2CO 3

2 Corinthians 3:14

WEB

But their minds were hardened, for until this very day at the reading of the old covenant the same veil remains, because in Christ it passes away.

BSB

But their minds were closed. For to this day the same veil remains at the reading of the old covenant. It has not been lifted, because only in Christ can it be removed.

KJV

But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in Christ.

Matthew Henry

Verses 12–18

2 Corinthians 3:12–18

In these verses the apostle draws two inferences from what he had said about the Old and New Testament: -

I. Concerning the duty of the ministers of the gospel to use great plainness or clearness of speech. They ought not, like Moses, to put a veil upon their faces, or obscure and darken those things which they should make plain. The gospel is a more clear dispensation than the law; the things of God are revealed in the New Testament, not in types and shadows, and ministers are much to blame if they do not set spiritual things, and gospel-truth and grace, in the clearest light that is possible. Though the Israelites could not look stedfastly to the end of what was commanded, but is now abolished, yet we may. We may see the meaning of those types and shadows by the accomplishment, seeing the veil is done away in, Christ and he is come, who was the end of the law for righteousness to all those who believe, and whom Moses and all the prophets pointed to, and wrote of.

II. Concerning the privilege and advantage of those who enjoy the gospel, above those who lived under the law. For, 1. Those who lived under the legal dispensation had their minds blinded (Co2 3:14), and there was a veil upon their hearts, Co2 3:15. Thus it was formerly, and so it was especially as to those who remained in Judaism after the coming of the Messiah and the publication of his gospel. Nevertheless, the apostle tells us, there is a time coming when this veil also shall be taken away, and when it (the body of that people) shall turn to the Lord, Co2 3:16. Or, when any particular person is converted to God, then the veil of ignorance is taken away; the blindness of the mind, and the hardness of the heart, are cured. 2. The condition of those who enjoy and believe the gospel is much more happy. For, (1.) They have liberty: Where the Spirit of the Lord is, and where he worketh, as he does under the gospel-dispensation, there is liberty (Co2 3:17), freedom from the yoke of the ceremonial law, and from the servitude of corruption; liberty of access to God, and freedom of speech in prayer. The heart is set at liberty, and enlarged, to run the ways of God's commandments. (2.) They have light; for with open face we behold the glory of the Lord, Co2 3:18. The Israelites saw the glory of God in a cloud, which was dark and dreadful; but Christians see the glory of the Lord as in a glass, more clearly and comfortably. It was the peculiar privilege of Moses for God to converse with him face to face, in a friendly manner; but now all true Christians see him more clearly with open face. He showeth them his glory. (3.) This light and liberty are transforming; we are changed into the same image, from glory to glory (Co2 3:18), from one degree of glorious grace unto another, till grace here be consummated in glory for ever. How much therefore should Christians prize and improve these privileges! We should not rest contented without an experimental knowledge of the transforming power of the gospel, by the operation of the Spirit, bringing us into a conformity to the temper and tendency of the glorious gospel of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

Cross-references: 2Cor 3:14 · 2Cor 3:15 · 2Cor 3:16 · 2Cor 3:17 · 2Cor 3:18

Greek interlinear

κάλυμμαkalummanoun · nom · sing · neut

G235

ἀλλάallá/al-lah'/

and, but (even), howbeit, indeed, nay, nevertheless, no, notwithstanding, save, therefore, yea, yet

Derivation: neuter plural of G243;

properly, other things, i.e. (adverbially) contrariwise (in many relations)

KJV: and, but (even), howbeit, indeed, nay, nevertheless, no, notwithstanding, save, therefore, yea, yet.

See also: G243.

G4456

πωρόωpōróō/po-ro'-o/

blind, harden

Derivation: apparently from πῶρος (a kind of stone);

to petrify, i.e. (figuratively) to indurate (render stupid or callous)

KJV: blind, harden.

G3588

ho/ho/

the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc

, including the feminine , and the neuter τό in all their inflections;

Derivation: the definite article;

the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom)

KJV: the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc.

