2 Corinthians 3:9
New International Version
If the ministry that brought condemnation was glorious, how much more glorious is the ministry that brings righteousness!

New Living Translation
If the old way, which brings condemnation, was glorious, how much more glorious is the new way, which makes us right with God!

English Standard Version
For if there was glory in the ministry of condemnation, the ministry of righteousness must far exceed it in glory.

Berean Standard Bible
For if the ministry of condemnation was glorious, how much more glorious is the ministry of righteousness!

Berean Literal Bible
For if glory was in the ministry of condemnation, much more does the ministry of righteousness abound in glory!

King James Bible
For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory.

New King James Version
For if the ministry of condemnation had glory, the ministry of righteousness exceeds much more in glory.

New American Standard Bible
For if the ministry of condemnation has glory, much more does the ministry of righteousness excel in glory.

NASB 1995
For if the ministry of condemnation has glory, much more does the ministry of righteousness abound in glory.

NASB 1977
For if the ministry of condemnation has glory, much more does the ministry of righteousness abound in glory.

Legacy Standard Bible
For if the ministry of condemnation has glory, much more does the ministry of righteousness abound in glory.

Amplified Bible
For if the ministry that brings condemnation [the old covenant, the Law] has glory, how much more does glory overflow in the ministry that brings righteousness [the new covenant which declares believers free of guilt and sets them apart for God’s special purpose]!

Christian Standard Bible
For if the ministry that brought condemnation had glory, the ministry that brings righteousness overflows with even more glory.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
For if the ministry of condemnation had glory, the ministry of righteousness overflows with even more glory.

American Standard Version
For if the ministration of condemnation hath glory, much rather doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
For if the administration of a guilty verdict was certain glory, how much more shall the administration of righteousness superabound in glory?

Contemporary English Version
If something that brings the death sentence is glorious, won't something that makes us acceptable to God be even more glorious?

Douay-Rheims Bible
For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more the ministration of justice aboundeth in glory.

English Revised Version
For if the ministration of condemnation is glory, much rather doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
If the ministry that brings punishment has glory, then the ministry that brings God's approval has an overwhelming glory.

Good News Translation
The system which brings condemnation was glorious; how much more glorious is the activity which brings salvation!

International Standard Version
For if the ministry of condemnation has glory, then the ministry of justification has an overwhelming glory.

Literal Standard Version
For if the ministry of the condemnation [is] glory, much more does the ministry of righteousness abound in glory;

Majority Standard Bible
For if the ministry of condemnation was glorious, how much more glorious is the ministry of righteousness!

New American Bible
For if the ministry of condemnation was glorious, the ministry of righteousness will abound much more in glory.

NET Bible
For if there was glory in the ministry that produced condemnation, how much more does the ministry that produces righteousness excel in glory!

New Revised Standard Version
For if there was glory in the ministry of condemnation, much more does the ministry of justification abound in glory!

New Heart English Bible
For if the service of condemnation has glory, the service of righteousness exceeds much more in glory.

Webster's Bible Translation
For if the ministration of condemnation was glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory.

Weymouth New Testament
For if the service which pronounces doom had glory, far more glorious still is the service which tells of righteousness.

World English Bible
For if the service of condemnation has glory, the service of righteousness exceeds much more in glory.

Young's Literal Translation
for if the ministration of the condemnation is glory, much more doth the ministration of the righteousness abound in glory;

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Glory of the New Covenant
8will not the ministry of the Spirit be even more glorious? 9For if the ministry of condemnation was glorious, how much more glorious is the ministry of righteousness! 10Indeed, what was once glorious has no glory now in comparison to the glory that surpasses it.…

Cross References
Deuteronomy 27:26
Cursed is he who does not put the words of this law into practice.' And let all the people say, 'Amen!'

Romans 1:17
For the gospel reveals the righteousness of God that comes by faith from start to finish, just as it is written: "The righteous will live by faith."

Romans 3:21
But now, apart from the law, the righteousness of God has been revealed, as attested by the Law and the Prophets.

2 Corinthians 3:7
Now if the ministry of death, which was engraved in letters on stone, came with such glory that the Israelites could not gaze at the face of Moses because of its fleeting glory,

2 Corinthians 3:8
will not the ministry of the Spirit be even more glorious?

2 Corinthians 3:10
Indeed, what was once glorious has no glory now in comparison to the glory that surpasses it.

Hebrews 12:18
For you have not come to a mountain that can be touched and that is burning with fire; to darkness, gloom, and storm;


Treasury of Scripture

For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more does the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory.

the ministration of condemnation.

