Ministers of a New Covenant

1Do we again begin to commend ourselves? or whether have we need of commendatory letters to you or from you, as some do? 2You are our letter, having been written in our hearts, known and read of all men, 3being manifest that you are the letter of Christ, having been ministered by us, having been written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God: not in tables of stone, but in tables that are hearts of flesh.

4But we have such confidence through Christ towards God, 5not that we are able of ourselves to think anything as from ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God; 6who also rendered us able ministers of the new covenant; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter kills, but the spirit creates life.

The Glory of the New Covenant

7But if the ministry of death, having been written in letters of stone, was in glory, so that the sons of Israel were not able to look upon the face of Moses on account of the glory of his countenance; which was destined to be done away: 8how will not the ministry of the spirit be more in glory? 9For if there was glory in the ministry of condemnation, how much more does the ministry of righteousness abound in glory. 10For indeed that which was glorious, has ceased to be glorious in this respect on account of the transcendent glory. 11For if that which was to be done away was through glory, much more is that which abides in glory.

12Then having such hope, we use great boldness, 13and not as Moses put the veil on his face, in order that the sons of Israel might not look forward to the end of that which was transitory. 14But their minds were darkened. For until this day the same veil remains in the reading of the old covenant, remains, not lifted; because it is done away in Christ; 15but until this day when Moses is read, the veil lies upon their heart: 16but when they may turn to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 17But the Lord is a Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. 18But we all, with unveiled face beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.