2 Corinthians 3:18

But we all i.e. we Christians, in contradistinction to the Jews.

with open face i.e. unveiled. Cf. 1 Corinthians 11:7.

beholding as in a glass Either (1), according to the more ordinary meaning of the word, - beholdingas in a mirror," or (2) with Chrysostom, - reflectingas in a mirror." The latter rendering makes the rest of the verse more intelligible, and has the additional recommendation that the glory on Moses" face was a reflectedglory, which we may suppose grew more and more intense the longer he gazed on God with unveiled face. The former interpretation sets Christ before us as the mirror of the Father's glory. See next note.

the glory of the Lord i.e. of Christ, Who is the beaming forth (ἀπαύγασμα) of God's glory, Hebrews 1:3, cf. John 1:14, and His image, ch. 2 Corinthians 4:4 (and note) and Colossians 1:15. Also John 17:24.

are changed into This word is rendered transfiguredin Matthew 17:2; Mark 9:2, and no doubt the idea of the gradual beaming out of the inner glory which dwelt in Christ, producing a metamorphosis(this is the actual word used) which excited the wonder and awe of those that beheld it, was in St Paul's mind in this passage. He uses the word in another place, Romans 12:2, where the idea of the Transfiguration and that suggested in this passage are combined, in order to express the marvellous inward change which takes place in the man who offers his heart to the transforming influences which flow out from Christ.

the same image These words are emphatic in the original. It seems impossible to interpret them of any other but Christ (ch. 2 Corinthians 4:4), -into the same image as Christ." He, as man, beholding the glory of God, with infinitely more fulness than Moses under the Law, turns to speak with us. We behold Him, not, as the Jews, with veiled heart, but with unveiled face, and as we gaze, we reflect back more and more of His image (cf. 1 John 3:2), until it be fully formed in us. Galatians 4:19.

from glory to glory i.e. from one stage of glory to another. Cf. Romans 1:17, and note on ch. 2 Corinthians 2:16.

even as by the Spirit of the Lord Three renderings are given of this passage. The first, which is the Vulgate rendering and is given in the text, needs no explanation. It is open to the objection that it inverts the order of the words in the Greek. The second is the natural grammatical rendering, - as by the Lord of the Spirit." The third, which is found in the margin of the A. V. and is adopted by St Chrysostom (who, however, interprets the passage of the Holy Spirit), - as by(of, A. V.) the(or a) Lord, the(or a) spirit," seems to give the best sense. For it refers us back to 2 Corinthians 3:17 and to the former part of the chapter. The change that takes place in us is a spiritual change (see 1 Corinthians 2, and notes on 2 Corinthians 3:6). It is not affected by formal enactments, which at best can but condemn, but it is the work of a Lord who works within, Who sends forth the beams of His light that they may transform, not the outer surface, but the heart, that so the man may reflect back undimmed thence the glorious Light that has shined on him. And so the man into whose heart the Light of Christ has entered progresses from one stage of spiritual glory to another, until at last (Romans 8:29) he becomes fully conformed to the image of the Son of God.