2 Coríntios 3

Kent Hughes · Citado em PreceptAustin

2 Coríntios 3

Hughes writes "How much we allow the knowledge of Christ to fill our being will determine how much of the old dead things will fall away and how much new life will spring forth. We must know Jesus for that expulsive force to work within us. We must look long and intently at Jesus. (John: That you May Believe. Preaching the Words) The secret of Christian holiness is heart-occupation with Christ Himself. As we gaze upon Him we become like Him. --H A Ironside QUESTION - What is the meaning of “from glory to glory” in 2 Corinthians 3:18? ANSWER - “But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit” (2 Corinthians 3:18, NASB). With those few words—“from glory to glory”—Paul sums up our entire Christian life, from redemption and sanctification on earth, to our glorious eternal welcome into heaven. There is a great deal of content packed into those few words. It’s all so important that Paul labors at great length, from 2 Corinthians 2:14 through the end of chapter 5, to open his readers’ eyes to a great truth. Let’s see why that truth matters so much. The same Greek word for “glory” is used twice in the phrase from glory to glory, yet each usage refers to something different. The first “glory” is that of the Old Covenant—the Law of Moses—while the second is that of the New Covenant, the gospel of Jesus Christ. Both have astonishing splendor. The Old Covenant was given to Moses directly from God, written by God’s own finger (Exodus 31:18). That root of our Christian faith is glorious indeed; it’s the glory we’re coming “from.” Yet the New Covenant, the glory we’re going “to,” far surpasses that of the Old. The transformation is from the glory of the Law. Like the stone it was written on, the Law was inflexible and absolute, applying to all Israelites without much regard for individual circumstances (Hebrews 10:28). Though holy, good, and righteous in itself (Romans 7:12), the Law was, for us sinners, the letter that kills us (2 Corinthians 3:6). The Law was an external force to control behavior. In addition, stone, despite its strength, is earthly and will eventually wear away. The Law was merely a temporary guardian (Galatians 3:23–25) until something better came along. The transformation is to the glory of the New Covenant, which far surpasses the Old in every way. It forgives us of our sin and gives us sinners life (John 6:63). It is written on believers’ hearts by the Holy Spirit (Jeremiah 31:33; 2 Corinthians 3:3), so our obedience to God springs up from within us by God-given desires rather than by threats of legal punishment. In place of a cold set of writings as a guide for pleasing God, we now have Father, Son and Holy Spirit making their home with us, fellowshipping in loving intimacy, teaching us everything we must know and do (John 14:23; 16:13). That position in Christ is as permanent, eternal, and spiritual as God Himself, rather than temporary and earthly. Paul is intent on directing Christians to focus on the spiritual glory of the New Covenant rather than physical glory of the Old, as many Jews in his day refused to do. He compared the two types of glory by recalling how Moses absorbed and reflected God’s glory for a time after being in his presence (2 Corinthians 3:7–11, 13; cf. Exodus 34:29–35). Though Moses’ glow had a spiritual cause, there was nothing spiritual about the effect—any person, regardless of his relationship with God, could see the glow on Moses’ face, which he covered with a veil. Not so the glory of the New Covenant. That can be seen only with a believer’s spiritual eyes—what Paul is doing his best to open, so that we discern the gospel’s glory. So he writes, “For God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ” (2 Corinthians 4:6). But, as we move from glory to glory, there’s something even more important about the glory of the New Covenant that Christians must understand: its supernatural power to transform us. And that brings us to God’s ultimate purpose and destination for every believer, to transform us into the image of his own beloved Son (2 Corinthians 3:18; Romans 8:28–30; Philippians 3:20–21). Before he finishes with the topic of being transformed from glory to glory, Paul presents yet one more astonishing claim: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” (2 Corinthians 5:17). This is the invitation the Lord makes to all Christians, to have our lives radically transformed here and now, by opening our eyes to see the glorious journey He is taking us on “from glory to glory.” GotQuestions.org (BOLDING ADDED) Sadhu Sundar Singh (the great Christian evangelist of India) once knocked on the door of a village home, and a little girl answered, running back to call her mother. Her mother asked, “Who is it?” The girl replied, “I don’t know, but he has such a lovely face, I think it must be Jesus.” (John: That you May Believe. Preaching the Words) The face is a mirror of the heart— do people see Jesus in yours? TRUE ILLUSTRATIONS OF MEN WHO WERE TRANSFORMED FROM GLORY TO GLORY (1) ADONIRAM JUDSON (SHORT BIOGRAPHY) - was "The sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him (Jesus) in every place." (2Cor 2:14) Many years ago when the great missionary Adoniram Judson was home on furlough, he passed through the city of Stonington, Connecticut. A young boy playing about the wharves at the time of Judson’s arrival was struck by the man’s appearance. Never before had he seen such a light on any human face. He ran up the street to a minister to ask if he knew who the stranger was. The minister hurried back with him, but became so absorbed in conversation with Judson that he forgot all about the impatient youngster standing near him. Many years afterward that boy—who could never get away from the influence of that wonderful face—became the famous preacher Henry Clay Trumbull (Read The life story of Henry Clay Trumbull, missionary, army chaplain, editor, author - 1905) (See also his fascinating book The Blood Covenant). In a book of memoirs he penned a chapter entitled: "What a Boy Saw in the Face of Adoniram Judson." That lighted countenance had changed his life. Even as flowers thrive when they bend to the light, so shining, radiant faces come to those who constantly turn toward Christ! (Read the original story in context of H C Trumbull's life story) (2) Here is a modern example of the impact of 2Cor 3:18 in a man being transformed from glory to glory. You must listen to this testimony by Joyhn MacArthur before a group of College students - If nothing else listen to the first 15 minutes. You will not regret it! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=urXa0biUUB4&t=1013s (3) John

