Ministers of a New Covenant 1 RV Are we beginning again to commend ourselves? or need we, as do some, epistles of commendation to you or 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 RV Ye are our epistle, 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 RV being made manifest that ye are an epistle of Christ, ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in tables that are hearts of flesh. 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 RV And such confidence have we through Christ to God-ward: BSB BSB: Such confidence before God is ours through Christ.
5 RV not that we are sufficient of ourselves, to account anything as from ourselves; but our sufficiency is from God; BSB BSB: Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim that anything comes from us, but our competence comes from God.
6 RV who also made us sufficient as ministers of a new covenant; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth 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 RV But if the ministration of death, written, and engraven on stones, came with glory, so that the children of Israel could not look stedfastly upon the face of Moses for the glory of his face; which glory was passing 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 RV how shall not rather the ministration of the spirit be with glory? BSB BSB: will not the ministry of the Spirit be even more glorious?
9 RV For if the ministration of condemnation is glory, much rather doth 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 RV For verily that which hath been made glorious hath not been made glorious in this respect, by reason of the glory that surpasseth. BSB BSB: Indeed, what was once glorious has no glory now in comparison to the glory that surpasses it.
11 RV For if that which passeth away was with glory, much more that which remaineth is in glory. BSB BSB: For if what was fading away came with glory, how much greater is the glory of that which endures!
12 RV Having therefore such a hope, we use great boldness of speech, BSB BSB: Therefore, since we have such a hope, we are very bold.
13 RV and are not as Moses, who put a veil upon his face, that the children of Israel should not look stedfastly on the end of that which was passing away: 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 RV but their minds were hardened: for until this very day at the reading of the old covenant the same veil remaineth unlifted; 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 RV But unto this day, whensoever Moses is read, a veil lieth upon their heart. BSB BSB: And even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts.
16 RV But whensoever it shall turn to the Lord, the veil is taken away. BSB BSB: But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.
17 RV Now the Lord is the 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 RV But we all, with unveiled face reflecting as a mirror the glory of the Lord, are transformed into the same image from glory to glory, even as from the Lord the Spirit. 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.
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