II Corinthians Chapter 3 1~~Do we begin again to commend ourselves?   {Must I come back as a stranger needing a letter of   commendation from a friend of yours?} Or do we need . . . as some others . . . epistles of commendation to you? Or, do we need letters of commendation from you? {Note: Sanctified sarcasm here. In Paul's day, the hotels were not very good. When you traveled you tried to find a friend who knew someone where you were going. You would then get a 'letter of commendation' from that friend asking for their friend to please treat you (a stranger) with the hospitality you would extend to their friend. This was very common. Actually, Paul knew the Corinthians very well. Yet they were maligning him and saying he would not be welcome back in Corinth. Here Paul uses the word 'archomai' which is used for strangers to begin a new relationship . . . and then he adds 'again'. Next, there were many false teachers that came to Corinth with letters of commendation . . . SOME came with forged letters even using Paul's name and they were welcomed. But Paul, himself, with the true doctrine is not welcome?? Paul then ends with the ultimate sarcasm, should I get a letter of commendation FROM you to introduce ME to YOU as recommended BY YOU!! Real sarcasm.} 2-3~~You all keep on being our epistle/'letter of commendation' . . . written in our hearts . . . constantly receiving knowledge   {from the experience of observation} and being intensely studied by all mankind . . . 3~~ because you keep on being an epistle from the source of Christ . . . doctrinally inculcated under the authority of us . . . written, in the past with results that continue forever, not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God . . . not in tables of stone, but in the fleshy tables of the soul {heart}. 4~~And such confidence we keep on having through Christ face to face with God. {Note: Paul's confidence is not with the Corinthians, but with God's plan. If you are a believer and are still alive, God still has a purpose for your life.} 5~~Not that from the ultimate source of ourselves are we sufficient, but our sufficiency is from the ultimate source of God. 6~~Who {God} also has made us able ministers of the New Testament . . . not from the letter {Mosaic Law}, but from the Spirit   {the unveiled Glory of God} . . . for the letter killed   {Mosaic Law 'teachs' we are dead without a savior}, but the Spirit gives life. {Note: The Mosaic Law proved that we are all sinners. If you break one law (even in thought), then you break them all. The wages of sin is death - spiritual death. Christ was your substitute on the cross and was judged for your sins. Now we are in union with Christ. We are filled with the Holy Spirit at the point of salvation. We now share Christ's eternal life. The Glory of God is revealed in us in the Church Age.} {The Fading Glory of the Mosaic Law - and then the unfading glory of the Filling of the HS}  7-8~~For if the 'ministry of death/condemnation'   {The Mosaic Law - it tells us we are spiritually dead} . . . written and engraven in stones to our advantage . . . became glorious - and it did -   {at that point in time only - the glory fades}, with the result that the children of Israel were not able to keep on staring into the face of Moses   {only could glance} because of the glory of his {Moses'} face . . . which glory faded away . . . 8~~ how shall not the ministry of the Spirit keep on being in the sphere of more glory?   {meaning in the Church Age} {Note: All believers in the Church Age that are filled with the Spirit have an internal glory that exceeds the glory of the Mosaic Law. Similarly, the glory of the mature believer filled with the Holy Spirit exceeds the glory of Satan and this irritates him! He is a creature of great glory per Ezekiel 28: 11-15 (which is discussing Satan who is behind the King of Tyrus).} 9~~For if the ministry of condemnation {Mosaic Law} be glory - and it is - much more does the ministry of righteousness exceed in glory!   {to have an over abundance of glory} {Note: The Mosaic Law is from God and has glory . . . but it no way compares to the Glory of the Filling of the Holy Spirit.} 10~~For even that which was made glorious   {the Mosaic Law} had no glory in this respect . . . by reason of the glory that exceeds beyond excess. 11~~For if that which is unemployed/abrogated through glory - and it was -   {Mosaic Law has glory but its glory is small in comparison}, much more that which keeps on abiding in the sphere of glory.   {God the Holy Spirit in the believer} {Note: The glory of the Mosaic Law continues particularly with unbelievers. It is abrogated for Christians because it is like looking at the shinning of a match placed in front of the shinning face of a huge skylight. The skylight in the analogy is the shinning glory of the filling of the Holy Spirit.} {Removal of the two veils - verses 12-18} 12~~Therefore   {conclusion of verses 1-11} keep on having such hope/'absolute confidence' . . . we employ great boldness of speech.   {from the immediate source of oneself - with confidence} 13~~And not as Moses, who put a veil over his face   {1st veil - a literal one}, for the purpose that the children of Israel could not steadfastly look to the end of that which is abolished.   {then the transient glory could not be seen with the veil down} 14~~ But their thoughts were hardened   {addressed to the Jews, negative volition of Israel - scar tissue on   the soul} . . . for until this very day at the reading of the Old Testament the same veil remains not lifted . . . which veil is removed by faith in Christ. 15~~But even to this day, when Moses   {used as a synonym for the Old Testament} is read, the veil is upon their right lobe of the brain. 16~~But when, if he shall be converted face to face with the Lord - maybe he will maybe he won't {3rd class condition} - the veil shall always receive lifting up and throwing back. 17~~Now the Lord keeps on being that Spirit   {God the Holy Spirit} . . . and where that Spirit of the Lord is . . . there is freedom. 18~~ But we all   {all believers}, with an unveiled face beholding as in a mirror   {a mirror often describes the Scriptures - to see what we look like   on the inside} namely the glory of the Lord   {referring to 'occupation with Christ'}, and we are totally changed into the same image from the ultimate source of glory   {bible doctrine resident in the soul} with a direction toward the ultimate objective of glory   {the Glory of God is outputted} . . . even as from the ultimate source of the Spirit of the Lord. ************************************************** Joshua_Sozo™ and Syndein ™ are the Trademarks of Syndein a California DBA of Kenneth Sidley & Associates, Inc., a California Corporation. 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