2 Coríntios 3:1-4

Hughes says "This is a letter engraved in his heart, not flourished in his hand or carried in his luggage. It is something far more intimate than an external document of paper and ink, and at the same time far more permanent. It could not be forgotten, nor mislaid. And such letters are accessible to all people because they are “known and read by all.” The letters written with pen and ink will be read only by a limited number of people. But lives are read by all, even the illiterate. The church in Corinth was an open letter of Christ to the world, a declaration of his power and love for the whole world. ( (2 Corinthians : Power in weakness. Preaching the Word) Illustration - The world knows how British journalist Henry Stanley went to Africa to find the famed missionary, Dr. David Livingstone. Stanley's greeting, "Dr. Livingstone, I presume?" is world famous, but few know the rest of the story. After the two had been together for some time, Stanley saw what Livingstone endured and wrote, "I went to Africa as prejudiced as the biggest atheist in London. But there came for me a long time for reflection. I saw this solitary old man there and asked myself, 'How on earth does he stop here -- is he cracked, or what? What is it that inspires him so?' For months after we met I found myself wondering at the old man carrying out all that was said in the Bible -- 'Leave all things and follow Me.' But little by little his sympathy for others became contagious; my sympathy was aroused; seeing his piety, his gentleness, his zeal, his earnestness, and how he went about his business, I was converted by him." (From Rich Cathers) Illustration - Habitat for Humanity started officially in 1976 but unofficially when founder Millard Fuller went to Zaire with a church group to build not-for-profit houses in 1968. With a beginning undergirded with little except prayer and vision for what God could do, Habitat has grown into one of the nation’s largest home builders. Fuller describes Habitat as an "alive, dynamic, Christ-centered movement" that welcomes Christians and non-Christians to participate in building houses for the poor. Fuller takes special delight when people listen to the message behind the sweat, nails and saws. Recently, he returned to the site of a Jimmy Carter Work Project in Charlotte, N.C. He spotted a five year-old boy playing in the yard of the house that Carter had helped build. After complimenting the boy on his beautiful home, he asked him who built it, expecting to hear the boy say, "Jimmy Carter." Instead, the boy said, "Jesus built my house." -- The Columbus Dispatch, 6-20-92, p. 8H (From Rich Cathers) Your Life's Handwriting -- Some people believe that our hand-writing reveals our character. Experts in the field of graphology watch for things like the slant of letters, the way they are formed, where the “t” is crossed, and how the “i” is dotted. Based on these distinctions, conclusions are drawn about one’s personality. We are told that the style of our writing shows whether we are outgoing or withdrawn, individualistic or of a conforming nature. While some may question the reliability of this practice, it reminds me of what the apostle Paul said in 2 Corinthians 3:2. He told us that Christians are epistles “known and read by all men.” The way we compose the letters of our conduct indicates the kind of persons we really are. If we are trying to please the Lord Jesus Christ, the handwriting of our lives will reveal a love for others and a responsiveness to their needs. We will also express an individuality and a willingness to stand alone for righteousness’ sake if duty demands it. Each day we will try to adjust our behavior to the will of our heavenly Father. Allow the Savior to live through you by relying on His power. Then let the handwriting of your life tell others you belong to Him. — by Richard De Haan The Christian's life is the world's Bible. A LIVING EPISTLE - A missionary in India was so feeble mentally that ‘he could not learn the language, After some years he asked to be recalled, frankly saying that he had not sufficient intellect for the work. A dozen missionaries, however, petitioned his Board not to grant his request, saying that his goodness gave him a wider influence among the heathen than any other missionary at the station. A convert, when asked, “What is it to be a Christian?” replied, “It is to be like Mr. ______ ,” naming the good missionary. He was kept in India. He never preached a sermon (Ed: Maybe not with his lips, but he certainly did with his life!), but when he died hundreds of heathen, as well as many Christians, mourned him, and testified to his holy life and character. (S. S. Chronicle.) Nothing so commends a minister as the proficiency of his people. Matthew Poole The fruitfulness of the people is the preacher's testimonial. John Trapp C H Spurgeon gave a message on 2Cor 3:1-3 entitled... Sacred Penmanship "SELF-PRAISE is no recommendation," and the "sounding of one's own trumpet" is not to