Do we begin again to recommend ourselves — Is it needful? Have I nothing but my own word to recommend me? St. Paul chiefly here intends himself; though not excluding Timotheus, Titus, and Silvanus. Unless we need — As if he had said, Do I indeed want such recommendation?... [ Continue Reading ]
Ye are our recommendatory letter — More convincing than bare words could be. Written on our hearts — Deeply engraven there, and plainly legible to all around us.... [ Continue Reading ]
Manifestly declared to be the letter of Christ — Which he has formed and published to the world. Ministered by us — Whom he has used herein as his instruments, therefore ye are our letter also. Written not in tables of stone — Like the ten commandments. But in the tender, living tables of their hear... [ Continue Reading ]
Such trust have we in God — That is, we trust in God that this is so.... [ Continue Reading ]
Not that we are sufficient of ourselves — So much as to think one good thought; much less, to convert sinners.... [ Continue Reading ]
Who also hath made us able ministers of the new covenant — Of the new, evangelical dispensation. Not of the law, fitly called the letter, from God's literally writing it on the two tables. But of the Spirit — Of the gospel dispensation, which is written on the tables of our hearts by the Spirit. For... [ Continue Reading ]
And if the ministration of death — That is, the Mosaic dispensation, which proves such to those who prefer it to the gospel, the most considerable part of which was engraven on those two stones, was attended with so great glory.... [ Continue Reading ]
The ministration of the Spirit — That is, the Christian dispensation.... [ Continue Reading ]
The ministration of condemnation — Such the Mosaic dispensation proved to all the Jews who rejected the gospel whereas through the gospel (hence called the ministration of righteousness) God both imputed and imparted righteousness to all believers. But how can the moral law (which alone was engraven... [ Continue Reading ]
It hath no glory in this respect, because of the glory that excelleth — That is, none in comparison of this more excellent glory. The greater light swallows up the less.... [ Continue Reading ]
That which remaineth — That dispensation which remains to the end of the world; that spirit and life which remain for ever.... [ Continue Reading ]
Having therefore this hope — Being fully persuaded of this.... [ Continue Reading ]
And we do not act as Moses did, who put a veil over his face — Which is to be understood with regard to his writings also. So that the children of Israel could not look steadfastly to the end of that dispensation which is now abolished — The end of this was Christ. The whole Mosaic dispensation tend... [ Continue Reading ]
The same veil remaineth on their understanding unremoved — Not so much as folded back, (so the word implies,) so as to admit a little, glimmering light. On the public reading of the Old Testament — The veil is not now on the face of Moses or of his writings, but on the reading of them, and on the he... [ Continue Reading ]
When it — Their heart. Shall turn to the Lord — To Christ, by living faith. The veil is taken away — That very moment; and they see, with the utmost clearness, how all the types and prophecies of the law are fully accomplished in him.... [ Continue Reading ]
Now the Lord — Christ is that Spirit of the law whereof I speak, to which the letter was intended to lead. And where the Spirit of the Lord, Christ, is, there is liberty — Not the veil, the emblem of slavery. There is liberty from servile fear, liberty from the guilt and from the power of sin, liber... [ Continue Reading ]
And, accordingly, all we that believe in him, beholding as in a glass — In the mirror of the gospel. The glory of the Lord — His glorious love. Are transformed into the same image — Into the same love. From one degree of this glory to another, in a manner worthy of his almighty Spirit. What a beauti... [ Continue Reading ]