Ministers of the New Covenant

(A)Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, (B)as some do, (C)letters of recommendation to you, or from you? (D)You yourselves are our letter of recommendation, written on our[a] hearts, to be known and read by all. And you show that you are a letter from Christ delivered by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of (E)the living God, not on (F)tablets of stone but on (G)tablets of (H)human hearts.[b]

(I)Such is the confidence that we have through Christ toward God. (J)Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but (K)our sufficiency is from God, who has made us sufficient to be (L)ministers of (M)a new covenant, not of (N)the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but (O)the Spirit gives life.

Now if (P)the ministry of death, carved in letters on stone, came with such glory (Q)that the Israelites could not gaze at Moses' face because of its glory, which was being brought to an end, will not the ministry of the Spirit have even more glory? For if there was glory in (R)the ministry of condemnation, (S)the ministry of righteousness must far exceed it in glory. 10 Indeed, in this case, what once had glory has come to have no glory at all, because of the glory that surpasses it. 11 For if what was being brought to an end came with glory, much more will what is permanent have glory.

12 Since we have such a hope, (T)we are very bold, 13 not like Moses, (U)who would put a veil over his face so that the Israelites might not gaze at the outcome of what was being brought to an end. 14 But (V)their minds were (W)hardened. For to this day, (X)when they read (Y)the old covenant, that same veil remains unlifted, because only through Christ is it taken away. 15 Yes, to this day whenever Moses is read a veil lies over their hearts. 16 But when (Z)one[c] turns to the Lord, (AA)the veil is removed. 17 Now the Lord[d] is the Spirit, and where (AB)the Spirit of the Lord is, there is (AC)freedom. 18 And we all, with unveiled face, (AD)beholding (AE)the glory of the Lord,[e] (AF)are being transformed into the same image (AG)from one degree of glory to another.[f] For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.

Footnotes

  1. 2 Corinthians 3:2 Some manuscripts your
  2. 2 Corinthians 3:3 Greek fleshly hearts
  3. 2 Corinthians 3:16 Greek he
  4. 2 Corinthians 3:17 Or this Lord
  5. 2 Corinthians 3:18 Or reflecting the glory of the Lord
  6. 2 Corinthians 3:18 Greek from glory to glory

Servidores de una nueva alianza

Cuando decimos esto, ¿les parece que estamos comenzando otra vez a alabarnos a nosotros mismos? ¿O acaso tendremos que presentarles o pedirles a ustedes cartas de recomendación, como hacen algunos? Ustedes mismos son la única carta de recomendación que necesitamos: una carta escrita en nuestro corazón, la cual todos conocen y pueden leer. Y se ve claramente que ustedes son una carta escrita por Cristo mismo y entregada por nosotros; una carta que no ha sido escrita con tinta, sino con el Espíritu del Dios viviente; una carta que no ha sido grabada en tablas de piedra, sino en corazones humanos.

Confiados en Dios por medio de Cristo, estamos seguros de esto. No es que nosotros mismos estemos capacitados para considerar algo como nuestro; al contrario, todo lo que podemos hacer viene de Dios, pues él nos ha capacitado para ser servidores de una nueva alianza, basada no en una ley, sino en la acción del Espíritu. La ley condena a muerte, pero el Espíritu de Dios da vida.

Si la promulgación de una ley que llevaba a la muerte y que estaba grabada sobre tablas de piedra se hizo con tanta gloria que los israelitas ni siquiera podían mirar la cara de Moisés, debido a que ese resplandor destinado a desaparecer era tan grande, ¡cuánta más será la gloria del anuncio de una nueva alianza fundada en el Espíritu! Es decir, que si fue tan gloriosa la promulgación de una ley que sirvió para condenarnos, ¡cuánto más glorioso será el anuncio de que Dios nos hace justos! 10 Porque la gloria anterior ya no es nada en comparación con esto, que es mucho más glorioso. 11 Y si fue glorioso lo que había de terminar por desaparecer, mucho más glorioso será lo que permanece para siempre.

12 Precisamente porque tenemos esta esperanza, hablamos con toda libertad. 13 No hacemos como Moisés, que se tapaba la cara con un velo para que los israelitas no vieran el fin de aquello que estaba destinado a desaparecer. 14 Pero ellos se negaron a entender esto, y todavía ahora, cuando leen la antigua alianza, ese mismo velo les impide entender, pues no les ha sido quitado, porque solamente se quita por medio de Cristo. 15 Hasta el día de hoy, cuando leen los libros de Moisés, un velo cubre su entendimiento. 16 Pero cuando una persona se vuelve al Señor, el velo se le quita. 17 Porque el Señor es el Espíritu; y donde está el Espíritu del Señor, allí hay libertad. 18 Por eso, todos nosotros, ya sin el velo que nos cubría la cara, somos como un espejo que refleja la gloria del Señor, y vamos transformándonos en su imagen misma, porque cada vez tenemos más de su gloria, y esto por la acción del Señor, que es el Espíritu.

Are we beginning to commend ourselves(A) again? Or do we need, like some people, letters of recommendation(B) to you or from you? You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everyone.(C) You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God,(D) not on tablets of stone(E) but on tablets of human hearts.(F)

Such confidence(G) we have through Christ before God. Not that we are competent in ourselves(H) to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God.(I) He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant(J)—not of the letter(K) but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.(L)

The Greater Glory of the New Covenant

Now if the ministry that brought death,(M) 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,(N) transitory though it was, will not the ministry of the Spirit be even more glorious? If the ministry that brought condemnation(O) was glorious, how much more glorious is the ministry that brings righteousness!(P) 10 For what was glorious has no glory now in comparison with the surpassing glory. 11 And if what was transitory came with glory, how much greater is the glory of that which lasts!

12 Therefore, since we have such a hope,(Q) we are very bold.(R) 13 We are not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face(S) to prevent the Israelites from seeing the end of what was passing away. 14 But their minds were made dull,(T) for to this day the same veil remains when the old covenant(U) is read.(V) It has not been removed, because only in Christ is it taken away. 15 Even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts. 16 But whenever anyone turns to the Lord,(W) the veil is taken away.(X) 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit,(Y) and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.(Z) 18 And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate[a](AA) the Lord’s glory,(AB) are being transformed into his image(AC) with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

Footnotes

  1. 2 Corinthians 3:18 Or reflect