G3540

νόημαnóēma/no'-ay-mah/

device, mind, thought

Derivation: from G3539;

a perception, i.e. purpose, or (by implication) the intellect, disposition, itself

KJV: device, mind, thought.

See also: G3539.

G846

αὐτόςautós/ow-tos'/

her, it(-self), one, the other, (mine) own, said, (self-), the) same, ((him-, my-, thy- )self, (your-)selves, she, that, their(-s), them(-selves), there(-at, - by, -in, -into, -of, -on, -with), they, (these) things, this (man), those, together, very, which

Derivation: from the particle αὖ (perhaps akin to the base of G109 through the idea of a baffling wind) (backward);

the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative G1438) of the third person , and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons

KJV: her, it(-self), one, the other, (mine) own, said, (self-), the) same, ((him-, my-, thy- )self, (your-)selves, she, that, their(-s), them(-selves), there(-at, - by, -in, -into, -of, -on, -with), they, (these) things, this (man), those, together, very, which.

Compare G848.

See also: G109, G1438, G848.

G891

ἄχριáchri/akh'-ree/

as far as, for, in(-to), till, (even, un-)to, until, while

or ἄχρις ;

Derivation: akin to G206 (through the idea of a terminus);

(of time) until or (of place) up to

KJV: as far as, for, in(-to), till, (even, un-)to, until, while.

Compare G3360.

See also: G206, G3360.

G1063

γάρgár/gar/

and, as, because (that), but, even, for, indeed, no doubt, seeing, then, therefore, verily, what, why, yet

Derivation: a primary particle;

properly, assigning a reason (used in argument, explanation or intensification; often with other particles)

KJV: and, as, because (that), but, even, for, indeed, no doubt, seeing, then, therefore, verily, what, why, yet.

G4594

σήμερονsḗmeron/say'-mer-on/

this (to-)day

Derivation: neuter (as adverb) of a presumed compound of the article G3588 (t changed to s) and G2250;

on the (i.e. this) day (or night current or just passed); generally, now (i.e. at present, hitherto)

KJV: this (to-)day.

See also: G3588, G2250.

G2250

ἡμέραhēméra/hay-mer'-ah/

age, + alway, (mid-)day (by day, (-ly)), + for ever, judgment, (day) time, while, years

Derivation: feminine (with G5610 implied) of a derivative of ἧμαι (to sit; akin to the base of G1476) meaning tame, i.e. gentle;

day, i.e. (literally) the time space between dawn and dark, or the whole 24 hours (but several days were usually reckoned by the Jews as inclusive of the parts of both extremes); figuratively, a period (always defined more or less clearly by the context)

KJV: age, + alway, (mid-)day (by day, (-ly)), + for ever, judgment, (day) time, while, years.

See also: G5610, G1476.

G1909

ἐπίepí/ep-ee'/

about (the times), above, after, against, among, as long as (touching), at, beside, X have charge of, (be-, (where-))fore, in (a place, as much as, the time of, -to), (because) of, (up-)on (behalf of), over, (by, for) the space of, through(-out), (un-)to(-ward), with

Derivation: a primary preposition;

properly, meaning superimposition (of time, place, order, etc.), as a relation of distribution (with the genitive case), i.e. over, upon, etc.; of rest (with the dative case) at, on, etc.; of direction (with the accusative case) towards, upon, etc.

KJV: about (the times), above, after, against, among, as long as (touching), at, beside, X have charge of, (be-, (where-))fore, in (a place, as much as, the time of, -to), (because) of, (up-)on (behalf of), over, (by, for) the space of, through(-out), (un-)to(-ward), with.

In compounds it retains essentially the same import, at, upon, etc. (literally or figuratively).

G320

ἀνάγνωσιςanágnōsis/an-ag'-no-sis/

reading

Derivation: from G314;

(the act of) reading

KJV: reading.

See also: G314.

G3820

παλαιόςpalaiós/pal-ah-yos'/

old

Derivation: from G3819;

antique, i.e. not recent, worn out

KJV: old.

