2 Corinthians 3

After reading 2 Corinthians 3:1-3, how would you describe Paul’s attitude? Do you think he sounds angry, mildly ticked, sarcastic, rational and in full control, or perhaps some other description?

Paul sometimes writes with a poetic flair for the dramatic. There seems to be a little of that in verse 3 of 2 Corinthians 3. If you were writing this letter to the Christians in Corinth, how would you get across the idea that you think Paul is conveying in the first sentence of verse 3: “You’ve made it obvious that you’re a letter written by the Messiah and delivered by us”?

Paul defends his ministry by saying, “God himself gave us everything we need to become ministers who teach people about this new contract he’s rolling out” (2 Corinthians 3:6). Though that could sound a bit like bragging, he adds, “We can’t take the credit for any of this. Whatever we were able to do, we were able to do it because of God” (2 Corinthians 3:5). As Paul confronts what appears to be a challenge to his leadership, he sounds like he’s trying to strike a balance between healthy pride and Christian humility. How do you think he’s doing?

Paul said that God was rolling out a “new contract” (2 Corinthians 3:6). As the footnote indicates, “This refers to a new agreement that prophets said God would make with his people. This new contract would replace the old set of Jewish laws. In this new agreement, the laws wouldn’t be written on stone or on scrolls. Instead, they would be written on the hearts of people (Jeremiah 31:31-34; Hebrews 8:7-13; 1 Corinthians 11:25).” Jews had been living by that, which Moses delivered at least 1,400 years earlier. How hard do you think it would have been for Paul to convince Jews to retire their laws?

Paul said that the law code that Moses delivered to the Jews was considered wonderful, “even though all it did was make us feel guilty” (2 Corinthians 3:9). A Jerusalem rabbi, Aaron Leibowitz, blogged in an article called “Guilt?” that “guilt is one of the things we Jews do best.” He said Jews tend to punish themselves before God gets the chance. “It [Guilt] is the place where we are hardest on ourselves, our inner voice cast in the role of a perfect God, a parent figure eternally disappointed that we are not living up to our potential.” If that’s what the Jewish laws do to people, how is it any different if the laws are written on our heart by the Spirit?

Paul says, “The Lord and the Spirit are one and the same” (2 Corinthians 3:17). Really? How are we supposed to deal with that since we teach that there are three members of the Godhead: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Spirit?

LIFE APPLICATION. Paul says God’s new contract with people replaces the Jewish law that Moses delivered. Paul describes this new contract, which is salvation through faith in Jesus, as “over-the-top wonderful” (2 Corinthians 3:11). “Listen,” he adds, “hope like this needs to show up in the way we live. It’s a bold hope for a bold life” (2 Corinthians 3:12). What do you think he’s talking about? What does he mean by living a bold life?

LIFE APPLICATION. Paul says that God is in the process of changing us into the glorious person we will one day be in the life to come. He says it has already started. “Take a look in your spiritual mirror. The veil is off. Your face is already glowing because of what the Lord has done for you. This looks glorious” (2 Corinthians 3:18). What have you seen God do for people that lit them up and brought joy into their life?