens the way for a comparison between the ministry under the one covenant and the ministry under the other. The former, even though its issue was historically failure, condemnation, and death, and while its inferiority was shown by its being engraved on tables of stone (though it was destined to pass away), was nevertheless promulgated in circumstances of dazzling splendour though even that was a splendour that was fading. How much greater must be the splendour belonging to the new covenant, and to its ministry, which has the Spirit in place of a written law, creates righteousness where the other wrought condemnation, and moreover is destined to abide. Even the real glory which attached to the former covenant is cancelled, at least to this extent, by the surpassing glory of the new one. For the glory of the new covenant neither passes away nor is it obscured by any veil, as the old...