be applauded. The apostle must show that he does not approve of such a method, and although he was in a position to boast of great attainments, yet he would not glory in himself. However, it fell to his lot to be charged with arrogance, and that which he most carefully avoided was brought against him as a crime. But are we not entitled as Christians to somewhat of boasting? We have surely a glory of which we need not be ashamed. As "children of God" we possess an inheritance concerning which we may well be proud. To us are committed the " oracles of God," and we still hold to the " faith once delivered to the saints." Ours is not a vain glorying, for it is of God. I would that every Christian were preaching so as to be heard by all around, not in the pulpit, but in the home, a sermon in which he made the cross of Christ his glory, and the blood of Christ his boast. False teachers had entered into the Corinthian church, and they had found it necessary to have letters of recommendation, but Paul needed no such introduction. Truth and righteousness recommend themselves in the work they accomplish. "Good wine needs no bush," and those who are blessed beneath a faithful minister are his best letters of commendation. In sending forth the seventy our Lord did not give each a letter of introduction, but rather endowed each with power to do good, and their works and words were to stand them in stead thereof. Paul's converts were his epistles, as we call books the works of writers now, and these were put down as the apostle's seals to his ministry. Our translation admits of another rendering, namely, "Ye are our epistles written in your hearts," and this would imply that Paul had been enabled to pencil something in the hearts of others which could be read by all men; and it is with this idea I shall deal in speaking about sacred penmanship. I. Observe THE REQUISITES FOR WRITING. Figures (of speech) are often used to set forth the Christian life, and none, I think, does so more clearly than that beneath our notice, "Ye are our epistles." We are likened to trees, for we need planting, nurturing, watering, and pruning before we can bear fruit; stones, for there has been the quarrying, setting, polishing, and building wrought upon us; lights, where trimming and sustaining is so much required to render us clear and bright; and now epistles, written so that all men may read us. The accessories must be provided, however, for a letter to be written, and let us briefly notice these, — pen, ink, and paper. 1) In the third verse we have the pen: "Forasmuch as ye are declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us." Here is the instrument in the hand of God. The Church was divided, for one said, "I am of Paul;" another, " I am of Cephas." But these good men were only ministers by whom they had believed, — the pens whereby God, through His Spirit, had written upon the fleshy tables of their hearts. Among these instruments there must ever be a variety. The rough and rude can, however, be made to write well. Paul, though he was not eloquent of speech, but somewhat blunt, had power to get hold of men's hearts; and he wrote upon them with dark, indelible lines, great truths. But God has another pen. Apollos could speak with eloquence of diction, and finely pencil the Scripture, so that the Jews were mightily convinced that Jesus was the Christ. John was another such instrument. Soft in love, sketching in poetry the wonderful revelations he had of "the better land," he would win hearts for Jesus. Or yet again, see how Peter suits the bold, round-hand, writing which God would have inscribed upon the hard tables of Jewish minds. He stands forth to declare the whole counsel of God before the Sanhedrim, the murderers of Christ, without fear. Luke, his friend, however, is the pen that the Spirit uses to write the small-hand of detail. Thus is it the Master uses varied tools to inscribe His own will upon men's hearts. O Lord, point us, if need be, with cutting, so that we may be pens in Thy hand to write upon others' hearts. 2) Then there must be the ink. The sacred fluid is the Spirit of God. "Written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God." The mysterious influence that flows through us is not of earthly manufacture. It is the pure Spirit of the living God; it never mars or discolors, but adds glory to the heart upon which it flows. Words penned by this agency shall not die, for the marks of grace are indelible, it being the Spirit of the living God. It is truly an invisible ink, but when held to the fire of divine love shall become apparent, and it can never fade; a non-corrosive fluid, and yet it eats its way into men's hearts. What we want is a greater measure of this sacred writing power. Pray that the Father may send the Spirit upon you more abundantly. 