Of the new testament (xavvijs diaInxns). See on Matt. xxvi. 28, 29. There is no article. Render, as Rev., of a new covenant, in contrast with the Mosaic. See on Heb. ix. 15. Of course the term is never applied in the gospels or epistles to the collection of New-Testament writings.
Of the letter (ypauparos). Depending on ministers, not on covenant. For letter, see on writings, John v. 47. Here used of the mere formal, written ordinance as contrasted with the Gospel, which is “spirit and life.” Compare Rom. ii. 29; vii. 6.
304 WORD STUDIES IN THE NEW TESTAMENT. [Cu. III.
Killeth. See on Rom. v. 12, 13; vii. 9; viii. 2. Compare 1 Cor. xv. 56. “The living testimony borne to his authority in the Corinthian Church suggests strongly the contrast of the dreary, death-like atmosphere which surrounded the old, graven characters on which his opponents rested their claims” (Stan-
ley).
7. The ministration of death (1) dvaxovia tod Javdrov). Be- cause it is the ministry of the letter which killeth. The law meant death to the sinner.
Written and engraven in stones (év ypdupaow évretuTo- Lévy iSous). Lit., engraven on stones by means of letters. The use of these words to describe a ministration is peculiar. The ministration of death (see above) is that of Moses, and does not apply to his entire career as Israel’s lawgiver, but to his partic- ular ministry in receiving on Sinai and transmitting to the people the law of God. The ministration may be said to have been graven on stones, since the whole purport of that economy which he represented was contained in the tables, and he was its minister in being the agent through whom God delivered it to the people.
Was glorious (éyevij9n ev ddfy). A very inadequate trans- lation. “EryevySn means came to pass or took place, not simply was. A glory passed from God to Moses, so that his face be- came shining. , It is much more graphic and truthful to render év d0€y literally, in or with glory, than to convert the two words into a single adjective, glorious. Rev., much better, came with glory.
Steadfastly behold (drevicac). See on Luke iv. 20.
Passing away (xatapyoupnéevnv). Lit., being done away or brought to nought. See on Luke xiii. 7 ; Rom. iii. 3.
8. Glorious (év dd£n). As in ver. 7, with glory.
9. Ministration of condemnation. Because Moses was the minister of the law. For the relation of the law to sin and condemnation, see Rom. v. 20; vii. 7-13.
Cu. I11.] THE SECOND EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS. 3805
10. That which was made glorious had no glory in this respect (ov dedofacta 7d SedoEacpévov, év TovT@ TO pépet). Reyv., that which hath been made glorious hath not been made glorious. The peculiar form of expression is taken from Exod. xxxiv. 29, 35, Sept., ‘Moses knew not that the appearance of the skin of his face was glorified.” ‘The children of Israel saw the face of Moses that it was glorified.” Much unneces- sary difficulty has been made, chiefly about the connection and meaning of in this respect. That which hath been made glori- ous is the ministry of death and condemnation (vv. 7, 9), the ministry of Moses in the giving of the law, which ministry was temporarily glorified in the shining of Moses’ face. Hath not been made glorious is only another way of expressing was pass- ing away (ver. 7): of saying that the temporary glory of Moses’ ministry faded and paled before the glory of the ministry of Christ. The figure which pervades the whole passage (7-11) is that of @ glorified face. The ministration of the law, impers- onated in Moses, is described as having tts face glorified. It is to this that in this respect refers. Paul says that the minis- try of the law, which was temporarily glorified in the face of Moses, is no longer glorified in this respect ; that is, it no longer appears with glorified face, because of the glory that excelleth, the glory of Christ ministering the Gospel, before which it fades away and isasif it had not been. This accords with ch. iv., where the theme is the same as here, ministry or ministration (ver. 1); and where the christian revelation is described as “the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ” (ver. 6). This is the key to our passage. To the same purpose is ver. 18, where the Christian is represented as gazing, through the Gos- pel, with unveiled face, upon the glory of God in Christ, and as being changed thereby into the image of Christ. The glory of the law in the face of Moses has faded before the glory of the Gospel in the face of Jesus Christ.