2 Corinthians 3

2 Corinthians 3:2

Y are our epistle] As elswhere he calleth them the Seal of his Apostleship, so here his commendatorie Epistle, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, the profiting of the Scholar is a commendation of his teacher. What need then the Apostle commendatory letters to the Corinthians, who themselves are his commendatory letters to all Churches, by their great growth in grace, and knowledge of Jesus Christ?

2 Corinthians 3:3

are manifestly] Gr. being manifestly.

to be the epistle] Gr. that ye are the epistle.

written not with ink, but with the Spirit] The table were not written with ink, but with the finger of God. In this part therefore of the verse, he opposeth not the pistle of Christ to the writing in the Tables of stone, but to ordinary letters which are written with ink.

not in tables of stone] He alludeth by the way to the comparison of the outward ministery of the priesthood of Levi with the ministery of the Gospel, which he handleth afterwards more at large.

2 Corinthians 3:4

And such trust] This boldnesse we shew, and thus deservedly may we boast of the furit and worthinesse of our ministery.

2 Corinthians 3:5

to think any thing] Or, to reason, or, conclude. Romans 3:28. Any thing which belongeth to the way of pietie and true worship of God, as S. Austine expoundeth, Libro de dono Persev. c. 13. or as the Greek Scholiast expoundeth. We are not sufficient of our selves, so much as to apprehend and conceive the worth of the ministery of the Gospel; much lesse to found the bottom of the deep mysteries of salvation: Without me, saith Christ, John 15. 5. ye can do nothing: So far are we from doing any good work of our selves, that we cannot think a good thought.

but our sufficiency is of God] In that we are fit and meet to make other men partakers of so great a grace.

2 Corinthians 3:6

made us able ministers] Or, sit, or, meet. He amplifeth his ministery, that is, the ministery of the Gospel, comparing it with the ministery of the law; which he considereth in the person of Moses, by whom the law was given, against whom he setteth Christ the Author of the Gospell. Now the comparison is taken from the very substance of the ministery. The Law, is, as it were, a writing of it self dead and without efficacie, but the Gospell a new covenant, as it were the very virute of God, in renewing, justifying and saving of men. The Law propoundeth death, accusing all men of unrighteousnesse; the Gospell offereth and giveth righteousnesse and life. the governance of the Law served for a time, the Gospell remaineth to the end of the world; and therefore what is the glory of that in comparison of the Majestie of this?

not of the letter] That is, which doth not onely consist in words and writing, without imparting any inward and spirituall virtue to effect and work the same in men, which it doth represent to them; but hath really joyned with it the virtue of the Holy Spirit, working in the heart, and there ratifying and lively imprinting what the same propounds and promiseth.

the letter killeth] Though the Law shewed the way to life, yet the letter thereof is said here to kill, because it doth not communicate ability to corrupt man to keep the same, nor makes any promise to forgive the sinne to him that trespasseth, but curseth every one that abideth not in all things which are written in the law: convincing us of our transgression, and consequently of our guilt of death, which is threatned to the transgressours; for which cause it is also called. The ministery of condemnation.

but the spirit giveth life] Or, quickeneth.] The Gospell doth not onely shew the way to life and salvation by faith in Jesus Christ, but is likewise accompanied with the power of the Holy Spirit, whereby faith is worught and kept in the Elect, and they themselves are raised up from the death of sin, and quickned to the life of holinesse.

2 Corinthians 3:7

ministration] Or, ministerie.

written] Gr. in letters.

glorious] Gr. in glory.

for the glory of his countenance] The word glory, betokeneth a brightnesse, which was bodily in Moso, but is spiritually in Christ.

2 Corinthians 3:8

the ministration of the Spirit] Or, ministerie. That is, of the Gospell, whereby God offereth, yea, and giveth his Spirit, not as a dead thing, but as a quickening Spirit, working life.

glorious] Gr. in glory.

2 Corinthians 3:9

ministration] Or, ministerie.

ministration of righteousnesse] Or, ministerie. Viz. of Christ, which being imputed to us as our own, we are not onely not condemned, but also we are crowned as righteous.

