2 Corinthians 332 CorinthiansPaul's ministry explainedLiteral Standard Version

Literal Standard VersionBerean Standard Bible

1. Ministers of a New Covenant

2. 1LSVDo we begin again to recommend ourselves, except we need, as some, letters of recommendation to you, or from you?BSBBSB: Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, like some people, letters of recommendation to you or from you?
3. 2LSVYou are our letter, having been written in our hearts, known and read by all men,BSBBSB: You yourselves are our letter, inscribed on our hearts, known and read by everyone.
4. 3LSVrevealed that you are a letter of Christ ministered by us, not written with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God, not in the tablets of stone, but in fleshy tablets of the heart,BSBBSB: 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.
5. 4LSVand such trust we have through the Christ toward God,BSBBSB: Such confidence before God is ours through Christ.
6. 5LSVnot that we are sufficient of ourselves to think anything, as of ourselves, but our sufficiency is of God,BSBBSB: Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim that anything comes from us, but our competence comes from God.
7. 6LSVwho also made us sufficient to be servants of the New Covenant, not of letter, but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, and the Spirit makes alive.BSBBSB: 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.

8. The Glory of the New Covenant

   (Exodus 34:10–35)

9. 7LSVAnd if the ministry of death, in letters, engraved in stones, came in glory, so that the sons of Israel were not able to look steadfastly into the face of Moses, because of the glory of his face—which was being made useless,BSBBSB: 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,
10. 8LSVhow will the ministry of the Spirit not be more in glory?BSBBSB: will not the ministry of the Spirit be even more glorious?
11. 9LSVFor if the ministry of the condemnation is glory, much more does the ministry of righteousness abound in glory;BSBBSB: For if the ministry of condemnation was glorious, how much more glorious is the ministry of righteousness!
12. 10LSVfor also even that which has been glorious, has not been glorious—in this respect, because of the superior glory;BSBBSB: Indeed, what was once glorious has no glory now in comparison to the glory that surpasses it.
13. 11LSVfor if that which is being made useless is through glory, much more that which is remaining is in glory.BSBBSB: For if what was fading away came with glory, how much greater is the glory of that which endures!
14. 12LSVHaving, then, such hope, we use much freedom of speech,BSBBSB: Therefore, since we have such a hope, we are very bold.
15. 13LSVand are not as Moses, who was putting a veil on his own face, for the sons of Israel not to look steadfastly into the end of that which is being made useless,BSBBSB: 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.
16. 14LSVbut their minds were hardened, for to this day the same veil at the reading of the Old Covenant remains unwithdrawn—which in Christ is being made useless—BSBBSB: 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.
17. 15LSVbut until today, when Moses is read, a veil lies on their heart,BSBBSB: And even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts.
18. 16LSVand whenever they may turn to the LORD, the veil is taken away.BSBBSB: But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.
19. 17LSVAnd the LORD is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the LORD is, there is liberty;BSBBSB: Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.
20. 18LSVand we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the LORD in a mirror, are being transformed into the same image, from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the LORD.BSBBSB: 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.