From Glory to Glory: 2 Corinthians 3:7-18

Now if the ministry that brought death, which was engraved in letters on stone, came with glory, so that the Israelites could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of its glory, transitory though it was.

The comparison began. The ministry that brought death. Diakonia tou thanatou. The law. Engraved in letters on stone. The tablets of Sinai.

Came with glory. Moses descended the mountain, face shining. The glory was real.

So that the Israelites could not look steadily at the face of Moses. The radiance was too bright. They couldn't gaze. Because of its glory. The Sinai glory.

Transitory though it was. Katargoumenēn. Being abolished. Fading. Temporary.

Will not the ministry of the Spirit be even more glorious?

The argument from lesser to greater. If the old covenant—which brought death, which was fading—was glorious, how much more the new covenant? The ministry of the Spirit. Diakonia tou pneumatos.

If the ministry that brought condemnation was glorious, how much more glorious is the ministry that brings righteousness!

Ministry that brought condemnation. Katakriseos. The law condemned. Exposed sin. Pronounced guilt.

Ministry that brings righteousness. Dikaiosunēs. The gospel justified. Declared righteous. Brought life.

How much more glorious. The comparison couldn't be close.

For what was glorious has no glory now in comparison with the surpassing glory.

What was glorious. The old covenant. Has no glory now. The comparison erased it. In comparison with the surpassing glory. Huperballousa doxa. Surpassing, exceeding, overwhelming glory.

The old glory wasn't false. But it was eclipsed. The sun rose and the candle became invisible.

And if what was transitory came with glory, how much greater is the glory of what lasts!

The final comparison. Transitory—through glory. Permanent—how much more glory! The lasting exceeds the fading.

Therefore, since we have such a hope, we are very bold.

The confidence. Such a hope. Elpida. We are very bold. Parrēsia—openness, confidence, freedom of speech. The new covenant minister could speak without hesitation.

We are not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face to prevent the Israelites from seeing the end of what was passing away.

Not like Moses. The contrast. Veil over his face. Kalumma. To prevent seeing. The end of what was passing away. The fading glory. Moses hid the diminishment.

But their minds were made dull, for to this day the same veil remains when the old covenant is read. It has not been removed, because only in Christ is it taken away.

Their minds were made dull. Epōrōthē—hardened, petrified. To this day. Paul's day. The same veil remains. When the old covenant is read. In the synagogue. The Torah portion. The veil persisted.

Only in Christ is it taken away. En Christō. In Christ the veil was lifted. Apart from Christ—the veil remained.

Even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts.

The veil moved inward. Not on Moses' face but on their hearts. Kardia. When Moses is read. The Torah proclaimed. A veil covers their hearts. The obstruction internalized.

But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.

The solution. Whenever anyone turns. Epistraphē—converts, turns around. To the Lord. The veil is taken away. Periaireitai. Removed. The turning brought the removing.

Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.

The Lord is the Spirit. The identification. Where the Spirit of the Lord is. The presence. There is freedom. Eleutheria. Liberation from the veil. Liberation from condemnation. Freedom.

And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

We all. Hēmeis pantes. All believers. With unveiled faces. Anakekalummenō prosōpō. The veil removed. Free to gaze.

Contemplate the Lord's glory. Katoptrizomenoi—beholding as in a mirror. The glory of Christ.

Are being transformed. Metamorphoumetha—present passive. Continuously changed. Into his image. Eikona. Christ's likeness.

With ever-increasing glory. Apo doxēs eis doxan. From glory to glory. Incremental. Progressive. Ongoing.

Which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. The agent of transformation. The Spirit. Working the change.

The old covenant: glory, but fading. Veiled. Condemning.

The new covenant: glory surpassing. Unveiled. Justifying.

And we—beholding, being transformed.

From glory to glory.

The veil removed.

Freedom given.

Face unveiled.

Gazing on Christ.

Becoming like him.

Glory to glory.

Until the image was complete.