2 Corinthians 3 Parallel Bible Translations

2 Corinthians 3 ▼
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1 Are we starting to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, like some [false teachers], letters of recommendation to you or from you? [No!] Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, as some do, letters of recommendation to you, or from you? Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, like some people, letters of recommendation to you or from you?
2 You are our letter [of recommendation], written in our hearts, recognized and read by everyone. You yourselves are our letter of recommendation, written on our hearts, to be known and read by all. You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everyone.
3 You show that you are a letter from Christ, delivered by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts. And you show that you are a letter from Christ delivered by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts. You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.
4 Such is the confidence and steadfast reliance and absolute trust that we have through Christ toward God. Such is the confidence that we have through Christ toward God. Such confidence we have through Christ before God.
5 Not that we are sufficiently qualified in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency and qualifications come from God. Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God, Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God.
6 He has qualified us [making us sufficient] as ministers of a new covenant [of salvation through Christ], not of the letter [of a written code] but of the Spirit; for the letter [of the Law] kills [by revealing sin and demanding obedience], but the Spirit gives life. who has made us sufficient to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant—not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.
7 Now if the ministry of death, engraved in letters on stones [the covenant of the Law which led to death because of sin], came with such glory and splendor that the Israelites were not able to look steadily at the face of Moses because of its glory, [a brilliance] that was fading, Now if the ministry of death, carved in letters on stone, came with such glory that the Israelites could not gaze at Moses’ face because of its glory, which was being brought to an end, Now if the ministry that brought death, which was engraved in letters on stone, came with glory, so that the Israelites could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of its glory, transitory though it was,
8 how will the ministry of the Spirit [the new covenant which allows us to be Spirit-filled] fail to be even more glorious and splendid? will not the ministry of the Spirit have even more glory? will not the ministry of the Spirit be even more glorious?
9 For if the ministry that brings condemnation [the old covenant, the Law] has glory, how much more does glory overflow in the ministry that brings righteousness [the new covenant which declares believers free of guilt and sets them apart for God’s special purpose]! For if there was glory in the ministry of condemnation, the ministry of righteousness must far exceed it in glory. If the ministry that brought condemnation was glorious, how much more glorious is the ministry that brings righteousness!
10 Indeed, what had glory [the Law], in this case no longer has glory because of the glory that surpasses it [the gospel]. Indeed, in this case, what once had glory has come to have no glory at all, because of the glory that surpasses it. For what was glorious has no glory now in comparison with the surpassing glory.
11 For if that [Law] which fades away came with glory, how much more must that [gospel] which remains and is permanent abide in glory and splendor! For if what was being brought to an end came with glory, much more will what is permanent have glory. And if what was transitory came with glory, how much greater is the glory of that which lasts!
12 Since we have such a [glorious] hope and confident expectation, we speak with great courage, Since we have such a hope, we are very bold, Therefore, since we have such a hope, we are very bold.
13 and we are not like Moses, who used to put a veil over his face so that the Israelites would not gaze at the end of the glory which was fading away. not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face so that the Israelites might not gaze at the outcome of what was being brought to an end. We are not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face to prevent the Israelites from seeing the end of what was passing away.
14 But [in fact] their minds were hardened [for they had lost the ability to understand]; for until this very day at the reading of the old covenant the same veil remains unlifted, because it is removed [only] in Christ. But their minds were hardened. For to this day, when they read the old covenant, that same veil remains unlifted, because only through Christ is it taken away. But their minds were made dull, for to this day the same veil remains when the old covenant is read. It has not been removed, because only in Christ is it taken away.
15 But to this day whenever Moses is read, a veil [of blindness] lies over their heart; Yes, to this day whenever Moses is read a veil lies over their hearts. Even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts.
16 but whenever a person turns [in repentance and faith] to the Lord, the veil is taken away. But when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed. But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.
17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty [emancipation from bondage, true freedom]. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.
18 And we all, with unveiled face, continually seeing as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are progressively being transformed into His image from [one degree of] glory to [even more] glory, which comes from the Lord, [who is] the Spirit. And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit. And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.
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