Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)

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.