2 Corinthians 3:10

had no glory in this respect] That is, had not glory comparatively; as silver is not precious in comparison of gold, nor precious stones bright in comparison of the Starres, nor the light of the Moon in comparison of the Sunne. As, saith Oecumenius, the light of a Candle seemeth most bright in the night, but in the mid-day is so obscrued that it deserveth not the name of a light; so is the light of the Law obscured in such sort by the light of the Gospell, that it seems to have no light or glory at all.

respect] Gr. part.

2 Corinthians 3:11

was glorious] Gr. by glory.

is glorious] Gr. is in glory.

2 Corinthians 3:12

plainnesse] Or, boldnesse, or freedom.

2 Corinthians 3:13

And or as Moses, &c.] See Exodus 34:33. He expoundeth by the way the allegory of Moses his covering, which was a token of the darknesse and weaknesse that is in men, whose eyes were rather dazled by the bright shining of the Law then lightened: which covering was taken away by the coming of Christ, who lighteneth the hearts, and turneth them to the Lord, that we may be brought from the slavery of this blindnesse, and set in the liberty of the light, by the virtue of Christs spirit.

to the end of that which is abolished Gr. Tec.the face, or fight. Could not see the mark and main scope of Moses, or dive into the bottom of his ministery.

2 Corinthians 3:14

But their mindes were blinded] This is an answer to a secret Objection, whence it comes that the people of Israel do not now beleeve the manifestation of the end of the Law, made by the Gospel: Why do they see nothing in the Gospel, which is so clear? The Apostle answereth, that there is a Vail hanging over, not the Gospl, but their hearts, by a malicious and wilfull obdutation, John 9. 39. Rom. 11. 7, 25. As if he should say, The light shines indeed, but those that should behold it shut their eye-lids against it.

which vaile is done away in Christ] The Vaile is taken away by the knowledge and Spirit of Christ, and when they shall be converted unto Christ, they shall like us be brought to the right understanding of the Law, and be fully convinced in their hearts, that the Law was given to no such end, but that they must seek the righteousnesse by faith in Christ, without themselves, Romans 10:4. Galatians 3:24.

2 Corinthians 3:15

is upon] Gr. lyeth upon.

2 Corinthians 3:17

Now the Lord is that spirit] Or, But. Christ is that Spirit which taketh away that covering, by his working in our hearts, whereutno also the Law it self called us, though in vain, because it speaketh to dead men till the Spirit quicken us.

where] Gr. Tec. to whom.

there is libertie] From the yoke and burden of the Ceremoniall, and curse also of the morall.

2 Corinthians 3:18

But we all with open face, &c.] Gr. uncovered. Going forwards in the allegory of the covering, he compareth the Gospel to a Glasse, which though it be most bright and radiant, yet it doth not onely not dazle their eyes that look on it, as the law did, but also transofrmeth them with its beams, so that they be also partakers of the glory and shining of it to lighten others; as Christ said to his Disciples, Ye are the light of the world, Matthew 5:14.

are changed into the same image] As, saith Occumenius, Silver set against the Sunne, by the beames thereof cast upon it, becomes it self radiant; so we being enlightned by the Spirit, castlight upon others. Now that in stead of the Vail of those Mosaicall figures, God hath given to his Church the clear glasse of his Gospel, all the faithfull do freely behold there by faith the glorious light of his mercy, truth, and the rest of his divine attributes; and by means thereof they are made like unto him in the glory of holinesse, and in newnesse of life. Moses put away the Vail that hung over his face, when he appeared before the Lord, and by this beholding of God had his face lightened, and shining with beams; so have we now a free accesse unto God by the Gospell, which is not as a dark Vail, but a pure resplendent glasse wherein the glorious countenance of God is seen by us, and we are thereby renewed, and as it were glorified in our mindes according to the same image of God.

from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord] Or, of the Lord the Spirit. By the Spirit of the Lord, or by the Lord the Spirti, by the Spirit who is the Lord; that is, one of the same being and substance with the Father and the Son. This Spirit worketh in us by degrees, and this work of his is still in progresse here in this life, untill we attain to the perfection of the life to come; and as we grow from grace to grace, by this spirit of sanctification in us, so also from glory to glory, till we be perfectly renewed, according to the image of God, in holinesse and righteousnesse.