Epiphany Season · Eighth Sunday after the Epiphany · Year B
2 Corinthians 3:1-6
Ministers of the New Covenant
February 28, 2027
Overview & Insights
“You are a letter from Christ... written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God.” (2 Corinthians 3:3)
For Paul, Satan is a conquered, yet still dangerous, foe. Although “the God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet” (Rom. 16:20), Satan is still “the god of this age,” who blinds the minds of unbelievers from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ (2 Cor. 4:4), and he is “the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient” (Eph. 2:2). There can be no fellowship between the realm of Belial and unbelievers, on the one hand, and the realm of Christ and believers, on the other; for they are as mutually exclusive as darkness and light (2 Cor. 6:14–16). Nevertheless, Satan tries to thwart believers at every point, either by leading them astray to “another gospel” (11:3–4) or by tempting them (1 Thess. 3:5; 1 Cor. 7:5). Likewise, Satan tries to thwart the apostle, whether by afflicting him (2 Cor.
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Commentary
Classic commentaries on 2 Corinthians 3 BibleHub
Classic commentaries explaining the letter 'written on hearts' and being ministers of a new covenant.
2 Corinthians 3 verse by verse Precept Austin
In-depth word studies and cross-references, including 'letter versus Spirit' and 'competence from God.'
2 Corinthians 3:1-6 Enduring Word · David Guzik
An accessible verse-by-verse commentary, widely used across evangelical churches.
Background & Word Study
2 Corinthians and Work Theology of Work
Situates Paul's 'living letter' and Spirit-written ministry within a theology of everyday work and witness.
The unveiled glory of Jesus in 2 Cor 3 Psephizo · Ian Paul
A discussion of 2 Corinthians 3 on Moses' veil and the surpassing glory of the new covenant.
Summary of 2 Corinthians Enter the Bible
An overview of the letter's occasion and themes to frame Paul's new-covenant defense of his ministry.
Overview: 2 Corinthians BibleProject
An animated summary placing the new-covenant contrast of chapter 3 within the letter's flow.
The Church Fathers
Questions preachers ask
What makes a minister of the new covenant?
Paul's credential is the Corinthians themselves, a letter of Christ written on human hearts; his competence is from God, who makes servants of a covenant not of the letter but of the Spirit.
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