Read the New Testament in 24 Weeks

Paul praises the preaching of the gospel above the preaching of the law.

3 We begin to praise ourselves again. Do we, like some others, need letters of recommendation to you? or letters of recommendation from you? ² You are our letter written in our hearts, which is understood and read by all people, ³ in that it is known that you are the epistle of Christ through our work – and written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God, and not in tablets of stone, but in fleshly tablets of the heart.

⁴ Such confidence we have through Christ in God. ⁵ It is not that we are competent in and of ourselves, so as to think a good thought, as it were, by ourselves. But our ability comes from God, ⁶ who has made us able to minister the new testament – not of the letter, but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

⁷ If the ministration of death through the letters figured in stones was so glorious that the children of Israel could not behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance (which glory nevertheless is done away with), ⁸ why shall not the ministration of the Spirit be much more glorious? ⁹ For if the ministering of condemnation is glorious, much more does the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory. ¹⁰ For without doubt, that which was there glorified is not once glorified in relation to this surpassing glory. ¹¹ So then, if that which is destroyed was glorious, much more will that which remains be glorious.

¹² Seeing then that we have such confidence, we speak boldly, ¹³ and do not do as Moses, who put a veil over his face so that the children of Israel could not see the purpose served by that which is abolished. ¹⁴ But their minds were blinded. For until this day, the same covering remains unremoved in the old testament when they read it, which in Christ is put away. ¹⁵ But even to this day, when Moses is read, the veil hangs before their hearts. ¹⁶ Nevertheless, when they turn to the Lord, the veil shall be taken away.

¹⁷ The Lord no doubt is a Spirit. And where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. ¹⁸ And we all behold the glory of the Lord with his face revealed, and are changed into his likeness from glory to glory, even by the Spirit of the Lord.

A true preacher is diligent. He does not corrupt the word of God. He does not preach himself, but seeks the honour of Christ – yea though it be at the risk of his life.

4 Therefore, seeing that we have such an office, even as mercy has come on us, we faint not, ² but have cast from us the cloaks of dishonesty, and do not walk in craftiness. Neither do we corrupt the word of God, but walk in open truth, and appeal to every man’s conscience in the sight of God. ³ If our gospel be yet hid, it is hid among those who are lost, ⁴ in whom the god of this world has blinded the minds of those who do not believe, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

⁵ For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus to be the Lord, and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake. ⁶ For it is God who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, which has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

⁷ But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing power of it may be seen to be of God, and not of us. ⁸ We are troubled on every side, yet we are not without means. We are in poverty, but not utterly bereft. ⁹ We are persecuted, but are not forsaken. We are cast down, nevertheless we do not perish. ¹⁰ And we always bear in our bodies the dying of the Lord Jesus so that the life of Jesus may appear in our bodies. ¹¹ For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life also of Jesus may appear in our mortal flesh. ¹² So then, death works in us, and life in you.

¹³ Seeing, then, that we have the same spirit of faith as is written of – I believed, and therefore I have spoken – we also believe, and therefore speak. ¹⁴ For we know that he who raised up the Lord Jesus will raise us up also by the means of Jesus, and will set us with you. ¹⁵ For I do all things for your sakes, so that the abundant grace, through thanks given by many, may redound to the glory of God.

¹⁶ And so we are not wearied, but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. ¹⁷ For our exceeding tribulation, which is momentary and light, prepares an exceeding and an eternal weight of glory for us, ¹⁸ while we look not on the things that are seen, but on the things which are not seen. For the things that are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen, are eternal.