2 Corinthians 3:7
But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away:
Original Language Analysis
τὴν
which
G3588
τὴν
which
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
3 of 33
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
διακονία
the ministration
G1248
διακονία
the ministration
Strong's:
G1248
Word #:
4 of 33
attendance (as a servant, etc.); figuratively (eleemosynary) aid, (official) service (especially of the christian teacher, or technically of the diaco
τὴν
which
G3588
τὴν
which
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
5 of 33
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
θανάτου
of death
G2288
θανάτου
of death
Strong's:
G2288
Word #:
6 of 33
(properly, an adjective used as a noun) death (literally or figuratively)
γράμμασιν
G1121
γράμμασιν
Strong's:
G1121
Word #:
8 of 33
a writing, i.e., a letter, note, epistle, book, etc.; plural learning
ἐγενήθη
was
G1096
ἐγενήθη
was
Strong's:
G1096
Word #:
12 of 33
to cause to be ("gen"-erate), i.e., (reflexively) to become (come into being), used with great latitude (literal, figurative, intensive, etc.)
δόξαν
the glory
G1391
δόξαν
the glory
Strong's:
G1391
Word #:
14 of 33
glory (as very apparent), in a wide application (literal or figurative, objective or subjective)
ὥστε
so
G5620
ὥστε
so
Strong's:
G5620
Word #:
15 of 33
so too, i.e., thus therefore (in various relations of consecution, as follow)
μὴ
not
G3361
μὴ
not
Strong's:
G3361
Word #:
16 of 33
(adverb) not, (conjunction) lest; also (as an interrogative implying a negative answer (whereas g3756 expects an affirmative one)) whether
τὴν
which
G3588
τὴν
which
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
19 of 33
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
υἱοὺς
that the children
G5207
υἱοὺς
that the children
Strong's:
G5207
Word #:
20 of 33
a "son" (sometimes of animals), used very widely of immediate, remote or figuratively, kinship
Ἰσραὴλ
of Israel
G2474
Ἰσραὴλ
of Israel
Strong's:
G2474
Word #:
21 of 33
israel (i.e., jisrael), the adopted name of jacob, including his descendants (literally or figuratively)
εἰς
the face
G1519
εἰς
the face
Strong's:
G1519
Word #:
22 of 33
to or into (indicating the point reached or entered), of place, time, or (figuratively) purpose (result, etc.); also in adverbial phrases
τὴν
which
G3588
τὴν
which
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
23 of 33
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
προσώπου
countenance
G4383
προσώπου
countenance
Strong's:
G4383
Word #:
24 of 33
the front (as being towards view), i.e., the countenance, aspect, appearance, surface; by implication, presence, person
Μωσέως
of Moses
G3475
Μωσέως
of Moses
Strong's:
G3475
Word #:
25 of 33
moseus, moses, or mouses (i.e., mosheh), the hebrew lawgiver
διὰ
for
G1223
διὰ
for
Strong's:
G1223
Word #:
26 of 33
through (in very wide applications, local, causal, or occasional)
τὴν
which
G3588
τὴν
which
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
27 of 33
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
δόξαν
the glory
G1391
δόξαν
the glory
Strong's:
G1391
Word #:
28 of 33
glory (as very apparent), in a wide application (literal or figurative, objective or subjective)
τὴν
which
G3588
τὴν
which
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
29 of 33
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
προσώπου
countenance
G4383
προσώπου
countenance
Strong's:
G4383
Word #:
30 of 33
the front (as being towards view), i.e., the countenance, aspect, appearance, surface; by implication, presence, person
αὐτοῦ
of his
G846
αὐτοῦ
of his
Strong's:
G846
Word #:
31 of 33
the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative g1438) of the third person, and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons
Cross References
Exodus 31:18And he gave unto Moses, when he had made an end of communing with him upon mount Sinai, two tables of testimony, tables of stone, written with the finger of God.Romans 10:4For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.1 Corinthians 13:10But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.2 Corinthians 3:6Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.2 Corinthians 3:3Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart.Exodus 24:12And the LORD said unto Moses, Come up to me into the mount, and be there: and I will give thee tables of stone, and a law, and commandments which I have written; that thou mayest teach them.Psalms 119:97O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day.Romans 4:15Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression.Acts 6:15And all that sat in the council, looking stedfastly on him, saw his face as it had been the face of an angel.Psalms 119:174I have longed for thy salvation, O LORD; and thy law is my delight.
Historical Context
The Exodus 34 account describes Moses descending Sinai with the second set of stone tablets after Israel's golden calf apostasy. His face radiated God's glory so brightly that the people feared to approach. This physical manifestation testified to the law's divine origin and holiness. However, Paul interprets the fading of this glory as prophetically significant: the old covenant was never meant to be permanent. Jewish tradition highly honored Moses and the giving of the law; Paul's argument that this glory "was to be done away" would be shocking to Jewish ears, yet he grounds it in Scripture itself.
Questions for Reflection
- How does Paul's description of the law as the "ministration of death" help you understand why salvation cannot come through law-keeping?
- If even the temporary, condemning old covenant was glorious, what does this say about God's holiness and the seriousness of sin?
- How does recognizing that the old covenant glory was designed to fade help you embrace the permanent glory of the new covenant?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away: Paul begins his argument from the lesser to the greater (Hebrew qal wahomer reasoning). The Mosaic law is called the ministration of death (Greek hē diakonia tou thanatou, ἡ διακονία τοῦ θανάτου)—not because the law itself is evil, but because it pronounces death on lawbreakers without providing power to obey. Written and engraven in stones (Greek en grammata entupōmena lithois, ἐν γράμματα ἐντυπωμένη λίθοις) clearly identifies this as the Decalogue given at Sinai (Exodus 31:18; 34:1).
Yet even this covenant of death was glorious (Greek egenēthē en doxē, ἐγενήθη ἐν δόξῃ). Paul references Exodus 34:29-35, where Moses' face shone with reflected divine glory (doxa, δόξα) after receiving the second tablets, so intensely that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold (atenisai, ἀτενίσαι, "to gaze intently") it. The qualifier which glory was to be done away (Greek tēn katargoumenēn, τὴν καταργουμένην, "being abolished" or "fading") indicates the temporary nature of that Sinaitic glory. Paul will build on this: if the fading, death-dealing old covenant had glory, how much more the permanent, life-giving new covenant.