2 Corinthians 3:6,7
Who 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…

Exodus 19:12-19
And thou shalt set bounds unto the people round about, saying, Take heed to yourselves, that ye go not up into the mount, or touch the border of it: whosoever toucheth the mount shall be surely put to death: …

Exodus 20:18,19
And all the people saw the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the noise of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking: and when the people saw it, they removed, and stood afar off…

the ministration of righteousness.

2 Corinthians 5:21
For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

Isaiah 46:13
I bring near my righteousness; it shall not be far off, and my salvation shall not tarry: and I will place salvation in Zion for Israel my glory.

Jeremiah 23:6
In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.

exceed.

2 Corinthians 3:10,11
For even that which was made glorious had no glory in this respect, by reason of the glory that excelleth…

1 Corinthians 15:41
There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory.

Hebrews 3:5,6
And Moses verily was faithful in all his house, as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken after; …

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Abound Abounds Condemnation Condemns Dispensation Doom Exceed Exceeds Far Glorious Glory Greater Law Ministration Ministry Operation Producing Pronounces Punishment Righteousness Service Spirit Splendor Tells
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Abound Abounds Condemnation Condemns Dispensation Doom Exceed Exceeds Far Glorious Glory Greater Law Ministration Ministry Operation Producing Pronounces Punishment Righteousness Service Spirit Splendor Tells
2 Corinthians 3
1. Lest their false teachers should charge him with vain glory,
2. he shows the faith of the Corinthians to be a sufficient commendation of his ministry.
6. Whereupon entering a comparison between the ministers of the law and of the gospel,
12. he proves that his ministry is so far the more excellent,
17. as the gospel of life and liberty is more glorious than the law of condemnation.














(9) If the ministration of condemnation be glory . . .--Many of the better MSS. give the reading, if there be glory to the ministry of condemnation. The latter phrase takes the place here of "the ministry of death" in 2Corinthians 3:7. The "letter," the "written law," as such, works death, because it brings with it the condemnation which awaits transgressors. It holds out to them the pattern of a righteousness which they have never had, and cannot of themselves attain unto, and passes its sentence on them as transgressors. Contrasted with it is the ministration which has "righteousness" as its object and result, and therefore as its characteristic attribute--the "law of the Spirit of life"--a law written in the heart, working not condemnation, but righteousness and peace and joy (Romans 8:1-4).

Verse 9. - The ministration of condemnation. The same antithesis between the Law as involving "condemnation" and the gospel as bestowing "righteousness" is found in Romans 5:18, 19. The glory; perhaps, rather, a glory; a stronger way of describing it as "glorious." Of righteousness. Involving the further conception of "justification," as in Romans 5:21; Romans 1:16, 17; Romans 4:25; Romans 5:21.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
For
γὰρ (gar)
Conjunction
Strong's 1063: For. A primary particle; properly, assigning a reason.

if
εἰ (ei)
Conjunction
Strong's 1487: If. A primary particle of conditionality; if, whether, that, etc.

the
τῇ (tē)
Article - Dative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

ministry
διακονία (diakonia)
Noun - Dative Feminine Singular
Strong's 1248: Waiting at table; in a wider sense: service, ministration. From diakonos; attendance; figuratively aid, service.

of condemnation
κατακρίσεως (katakriseōs)
Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's 2633: Condemnation, censure. From katakrino; sentencing adversely.

was glorious,
δόξα (doxa)
Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 1391: From the base of dokeo; glory, in a wide application.

how much
πολλῷ (pollō)
Adjective - Dative Neuter Singular
Strong's 4183: Much, many; often.

more
μᾶλλον (mallon)
Adverb
Strong's 3123: More, rather. Neuter of the comparative of the same as malista; more) or rather.

glorious
δόξῃ (doxē)
Noun - Dative Feminine Singular
Strong's 1391: From the base of dokeo; glory, in a wide application.

{is} the
(hē)
Article - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

ministry
διακονία (diakonia)
Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 1248: Waiting at table; in a wider sense: service, ministration. From diakonos; attendance; figuratively aid, service.

of righteousness!
δικαιοσύνης (dikaiosynēs)
Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's 1343: From dikaios; equity; specially justification.


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NT Letters: 2 Corinthians 3:9 For if the service of condemnation has (2 Cor. 2C iiC 2Cor ii cor iicor)
2 Corinthians 3:8
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