2 Corinthians 3:8

Verse

Berean Standard Bible

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

American Standard Version (1901)

how shall not rather the ministration of the spirit be with glory?

Bible in Basic English

Will not the operation of the Spirit have a much greater glory?

Douay-Rheims 1899

How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather in glory?

Free Bible Version

If that was so, shouldn't the new way of relating to God in the Spirit come with even greater glory?

Geneva Bible 1599

Howe shall not the ministration of the Spirite be more glorious?

King James (Authorized) Version

How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious?

Translation for Translators

So, since God showed in such a wonderful way that those laws that condemned the people to die were from him, surely when we (exc) teach people about how God’s Spirit will change their lives, God will show in an even more wonderful way that it is his message. [RHQ]

Unlocked Literal Bible

How much more glorious will be the service that the Spirit does?

Noah Webster Bible

How shall not the ministration of the Spirit be rather glorious?

World English Bible

won’t service of the Spirit be with much more glory?

Young's Literal Translation

how shall the ministration of the Spirit not be more in glory?

Context

The Glory of the New Covenant

⁷Now if the ministry of death, which was engraved in letters on stone, came with such glory that the Israelites could not gaze at the face of Moses because of its fleeting glory,⁸will not the ministry of the Spirit be even more glorious?⁹For if the ministry of condemnation was glorious, how much more glorious is the ministry of righteousness!

Summary

In this verse, the apostle Paul contrasts the glory of the ministry of the Spirit with the ministry of condemnation engraved on stone tablets. He highlights the surpassing glory of the new covenant in Christ, which brings righteousness and life. Paul emphasizes the transformative power of the Holy Spirit in the believer's life, enabling them to live in freedom and grace. This verse underscores the superiority of the gospel over the law, pointing to the life-giving work of the Spirit in the hearts of those who believe.

Commentary

Adam Clarke
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
John Gill

Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

The ministration of the Spirit - The Gospel dispensation, which gives the true spiritual sense of the law. Be rather glorious? - Forasmuch as the thing signified is of infinitely more consequence than that by which it is signified. The Thing bread will preserve a man alive; the Word bread can give life to nothing.

John Gill Bible Commentary

How shall not the ministration of the Spirit,.... By "the ministration of the Spirit", is meant the Gospel; so called not only because it ministers spiritual things, as peace, pardon, righteousness and salvation, spiritual joy and comfort, and even spiritual life; but because it ministers the Spirit of God himself, by whom it is not only dictated, and by him at first confirmed, and who qualities persons for the preaching of it; but by it he conveys himself into the hearts of men, and makes it powerful for illumination, consolation, edification, and an increase of every grace; and therefore must be rather glorious, or much more glorious than the law, the ministration of death. How shall not the ministration of the Spirit,.... By "the ministration of the Spirit", is meant the Gospel; so called not only because it ministers spiritual things, as peace, pardon, righteousness and salvation, spiritual joy and comfort, and even spiritual life; but because it ministers the Spirit of God himself, by whom it is not only dictated, and by him at first confirmed, and who qualities persons for the preaching of it; but by it he conveys himself into the hearts of men, and makes it powerful for illumination, consolation, edification, and an increase of every grace; and therefore must be rather glorious, or much more glorious than the law, the ministration of death. 2 Corinthians 3:9 co2 3:9 co2 3:9 co2 3:9For if the ministration of condemnation be glory,.... So the Jews call the law, for they say, , "there is no glory but the law" (f); this is another head of opposition or difference between the law and the Gospel, from whence the superior glory of the one to the other is argued. The law is "the ministration of condemnation"; as sin is a transgression of the law, it accuses for it, convinces of it, pronounces guilty, and adjudges to death on account of it; which is the condemnation it ministers; and this it does to all Adam's posterity, and for his sin too; and to all the actual transgressors of it, to all unbelievers, to all that are under it; even to God's elect themselves, as considered in Adam, and in themselves as transgressors; and this it ministers to their consciences when convicted, though it is never executed on them, because of the suretyship engagement and performances of Christ. The Gospel is the ministration of righteousness; not of a legal one, or a man's own, but of the righteousness of Christ, by which the law is honoured, justice is satisfied, and God's elect justified from all sin and condemnation; this being perfect, pure, and spotless, and for ever: the Gospel is "the ministration" of it, as it is a means of stripping a man of his own righteousness, of revealing Christ's to him, and of working faith in him, and encouraging him to lay hold upon it for himself; and thus it is not to righteous persons, but sinners, to all believers, to all the second Adam's posterity; now as much more as righteousness exceeds condemnation, and a justified state a condemned one, so "much more" does the Gospel exceed the law in glory. (f) Raya Mehimna in Zohar in Lev. fol. 33. 4.