2 Corinthians 3:7-8 Now if the ministry that brought death, which was engraved in letters on stone, came with glory, so that the Israelites could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of its glory, transitory though it was, 8 will not the ministry of the Spirit be even more glorious?
Paul uses a type of argumentation called qal wahomer, what is true is one situation is even more true in another situation. In the first situation, he describes the old covenant God made with Moses. The law God gave to Moses had the affect of enhancing the sin problem and causing the fallen human heart to rebel against God’s standards revealed in the law. The law was giving as a guide to help Israel know how to live as holy people who believed in the one and only Holy God. God engraved this law on tablets of stone. These Ten Commandments became the symbol of the agreement between God and Israel. God would bless and use Israel as a kingdom of priest and a holy nation if they would obey these laws (Exodus 19:5-6). God’s glory descended upon the mountain in the giving of this law. The law was a great blessing to help Israel experience peace (Hebrew shalom). After being in God’s presence, Moses’ face shown in reflection of God’s glory. God’s glory, the power and awesomeness of God’s presence, was too overwhelming for Moses. Yet, this afterglow was temporary and eventually faded. This unique experience of receiving the law and being in God’s presence was temporary, although God’s presence still remained with the people symbolized with the ark of the covenant. The afterglow on Moses’ face of being in God’s presence was even too overwhelming for the people of Israel to look at.
This situation sets up as a comparison with the new covenant which comes through the Holy Spirit. Verse 8 is the transition to the positive part of the comparison giving in vv. 9-11. Israel throughout the centuries had been blessed with God’s laws. They had special revelation that the rest of the world did not have. This privileged position led to a sense of superiority. Instead, it should have brought a sense of mission. They had the gift that the rest of the world needed. They had experienced the saving grace of the exodus and the keeping grace of the land. Yet, history shows how time and again they abused this privilege, bringing God’s discipline. Paul understood that in Christ this gift of salvation has been extended to all people. Anyone who calls on the name of Jesus will be saved.
For older posts, click here.