2 Corinthians 3:6

He also gave us the ability to be ministers of a new agreement, based not on the letter of the law, but on the spirit. The letter of the law kills, but the spirit gives life.

Free Bible Version

In The King James Version

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.

In Context

5Not that we would consider ourselves able to do this on our own—it's God who gives us this capacity!

7However, the old way of relating to God, written in letters carved in stone, ended in death, even though it came with God's glory—so much so that the Israelites couldn't even bear to look at Moses' face because it shone so brightly, even though the glory was fading.

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Cross References

Deuteronomy 27:26“A curse on anyone who doesn't carefully obey all these laws by keeping them!” Everyone says “Amen!”

Matthew 13:52“This is why every religious teacher who's learned about the kingdom of heaven is like a house-owner who brings out from his storeroom both new and old treasures,” Jesus said.

Mark 14:24“This is my blood,” he told them, “the agreement that's being poured out for many.

John 5:21For just as the Father gives life to those he resurrects from the dead, in the same way the Son also gives life to those that he wants.

Romans 1:5It was through him that I received the privilege of becoming an apostle to call all nations to obedient trust in him.

Romans 3:20For no one is made right before God by doing what the law requires. The law only helps us recognize what sin really is.

Matthew Henry on 2 Corinthians 3:2-6

Apology for Seeming Self-Commendation. ( a. d. 57.) 1 Do we begin again to commend ourselves? or need we, as some others, epistles of commendation to you, or letters of commendation from you? 2 Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men: 3 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 fleshy tables of the heart. 4 And such trust have we through Christ to… Read the whole commentary →

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