2 Corinthians 3

Epistle of Christ

Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart. 2 Corinthians 3:3

The changed lives of the Corinthian Saints are a letter written by Christ, with the Spirit as the ink, for everyone to read. Converts are Christ's letter of recommendation.

How we know: the verse itself names Him

• alludes to Jeremiah 31:33 — The LORD's law written "in their hearts" in the new covenant.

Christ, the way to God

And such trust have we through Christ to God-ward: 2 Corinthians 3:4

Paul's confidence before God comes through Christ, not from himself. Jesus is the one through whom we come to the Father.

How we know: the verse itself names Him

The veil done away in Christ

And not as Moses, which put a vail over his face, that the children of Israel could not stedfastly look to the end of that which is abolished: 2 Corinthians 3:13–16

Paul reads Moses' veil as a symbol: people who read the Old Testament without Christ have a veil over their understanding. When a heart turns to the Lord, the veil lifts and they see that the law and prophets pointed to Jesus.

How we know: the verse itself names Him · a footnote points to Him · a Church study aid lists it

• interprets Exodus 34:33-35 — Moses veils his shining face and removes the veil when he goes in before the LORD.

The Lord whose glory transforms

Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. 2 Corinthians 3:17–18

"The Lord" here continues from Moses going in before the LORD, the premortal Christ, and the Spirit brings His presence to us. Unlike Israel behind the veil, believers look openly on the Lord's glory and are gradually changed to become like Him.

• alludes to Exodus 34:34 — Moses "went in before the LORD" and took the veil off.
• the same event in 1 John 3:2 — "we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is".