3) The next requisite is the paper. It is not written upon stone, but "in fleshy tables of the heart." The law may be penciled by God's finger upon stones, but His love must be written upon the tender heart. As Matthew Henry quaintly says: "Not upon the fleshly, but fleshy tables." That heart that God gives best receives God's writing. A soft heart best absorbs the ink; a living tablet best retains impressions. How is it with your heart, dear hearer? Has God ever written His name there? Lay bare the page, and let the Lord even now transcribe words of love and mercy upon it. Are you willing that it should be so? Then shall you know His willingness, for He says: "I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh." Lord, write first in us, and then make us as the "pen of the ready writer" to make our mark on others. II. Now I want you to consider, secondly, the readers of the writing. "Known and read of all men!' The writing is real, no fiction, for the author is Christ. We are the autograph letters of our Lord, and bear His signature. The writing is clear, for we are "manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ." The handwriting is legible, not shaky with doubt; no forgery through unfaithfulness, but the whole plainly penned in all the up-and-down strokes. Now this document is a public one. Believers are the library for the world; they are a Christian literature. Each saint is a volume to expound the grace of God. "Known and read of all men." We may consider the readers of this writing to be of three classes, — the intelligent, interested, and inquisitive. 1) The intelligent - Many are real students of Christian character, desirous of gaining knowledge for their own good in spiritual attainments. If you see a person take down a book in a library, you soon judge whether he has been accustomed to study by the way in which he handles the volume; and so there are those who carefully review every syllable of a Christian's life, and read each line for their own edification. How anxious should we be to help such students by our example, living near unto the great Exemplar. 2). Then there are the interested readers — our friends who like to see if we make progress in divine things. The "first series" of Christian experiences are interesting, and are studied with deep anxiety by those who love young converts. The pastor reads to find out if such are increasing in the knowledge of God, growing in grace, getting stronger in love, and taking a deeper and firmer hold of the doctrines of Christ. The parent reads the heart of the child, anxiously seeking to see how far Christ's character is spelled out in the child's life. The teacher reads the scholar's, the friend the acquaintance's, the master the servant's, and the servant the master's too. Let us seek to please such as take a loving interest in us, remembering that the Lord Himself is one of these readers; so may we strive to adorn His doctrine in all things. 3). The last class I have called the inquisitive. They only peruse to find fault. They look at the Christian character through smoky magnifying-glasses, and sometimes they turn the volume upside down, and then complain that it is all a big mistake, and they cannot make it out. They pick out that which the follower of Jesus knows full well to be a flaw himself, and then ask the question, "Is this like a Christian?" Beware, dear reader! Be careful, for men's eyes are always ready to detect a failing. Ours must be so correct an epistle that fault-finders shall find it difficult to gratify their morbid taste. The schoolmaster says to his boys, " Be sure you dot your i's and cross your t's;" and we, too, must be mindful of little things. If the Spirit of God has written upon our hearts, let us exhibit that epistle in our lives, so that we may be known and read of all men to the glory of our God. Amen. (The life and labors of Charles H Spurgeon) 2 Corinthians 3:3 being manifested that you are a letter of Christ, cared for 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. (NASB: Lockman) Greek: phaneroumenoi (PPPMPN) hoti este (2PPAI) epistole Christou diakonetheisa (APPFSN) uph' hemon, eggegrammene (RPPFSN) ou melani alla pneumati theou zontos, (PAPMSG) ouk en plaxin lithinais all' en plaxin kardiais sarkinais Amplified: You show and make obvious that you are a letter from Christ delivered by us, not written with ink but with [the] Spirit of [the] living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts. [Ex 24:12; 31:18; 32:15, 16; Jer 31:33.] (Lockman) ESV: 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. (ESV) KJV: Forasmuch 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 fleshly tables of the heart. NET: revealing that you are a letter of Christ, delivered by us, written not with ink but by the Spirit of the living God, not on stone tablets but on tablets of human hearts. (NET Bible) NIV: 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. (NIV - IBS) NLT: Clearly, you are a letter from Christ showing the result of our ministry among you. This “letter” is written not with pen and ink, but with the Spirit of the living God. It is carved not on tablets of stone, but on human hearts. (NLT - Tyndale House)

