Being Changed by God’s Glory

by Dr. Ralph F. Wilson

Paul has just introduced a contrast between the Old Covenant and the New Covenant, between the letter of the Mosaic law and the leadership of the dynamic Spirit of God.

“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.” (3:6)

Now Paul continues this contrast in 3:7-18 by showing the basis of the Old Covenant as the work of the Spirit through Moses, the Spirit that “� under the New Covenant “� works through all believers.

But why is Paul explaining such things to an overwhelmingly Gentile church? Probably because his opponents in Corinth had Jewish connections and were trying to “out-Hebrew” Paul himself. Later in this letter, Paul argues against these false apostles:

“Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they Abraham’s descend­ants? So am I.” (11:22)

In his letter to the Philippians, Paul offers a similar defense, for the same reason “� to counteract the Jewish or Jewish-Christian opponents there:

“… Circumcised on the eighth day, a member of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew born of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee….” (Philippians 3:5)

The Greater Glory of the Spirit (3:7-11)

Paul, the trained Pharisee, corrects these Jewish-Christian opponents with a typical Rabbinic argument from the lesser to the greater.

1. Ministry of Spirit is more splendid than ministry of death (3:7-8)
2. Ministry of righteousness is more splendid than the ministry of condemnation (3:9-10)
3. Permanent ministry is more splendid than that which passes away (3:11).[93]

You’ll see these themes in the text:

“7 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[94] at the face of Moses because of its glory, fading[95] though it was, 8 will not the ministry of the Spirit be even more glorious? 9 If the ministry that condemns men is glorious, how much more glorious is the ministry that brings righteousness! 10 For what was glorious has no glory now in comparison with the surpassing[96] glory. 11 And if what was fading away came with glory, how much greater is the glory of that which lasts![97]” (3:7-11)

The Glory of God on Moses’ Face (Exodus 34)

Paul agrees that the Old Covenant, characterized by the Ten Commandments (“engraved with letters on stone”�) was glorious. He refers to Moses’ experience of encountering God on Mount Sinai and his practice of talking to God in his tent of meeting and then emerging with the glow of God’s glory on his face.

“29 When Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of the Testimony in his hands, he was not aware that his face was radiantbecause he had spoken with the LORD. 30 When Aaron and all the Israelites saw Moses, his face was radiant, and they were afraid to come near him….

“33 When Moses finished speaking to them, he put a veil over his face. 34 But whenever he entered the LORD’s presence to speak with him, he removed the veil until he came out. And when he came out and told the Israelites what he had been commanded, 35 they saw that his face was radiant. Then Moses would put the veil back over his face until he went in to speak with the LORD.” (Exodus 34:29-30, 33-35)

I envy Moses! He had prayed, “Show me your glory,” and God had answered in this unique expression of God’s glory on Moses’ face. That’s how the law was given. That’s how Israel was led through the desert “� by a man who sought God and spoke with him face to face.

But, Paul argues, that however glorious its origins, the law didn’t bring life to God’s people as the Spirit does.  In Paul’s analogy, the glory of the law fades or passes away, while the Spirit of God continues with us to this day.

Q1. (2 Corinthians 3:7-11) Why did Moses’ face glow? Why did he cover it when he was out with the people? Why didn’t more people’s face glow in Moses’ time? What’s the difference between the spread of God’s glory in Moses’ time when compared to our own time?