See also: G3819.

G1242

διαθήκηdiathḗkē/dee-ath-ay'-kay/

covenant, testament

Derivation: from G1303;

properly, a disposition, i.e. (specially) a contract (especially a devisory will)

KJV: covenant, testament.

See also: G1303.

G3306

μένωménō/men'-o/

abide, continue, dwell, endure, be present, remain, stand, tarry (for), X thine own

Derivation: a primary verb;

to stay (in a given place, state, relation or expectancy)

KJV: abide, continue, dwell, endure, be present, remain, stand, tarry (for), X thine own.

G3361

μήmḗ/may/

any but (that), X forbear, + God forbid, + lack, lest, neither, never, no (X wise in), none, nor, (can-)not, nothing, that not, un(-taken), without

Derivation: a primary particle of qualified negation (whereas G3756 expresses an absolute denial);

(adverb) not, (conjunction) lest; also (as an interrogative implying a negative answer (whereas G3756 expects an affirmative one)) whether

KJV: any but (that), X forbear, + God forbid, + lack, lest, neither, never, no (X wise in), none, nor, (can-)not, nothing, that not, un(-taken), without.

Often used in compounds in substantially the same relations. See also G3362, G3363, G3364, G3372, G3373, G3375, G3378.

See also: G3756, G3362, G3363, G3364, G3372, G3373, G3375, G3378.

G343

ἀνακαλύπτωanakalýptō/an-ak-al-oop'-to/

open, (un-)taken away

Derivation: from G303 (in the sense of reversal) and G2572;

to unveil

KJV: open, (un-)taken away.

See also: G303, G2572.

G3754

ὅτιhóti/hot'-ee/

as concerning that, as though, because (that), for (that), how (that), (in) that, though, why

Derivation: neuter of G3748 as conjunction;

demonstrative, that (sometimes redundant); causative, because

KJV: as concerning that, as though, because (that), for (that), how (that), (in) that, though, why.

See also: G3748.

G1722

ἐνen/en/

about, after, against, + almost, X altogether, among, X as, at, before, between, (here-)by (+ all means), for (… sake of), + give self wholly to, (here-)in(-to, -wardly), X mightily, (because) of, (up-)on, (open-)ly, X outwardly, one, X quickly, X shortly, (speedi-)ly, X that, X there(-in, -on), through(-out), (un-)to(-ward), under, when, where(-with), while, with(-in)

Derivation: a primary preposition denoting (fixed) position (in place, time or state), and (by implication) instrumentality (medially or constructively), i.e. a relation of rest (intermediate between G1519 and G1537);

"in," at, (up-)on, by, etc.

KJV: about, after, against, + almost, X altogether, among, X as, at, before, between, (here-)by (+ all means), for (… sake of), + give self wholly to, (here-)in(-to, -wardly), X mightily, (because) of, (up-)on, (open-)ly, X outwardly, one, X quickly, X shortly, (speedi-)ly, X that, X there(-in, -on), through(-out), (un-)to(-ward), under, when, where(-with), while, with(-in).

Often used in compounds, with substantially the same import; rarely with verbs of motion, and then not to indicate direction, except (elliptically) by a separate (and different) preposition.

See also: G1519, G1537.

G5547

ΧριστόςChristós/khris-tos'/

Christ

Derivation: from G5548;

anointed, i.e. the Messiah, an epithet of Jesus

KJV: Christ.

See also: G5548.

G2673

καταργέωkatargéō/kat-arg-eh'-o/

abolish, cease, cumber, deliver, destroy, do away, become (make) of no (none, without) effect, fail, loose, bring (come) to nought, put away (down), vanish away, make void

Derivation: from G2596 and G691;

to be (render) entirely idle (useless), literally or figuratively

KJV: abolish, cease, cumber, deliver, destroy, do away, become (make) of no (none, without) effect, fail, loose, bring (come) to nought, put away (down), vanish away, make void.

See also: G2596, G691.

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