2 Corinthians 3:7

εἰ δὲ ἡ διακονία κ. τ. λ.: but if the Ministration of Death (see 2 Corinthians 3:6), written, and engraven in stones, came into existence in glory, etc. The reference is to the glory on the face of Moses (see reff.) when the Tables of the Law were brought down from Mount Sinai. St. Paul argues that for two reasons the glory of the New Covenant is greater, (i.) the former διακονία was one of condemnation, the latter of righteousness (2 Corinthians 3:9), and (ii.) the glory of the former was only a transient gleam, while that of the latter abides for ever (2 Corinthians 3:11). Of the first Tables which Moses broke in anger it is said that the writing was γραφὴ Θεοῦ κεκολαμμένη ἐν τοῖς πλαξίν (Exodus 32:16); it is merely said of the second Tables that Moses wrote upon them “the words of the Covenant, the Ten Commandments” (Exodus 34:28). Nevertheless the tradition (see Philo, Vit. Mos., iii., 2) was that the second Tables, like the first, were not only “written” but “engraven” (ἐντετυπωμένη), as the Apostle has it. ὥστε μὴ δύνασθαι κ. τ. λ.: so that the Children of Israel could not (sc., through fear, Exodus 34:30) look steadfastly upon the face of Moses on account of the glory of his face, transient as it was. καταργεῖσθαι is nearly always, if not always (for 1 Corinthians 2:6 is doubtful), passive in St. Paul (Romans 6:6; Romans 7:2, 1 Corinthians 13:8; 1 Corinthians 15:26; Galatians 5:4), and as it must be taken passively in 2 Corinthians 3:14 below, there is a good deal to be said for regarding it as passive here and in 2 Corinthians 3:11; 2 Corinthians 3:13 (as the A.V. does; note, however, that the translation “which was to be done away” in this verse is wrong). Yet the sense seems to require the middle voice “which was passing away,” sc., even as he spoke to the people. The position of τὴν καταργουμένην gives it emphasis. Pfleiderer is guilty of the extravagant supposition that the whole story of the Transfiguration (cf. Luke 9:28 ff.) is built up on the basis of this passage (cf. μεταμορφούμεθα, 2 Corinthians 3:18), the disappearance of Moses and Elijah, leaving Jesus alone with His disciples, indicating that the glory of the Old Covenant was passing away (καταργουμένην)!