1 ARST We are not going to prove to you a second time that we are trustworthy. As you know, you do not need to write or receive a note that proves that we are trustworthy, even though{ you might need to do those things} for other people. 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 ARST It is you all who function like a note{ that proves that we are trustworthy}. When we care for each other, all people realize that we are trustworthy, just as if they read{ a note from you}. BSB BSB: You yourselves are our letter, inscribed on our hearts, known and read by everyone.
3 ARST Everyone knows that you are like a note that the Messiah wrote and that we delivered.{ The Messiah} did not write{ this note} on stone slabs using dye. Rather,{ it is as if he wrote it} inside you by working through the Holy Spirit,{ who is} the only real God. 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 ARST I say those things because we are sure about{ what} God{ thinks of us}.{ We are sure} because the Messiah makes{ us sure}. BSB BSB: Such confidence before God is ours through Christ.
5 ARST Of course, we cannot{ proclaim the good news} well on our own, and we do not think that anything we do well is because of us. Rather, God enables us{ to proclaim the good news} well. BSB BSB: Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim that anything comes from us, but our competence comes from God.
6 ARST He has also enabled us to act on behalf of the new agreement. The Holy Spirit gives{ this new agreement}, so it is not just words that someone wrote down.{ This is important} because{ people who rely on} the Holy Spirit will live, but{ people who rely on} words that someone wrote down will die. 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.
7 ARST Further, when Moses acted on behalf of{ the old agreement that condemned people} to die, God carved the words{ of the agreement} onto stone slabs. What Moses did was glorious enough that the Israelites could not gaze at his face afterwards because it{ reflected how} glorious{ God is}, although that would eventually go 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 ARST So then, when people act on behalf of{ the new agreement that gives} the Holy Spirit, that is even more glorious. BSB BSB: will not the ministry of the Spirit be even more glorious?
9 ARST Indeed, when Moses acted on behalf of{ the old agreement that led to God} condemning people, it was glorious. So then, when people act on behalf of{ the new agreement that leads to people becoming} righteous, it is even more glorious! BSB BSB: For if the ministry of condemnation was glorious, how much more glorious is the ministry of righteousness!
10 ARST In fact, the glorious{ old agreement} does not look glorious at all because of how glorious{ the new agreement} is. BSB BSB: Indeed, what was once glorious has no glory now in comparison to the glory that surpasses it.
11 ARST Indeed,{ the old agreement} that is going away was glorious. So then,{ the new agreement} that will last forever is even more glorious! BSB BSB: For if what was fading away came with glory, how much greater is the glory of that which endures!
12 ARST So then, since we confidently expect{ to receive} these{ glorious} things, we behave very boldly. BSB BSB: Therefore, since we have such a hope, we are very bold.
13 ARST { We are} not like Moses, who wore a cloth that hid his face. That way, the Israelites could not gaze at how his face stopped reflecting how glorious God is. 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 ARST In fact, the Israelites did not understand{ what God revealed}. Indeed, even now, when someone reads{ the Scriptures that contain} the old agreement,{ it is as if} the cloth that Moses wore keeps people from understanding{ it}. That is because no one can understand{ these Scriptures} until God unites them to the Messiah. 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 ARST Indeed, even now, when someone reads the Law of Moses, it is as if that cloth keeps people from understanding it. BSB BSB: And even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts.
16 ARST However, when people begin to trust the Lord{ God}, God enables them to understand{ the Law of Moses}, just as if he removed that cloth. BSB BSB: But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.
17 ARST When I speak of the Lord{ God}, I mean the Holy Spirit. It is the Holy Spirit who enables{ people to understand the Scriptures}. BSB BSB: Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.
18 ARST So, all of us{ who believe} show how glorious the Lord{ God} is, and{ we do so} without a cloth covering our faces. God is changing us so that we are like{ the Messiah}. In this way, the glorious Lord, who is the Holy Spirit, makes us glorious. 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.