2 Corinthians 3-5

English Standard Version

Ministers of the New Covenant

3 ^(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? ^2 (D)You yourselves are our letter of recommendation, written on our^[a] hearts, to be known and read by all. ³ 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]

^4 (I)Such is the confidence that we have through Christ toward God. ^5 (J)Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but ^(K)our sufficiency is from God, ⁶ 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.

⁷ 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, ⁸ will not the ministry of the Spirit have even more glory? ⁹ 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.

The Light of the Gospel

4 Therefore, having ^(AH)this ministry ^(AI)by the mercy of God,^[g] we do not lose heart. ² But we have renounced ^(AJ)disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice^[h] cunning or ^(AK)to tamper with God's word, but ^(AL)by the open statement of the truth ^(AM)we would commend ourselves to everyone's conscience in the sight of God. ³ And even ^(AN)if our gospel is veiled, ^(AO)it is veiled to ^(AP)those who are perishing. ⁴ In their case ^(AQ)the god of this world ^(AR)has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing ^(AS)the light of ^(AT)the gospel of the glory of Christ, ^(AU)who is the image of God. ⁵ For what ^(AV)we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ^(AW)ourselves as your servants^[i] for Jesus' sake. ⁶ For God, who said, ^(AX)“Let light shine out of darkness,” ^(AY)has shone in our hearts to give ^(AZ)the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

Treasure in Jars of Clay

⁷ But we have this treasure in ^(BA)jars of clay, ^(BB)to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. ⁸ We are ^(BC)afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; ⁹ persecuted, but ^(BD)not forsaken; ^(BE)struck down, but not destroyed; ^10 (BF)always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, ^(BG)so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. ¹¹ For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. ¹² So ^(BH)death is at work in us, but life in you.

¹³ Since we have ^(BI)the same spirit of faith according to what has been written, ^(BJ)“I believed, and so I spoke,” we also believe, and so we also speak, ¹⁴ knowing that ^(BK)he who raised the Lord Jesus ^(BL)will raise us also with Jesus and ^(BM)bring us with you into his presence. ¹⁵ For ^(BN)it is all for your sake, so that as ^(BO)grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, ^(BP)to the glory of God.

¹⁶ So we do not lose heart. ^(BQ)Though our outer self^[j] is wasting away, ^(BR)our inner self ^(BS)is being renewed day by day. ¹⁷ For ^(BT)this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, ^18 (BU)as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.

Our Heavenly Dwelling

5 For we know that if ^(BV)the tent that is ^(BW)our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, ^(BX)a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. ² For in this tent ^(BY)we groan, longing to ^(BZ)put on our heavenly dwelling, ³ if indeed by putting it on^[k] we may not be found naked. ⁴ For while we are still in this tent, we groan, being burdened—not that we would be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed, so that what is mortal ^(CA)may be swallowed up by life. ⁵ He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, ^(CB)who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.

⁶ So we are always of good courage. We know that ^(CC)while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, ⁷ for ^(CD)we walk by faith, not ^(CE)by sight. ⁸ Yes, we are of good courage, and we ^(CF)would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. ⁹ So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to ^(CG)please him. ¹⁰ For ^(CH)we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, ^(CI)so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.

The Ministry of Reconciliation

¹¹ Therefore, knowing ^(CJ)the fear of the Lord, we persuade others. But ^(CK)what we are is known to God, and I hope it is known also to your conscience. ^12 (CL)We are not commending ourselves to you again but ^(CM)giving you cause to boast about us, so that you may be able to answer those who boast about outward appearance and not about what is in the heart. ¹³ For if we ^(CN)are beside ourselves, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. ¹⁴ For the love of Christ ^(CO)controls us, because we have concluded this: that ^(CP)one has died for all, therefore all have died; ¹⁵ and he died for all, ^(CQ)that those who live might no longer live for themselves but ^(CR)for him who for their sake died and was raised.

¹⁶ From now on, therefore, ^(CS)we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. ¹⁷ Therefore, if anyone is ^(CT)in Christ, he is ^(CU)a new creation.^{[l] (CV)}The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. ¹⁸ All this is from God, ^(CW)who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us ^(CX)the ministry of reconciliation; ¹⁹ that is, in Christ God was reconciling^[m] the world to himself, ^(CY)not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us ^(CZ)the message of reconciliation. ²⁰ Therefore, ^(DA)we are ambassadors for Christ, ^(DB)God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. ^21 (DC)For our sake he made him to be sin ^(DD)who knew no sin, so that in him we might become ^(DE)the righteousness of God.