2 Coríntios 3:1-4

Hughes remarks that "A letter of recommendation must always come from a third party, and the ultimate third-party recommender is Christ, the Messiah himself. By claiming Messiah as the author, Paul was able to claim higher authority for his credentials than his enemies could claim for theirs. (2 Corinthians : Power in weakness. Preaching the Word) Marvin

2 Coríntios 3:1-4

Hughes observed: “He who has, through Christ, received all things from God looks with confidence, through Christ, to God.”5 His confidence (“such trust”) was based upon the operation of God described in the previous two verses. It was a present possession (“we have”) obtained through divine means (“through Christ”). It was a confidence directed toward God and not toward self (“to God-ward”). (2 Corinthians - Stand Firm in the Faith) Homer Kent - The confidence Paul had that Christ was speaking through him was no mere personal boasting. This confidence had not resulted from any self-satisfaction based on strenuous effort, skillful performance, or unusual human competence. It was rather a conviction supplied by Christ Himself, and was a confidence that would stand up before God.

2 Coríntios 3:5-6

Hughes - The Apostle claims nothing for himself: his confidence is through Christ, directed not to self but to God. Indeed, as though to silence his accusers finally and completely, he disclaims in the plainest terms any measure of self-competence and asserts that such competence as was apparent in his ministry is derived solely from God. He is saying in effect what he had said explicitly on a previous occasion: “not I, but the grace of God which was with me” (1 Co 15:10+). Only a man who, like the Apostle, is humbly awake to his own utter weakness can know and prove the total sufficiency of God’s grace. This great truth echoes and re-echoes through our epistle (cf. 2Co 4:7ff.; 2Co 5:18f.; 2Co 6:4ff.; 2Co 7:5f.; 2Co 11:23ff.; 2Co 12:9f.; 2Co 13:3f.). He who has, through Christ, received all things from God looks with confidence, through Christ, to God. (NICNT-2Cor) R C H Lenski -The sufficiency referred to is a sufficiency “for these things” (2:17), those implied in 2:14–17 and again in 3:2, 3, namely ability to achieve results such as have been described, results such as rightly fill us with the confidence we have. “We are not sufficient (with any sufficiency derived) from our own selves” to accomplish such work, such results that could lend us the confidence we have. (Interpretation of Second Corinthians) William Barclay suggests that "Paul is feeling that perhaps his claim that the Corinthians are a living epistle of Christ, produced under his ministry, may sound a little like self-praise. So he hastens to insist that whatever he had done is not his own work but the work of God (ED: THE WORK OF GOD THROUGH HIM AS A "VESSEL OF HONOR, SANCTIFIED, USEFUL TO THE MASTER, PREPARED FOR EVERY GOOD WORK." - 2 Ti 2:21+)." As the Puritan pastor Richard Baxter (1615-1691) lay on his deathbed, someone encouraged him with a reminder of the good which so many had received from his preaching and writings. Baxter who clearly understood 2Co 3:5 replied "I was but a pen in God’s hand, and what praise is due to a pen?" May his tribe increase for the glory of God! Amen Henry Blackaby - Will God ever ask you to do something you are not able to do? (ED: AKA FOR WHICH YOU FEEL INADEQUATE!) The answer is yes--all the time! It must be that way, for God's glory and kingdom. If we function according to our ability alone, we get the glory; if we function according to the power of the Spirit within us, God gets the glory. He wants to reveal Himself to a watching world (ED: cf Mt 5:16+, Php 2:15+)....If you feel weak, limited, ordinary, you are the best material through which God can work. Andrew Bonar wrote...“It is not great talents God blesses,” the godly Scottish pastor Robert Murray McCheyne reminded a young minister, “so much as great likeness to Jesus. A holy minister is an awful weapon in the hand of God” John

