2 Corinthians 2:12-3:18.
2 Corinthians 2:12—3:18 (Good News Translation)
Paul's Anxiety in Troas
12 When I arrived in Troas to preach the Good News about Christ, I
found that the Lord had opened the way for the work there.13But I was
deeply worried, because I could not find our brother Titus. So I said
good-bye to the people there and went on to Macedonia.
Victory through Christ
14But thanks be to God! For in union with Christ we are always led by
God as prisoners in Christ's victory procession. God uses us to make
the knowledge about Christ spread everywhere like a sweet
fragrance.15For we are like a sweet-smelling incense offered by Christ
to God, which spreads among those who are being saved and those who
are being lost.16For those who are being lost, it is a deadly stench
that kills; but for those who are being saved, it is a fragrance that
brings life. Who, then, is capable for such a task?17We are not like
so many others, who handle God's message as if it were cheap
merchandise; but because God has sent us, we speak with sincerity in
his presence, as servants of Christ.
Servants of the New Covenant
1Does this sound as if we were again boasting about ourselves? Could
it be that, like some other people, we need letters of recommendation
to you or from you?2You yourselves are the letter we have, written on
our hearts for everyone to know and read.3 It is clear that Christ
himself wrote this letter and sent it by us. It is written, not with
ink but with the Spirit of the living God, and not on stone tablets
but on human hearts. 4We say this because we have confidence in God
through Christ.5There is nothing in us that allows us to claim that we
are capable of doing this work. The capacity we have comes from God;6
it is he who made us capable of serving the new covenant, which
consists not of a written law but of the Spirit. The written law
brings death, but the Spirit gives life. 7 The Law was carved in
letters on stone tablets, and God's glory appeared when it was given.
Even though the brightness on Moses' face was fading, it was so strong
that the people of Israel could not keep their eyes fixed on him. If
the Law, which brings death when it is in force, came with such
glory,8how much greater is the glory that belongs to the activity of
the Spirit!9The system which brings condemnation was glorious; how
much more glorious is the activity which brings salvation!10We may say
that because of the far brighter glory now the glory that was so
bright in the past is gone.11For if there was glory in that which
lasted for a while, how much more glory is there in that which lasts
forever! 12Because we have this hope, we are very bold.13 We are not
like Moses, who had to put a veil over his face so that the people of
Israel would not see the brightness fade and disappear.14Their minds,
indeed, were closed; and to this very day their minds are covered with
the same veil as they read the books of the old covenant. The veil is
removed only when a person is joined to Christ.15Even today, whenever
they read the Law of Moses, the veil still covers their minds.16 But
it can be removed, as the scripture says about Moses: "His veil was
removed when he turned to the Lord." 17Now, "the Lord" in this passage
is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is present, there is
freedom.18All of us, then, reflect the glory of the Lord with
uncovered faces; and that same glory, coming from the Lord, who is the
Spirit, transforms us into his likeness in an ever greater degree of
glory."
Jesus is the way. Invite Him into your heart. Amen.
Paul's Anxiety in Troas
12 When I arrived in Troas to preach the Good News about Christ, I
found that the Lord had opened the way for the work there.13But I was
deeply worried, because I could not find our brother Titus. So I said
good-bye to the people there and went on to Macedonia.
Victory through Christ
14But thanks be to God! For in union with Christ we are always led by
God as prisoners in Christ's victory procession. God uses us to make
the knowledge about Christ spread everywhere like a sweet
fragrance.15For we are like a sweet-smelling incense offered by Christ
to God, which spreads among those who are being saved and those who
are being lost.16For those who are being lost, it is a deadly stench
that kills; but for those who are being saved, it is a fragrance that
brings life. Who, then, is capable for such a task?17We are not like
so many others, who handle God's message as if it were cheap
merchandise; but because God has sent us, we speak with sincerity in
his presence, as servants of Christ.
Servants of the New Covenant
1Does this sound as if we were again boasting about ourselves? Could
it be that, like some other people, we need letters of recommendation
to you or from you?2You yourselves are the letter we have, written on
our hearts for everyone to know and read.3 It is clear that Christ
himself wrote this letter and sent it by us. It is written, not with
ink but with the Spirit of the living God, and not on stone tablets
but on human hearts. 4We say this because we have confidence in God
through Christ.5There is nothing in us that allows us to claim that we
are capable of doing this work. The capacity we have comes from God;6
it is he who made us capable of serving the new covenant, which
consists not of a written law but of the Spirit. The written law
brings death, but the Spirit gives life. 7 The Law was carved in
letters on stone tablets, and God's glory appeared when it was given.
Even though the brightness on Moses' face was fading, it was so strong
that the people of Israel could not keep their eyes fixed on him. If
the Law, which brings death when it is in force, came with such
glory,8how much greater is the glory that belongs to the activity of
the Spirit!9The system which brings condemnation was glorious; how
much more glorious is the activity which brings salvation!10We may say
that because of the far brighter glory now the glory that was so
bright in the past is gone.11For if there was glory in that which
lasted for a while, how much more glory is there in that which lasts
forever! 12Because we have this hope, we are very bold.13 We are not
like Moses, who had to put a veil over his face so that the people of
Israel would not see the brightness fade and disappear.14Their minds,
indeed, were closed; and to this very day their minds are covered with
the same veil as they read the books of the old covenant. The veil is
removed only when a person is joined to Christ.15Even today, whenever
they read the Law of Moses, the veil still covers their minds.16 But
it can be removed, as the scripture says about Moses: "His veil was
removed when he turned to the Lord." 17Now, "the Lord" in this passage
is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is present, there is
freedom.18All of us, then, reflect the glory of the Lord with
uncovered faces; and that same glory, coming from the Lord, who is the
Spirit, transforms us into his likeness in an ever greater degree of
glory."
Jesus is the way. Invite Him into your heart. Amen.
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