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Epiphany Season · Transfiguration Sunday · Year C

2 Corinthians 3:12-4:2

The Glory of the New Covenant

February 27, 2028

Law and Grace (Gesetz und Gnade), Lucas Cranach the Elder
Law and Grace (Gesetz und Gnade), Lucas Cranach the Elder, 1529Herzogliches Museum, Gotha
One panel split down the middle by a tree, bare on the left where the law drives a man toward hell and in leaf on the right where the blood of the cross reaches him.To this day, when they hear the reading of the old covenant, that same veil is still there. But all of us, with unveiled faces, seeing the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image.Lucas Cranach the ElderCranach, who worked the argument out as a diagram with Luther standing by.Herzogliches Museum, GothaThe Herzogliches Museum, Gotha.Herzogliches Museum, Gotha
Revised Common Lectionary
GospelLuke 9:28-36, (37-43a)Lk 9:28-36, (37-43a)
Epistle2 Cor. 3:12-4:22 Cor 3:12-4:2
Old TestamentExod. 34:29-35Ex 34:29-35
PsalterPs. 99Ps 99

Overview & Insights

“And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image.” (2 Corinthians 3:18)

In contrast to the death that the law brings because of the people’s inability to obey, Paul affirms that the Spirit gives life. According to Ezekiel, the life-giving Spirit is the central feature of the prophetic expectation of the restoration from exile. After the people have been punished and purged and brought again through the wilderness in a “new exodus,” they will be given a new Spirit that will reanimate the nation dead in its trespasses and sins (cf. Ezek. 11:19; 18:31; 36:26). The Vision of the Valley of Dry Bones in Ezekiel 37:1–14 portrays the exiles as bones into which God breathes his Spirit in order to reconstitute the nation of Israel on a new basis in the land (cf. 37:15–28). Hence, as S. Hafemann correctly observes, “The startling implication of 2 Cor.

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Commentary

Commentary on 2 Corinthians 3:12-4:2Commentary on 2 Cor 3:12-4:2 Working Preacher

The Lutheran home commentary picturing the church transfigured face to face into Christ's image.

2 Corinthians 3:12-4:2 Commentary2 Cor 3:12-4:2 Commentary Enduring Word · David Guzik

A verse-by-verse evangelical study of the veil removed and being transformed into Christ's image.

2 Corinthians Commentaries and Sermons2 Cor Commentaries and Sermons Precept Austin

A gateway to inductive word studies and cross references across 2 Corinthians.

2 Corinthians 3:12 Commentaries2 Cor 3:12 Commentaries BibleHub

Classic commentaries gathered verse by verse on Moses' veil and the ministry of the Spirit.

2 Corinthians 3:12 Verse-by-Verse Commentary2 Cor 3:12 Verse-by-Verse Commentary StudyLight

A large library of expositors stacked verse by verse for a further voice on the passage.

Background & Word Study

2 Corinthians 3:12 Interlinear2 Cor 3:12 Interlinear BibleHub

The Greek of the passage word by word with parsing and lexical helps.

2 Corinthians Overview2 Cor Overview BibleProject

An animated overview of Paul's letter and his defense of an open, Spirit-empowered ministry.

The Church Fathers

2 Corinthians 3 (Catena)2 Cor 3 (Catena) Catena

Patristic comments verse by verse on the veil taken away in Christ.

Questions preachers ask

What is the veil Paul speaks of?

Where Moses veiled his fading glory, the new covenant is open-faced: in Christ the veil is lifted, and those who behold the Lord's glory are changed into his likeness by the Spirit.

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