2 Coríntios 3:12-14

Hughes - Even when confronted with the glory shining from Moses’ countenance the Israelites were unwilling to receive what God had to communicate to them through him; and in consequence their minds were hardened: their understandings were dulled and deadened. This is always the result of refusing and suppressing the revelation of divine truth. A veil of intellectual darkness hides the glory which has been deliberately rejected. (The epitaph of the rebellious Israelites and of all hardened sinners is simply this: “Knowing God, they glorified Him not as God, neither gave thanks; but became vain in their reasonings, and their senseless heart was darkened” (Ro 1:21). We are warned, therefore, of the terrible possibility of intellectual hardening when face to face with the glorious revelation of divine truth; and the responsibility is proportionately greater of those who are confronted, not with the partial and transient glory of the law, but with the surpassing and permanent glory of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Moses alludes to their minds...hardened in Deuteronomy writing "Yet to this day the LORD has not given you a heart to know, nor eyes to see, nor ears to hear." (Deut. 29:4+) This passage reflects divine judicial hardening. It is interesting that Paul had just used this rare word (noema) in 2Co 2:11+ to warn not to be ignorant of the schemes (noema) of Satan, and now uses noema for “minds” here in 2Co 3:14. Paul could be warning that they must be careful for their own minds, which Satan will attempt to lead astray for (noema) is used in 2Co 11:3+ (cf Satan's effect in 2Co 4:4+) The martyr Stephen used great boldness (because he was Spirit filled Acts 6:5, 8, 10+, cf Acts 4:31+) summing up Israel’s past when he confronted the Jewish leaders referring to them as "stiff-necked (sklerotrachelos) and uncircumcised in heart (cf Dt 10:16+, Dt 30:6+, Jer 4:4) and ears are always resisting (antipipto in present tense = continually, active voice = willfully!) the Holy Spirit; you are doing just as your fathers did. (Acts 7:51+) (See also Acts 28:25-27+) Throughout the centuries, Israel had refused to submit to God and obey the covenant their ancestors had made with Yahweh (cf Ex 24:3,7+ = "we will do"). Their ears refused to truly hear (and heed) God's truth, their hearts did not receive (welcome) His truth, and their necks did not bow (surrender, yield) to His Word of truth. As a result, they killed their own Messiah, in Whom believing brings "the end to the Law for righteousness"! (Ro 10:4NLT+) The Jews (except the believing remnant) sought only the physical circumcision which was impotent in regard to gaining favor with God or achieving righteousness (right standing before God). As a result, their minds were (judicially) hardened by God. They continued to place emphasize the physical ritual of circumcision, failing to comprehend that the external act was always meant to be symbolic of an internal "circumcision" (Ro 2:28-29+), which was evidenced by a desire (and Spirit enabled power) to please God and to obey Him out of love not out of legalism! (see Circumcision - external of the foreskin & internal of the heart). Their minds were hard and their hearts were cold toward God and the glorious truths He had "veiled" in the Old Covenant. Praise God that He is removing the veil in Christ for many Jewish people. Take a moment and watch some of the videos of Jewish men and women who have had the veil removed and recognized Yeshua their Messiah. (e.g. In Isaiah 53 God opened her eyes!) Jesus alluded to the hardness of the minds of His Jewish audience declaring "Do not think that I will accuse you before the Father; the one who accuses you is Moses, in whom you have set your hope. For if you believed Moses (author of the Pentateuch, the first 5 books, the "Torah" or law), you would believe Me; for he wrote of Me. But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe My words? (Jn 5:45-47, cf Jn 5:39). Jesus was not saying that one could be saved by believing the Old Covenant Law per se but that one was saved by believing in the Messiah Who was clearly and repeatedly portrayed in prophecies (see Messianic Prophecy) and in the ceremonies, feasts, sacrifices and rituals that were present (albeit in "veiled" form to those with hard hearts and minds) even in the Torah (E.g., see Dt 30:14+ even quoted by Paul in Ro 10:6,7+, Ro 10:8+).

