Ministers of a New Covenant 1 AKJV Do we begin again to commend ourselves? or need we, as some others, letters of commendation to you, or letters of commendation from you? BSB BSB: Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, like some people, letters of recommendation to you or from you?
2 AKJV You are our letter written in our hearts, known and read of all men: BSB BSB: You yourselves are our letter, inscribed on our hearts, known and read by everyone.
3 AKJV For as much as you are manifestly declared to be the letter 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. BSB BSB: It is clear that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.
4 AKJV And such trust have we through Christ to God-ward: BSB BSB: Such confidence before God is ours through Christ.
5 AKJV Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God; BSB BSB: Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim that anything comes from us, but our competence comes from God.
6 AKJV Who also has made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter kills, but the spirit gives life. BSB BSB: And He has qualified us as ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.
The Glory of the New Covenant (Exodus 34:10–35)
7 AKJV But if the ministration of death, written and engraved in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not steadfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away: BSB BSB: Now if the ministry of death, which was engraved in letters on stone, came with such glory that the Israelites could not gaze at the face of Moses because of its fleeting glory,
8 AKJV How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious? BSB BSB: will not the ministry of the Spirit be even more glorious?
9 AKJV For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more does the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory. BSB BSB: For if the ministry of condemnation was glorious, how much more glorious is the ministry of righteousness!
10 AKJV For even that which was made glorious had no glory in this respect, by reason of the glory that excels. BSB BSB: Indeed, what was once glorious has no glory now in comparison to the glory that surpasses it.
11 AKJV For if that which is done away was glorious, much more that which remains is glorious. BSB BSB: For if what was fading away came with glory, how much greater is the glory of that which endures!
12 AKJV Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech: BSB BSB: Therefore, since we have such a hope, we are very bold.
13 AKJV And not as Moses, which put a veil over his face, that the children of Israel could not steadfastly look to the end of that which is abolished: BSB BSB: We are not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face to keep the Israelites from gazing at the end of what was fading away.
14 AKJV But their minds were blinded: for until this day remains the same veil not taken away in the reading of the old testament; which veil is done away in Christ. BSB 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.
15 AKJV But even to this day, when Moses is read, the veil is on their heart. BSB BSB: And even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts.
16 AKJV Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the veil shall be taken away. BSB BSB: But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.
17 AKJV Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. BSB BSB: Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.
18 AKJV But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the LORD. BSB BSB: And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into His image with intensifying glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.
Select verses for actions: Enter goes to them and Escape comes back.