2 Coríntios 3:18

Hughes says that "Seeing God in life is the highest good—the summum bonum—because all those who see him become like him." (2 Corinthians - Power in Weakness) ARE BEING TRANSFORMED INTO THE SAME IMAGE FROM GLORY TO GLORY: ten auten eikona metamorphoumetha (1PPPI) apo doxes eis doxan 2Co 5:17 Ro 8:29 12:2 13:14 1Co 15:49 Ga 6:15 Eph 4:22, 23, 24 Col 3:10 Titus 3:5 2Pe 1:5, 6, 7, 8, 9 2 Corinthians 3 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Related Passage: Romans 8:29+ For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed (summorphos) to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; 2 Peter 1:4+ For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature (progressively sanctified), having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust. METAMORPHOSIS = CHANGE OF FORM THE GOAL: CHRIST-LIKENESS A LIFELONG PROCESS Unlike metamorphosis of an ugly caterpillar becoming a beautiful butterfly overnight, followers of Christ are "works in progress" and the consummation of our salvation (future tense salvation) will not take place until our moment of glorification (cf twinkling of an eye - 1Cor 15:52+). Are being transformed - As discussed in more detail below this phrase is synonymous with progressive sanctification (see dictionary defintion) = growth in holiness = growth in Christ likeness = present tense salvation (see Three Tenses of Salvation). Progressive sanctification is a frequent (important) theme in Paul's writings, e.g., And do not be conformed (suschematizo - present imperative with a negative see our need to depend on the Holy Spirit to obey) to this world, but be transformed (metamorphoo = command in present imperative = calls for a continual process, lifelong dependence on the Word and the Holy Spirit to obey ~ progressive sanctification) by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect . (Ro 12:2+) and have put on the new self who is being renewed (present tense = a continual process ~ progressive sanctification) to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him (Col 3:10+). My children, with whom I am again in labor (present tense = a continual process) until Christ is formed (morphoo = shaping of outward expression proceeding from and being truly representative of one’s inward character and nature ~ Col 1:27+) in you (Ga 4:19+). Transformed (3339)(metamorphoo from metá = denotes change of place or condition + morphoo = to shape the outward to be a true representation of the inward nature <> morphe = form, shape referring to the essential form of a thing) has the basic meaning of changing into another form and is the term from which we get metamorphosis, which in biology denotes the amazing change of a lowly worm into a beautiful butterfly. So the change in view here is not a superficial fluctuation of fashion or conduct but a vital change revealing a new life. Metamorphoo - 4x in NT - Mt 17:12, Mk 9:2, Ro 12:2, 2Co 3:18. Translated twice as transfigured and twice as transformed. Metamorphoo describes the process by which that on the inside shows forth to the outside such that that everyone can see. In Romans 12:2+ it describes an inward renewal of our mind through which our inner spirit is changed into the likeness of Christ. Metamorphoo describes Jesus' transfiguration in which His glory shined through His garments so that what Jesus really was on the inside was made manifest on the outside to Peter, John and James. And He was transfigured (metamorphoo) before them; and His face shone like the sun, and His garments became as white as light. (Matthew 17:2) Six days later, Jesus *took with Him Peter and James and John, and *brought them up on a high mountain by themselves. And He was transfigured (metamorphoo) before them; (Mk 9:2+) The verb morphoo does not refer to what is outward and transient, but to what is inward and real and thus that which produces an outward expression which proceeds from and is truly representative of one’s inward character and nature. Hence on the Mount of Transfiguration the glory which was Jesus' essential and eternal inner divine nature, shone outward, for a brief time and to a limited degree. In a similar way, the believer's inner redeemed (divine - 2Pe 1:4+) nature is to continually be manifest outwardly in our daily thoughts, words and deeds. In this passage metamorphoo is in the present tense which indicates that this transformation is an ongoing process which will not be complete until we see Jesus. In addition, the passive voice indicates that the power that produces this transformation is external Source, the Holy Spirit of God. We cannot transform ourselves any more than we could save (justify) ourselves. Just as we began this race by faith, we must continue to run by faith, trusting in the Spirit's power to transform us. Is this just "let go and let God?" I think not, for we do have a responsibility continually "behold God's glory", which is most clearly revealed in His Word of Truth (Php 2:16+, cf 1Jn 1:1+, Mt 4:4+, 1Pe 2:2+). As we take in His Word and live out His Word (obeying in the power of His Spirit), we proceed from glory to glory, growing "in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." (2Pe 3:18+). As