The Old Testament and the New Covenant Part 3
The apostle Paul compares the old and new covenants in II Corinthians chapter 3.
“God made us ministers of a New Covenant, not of the letter, but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. But if the ministry of death, in letters engraved on stone, came with glory, so that the sons of Israel could not look intently at the face of Moses because of the glory of his face, fading as it was, how shall the ministry of the Spirit fail to be even more filled with glory? For if the ministry of condemnation has glory, much more does the ministry of righteousness abound in glory. For indeed that which had glory, in this case has no glory on account of the glory that surpasses it. For if that which is coming to an end was with glory, much more that which remains is filled with glory” (II Corinthians 3:6-11).
This is a long passage with a lot of back and forth between the two covenants. To help us process what Paul is saying, I have listed which covenant he is referring to next to each phrase that describes it. Read this passage again paying attention to what is said about each covenant.
“God made us ministers of a New Covenant, not of the letter (Old Covenant), but of the Spirit (New Covenant); for the letter (Old Covenant) kills, but the Spirit (New Covenant) gives life. But if the ministry of death (Old Covenant), in letters engraved on stone (Old Covenant), came with glory, so that the sons of Israel could not look intently at the face of Moses because of the glory of his face, fading as it was, how shall the ministry of the Spirit (New Covenant) fail to be even more filled with glory? For if the ministry of condemnation (Old Covenant) has glory, much more does the ministry of righteousness (New Covenant) abound in glory. For indeed that which had glory (Old Covenant), in this case has no glory on account of the glory (New Covenant) that surpasses it. For if that which is coming to an end (Old Covenant) was with glory, much more that which remains (New Covenant) is filled with glory” (II Corinthians 3:6-11).
Look at the words that describe the two covenants. The Old Covenant is a ministry of the letter, the Law, of death, of condemnation; and has come to an end. The New Covenant is a ministry of the Spirit, of righteousness, of surpassing glory, of life; and is ongoing. Please notice this comparison, “coming to an end” vs “that which remains”. “That which remains” is the new covenant. The old covenant has come to an end.
But doesn’t the old covenant, known as the Law, play some role in the believer’s spiritual life? Doesn’t God’s grace give us what we need to follow the Law? Don’t we still have some connection to the Law? Questions the apostle Paul will answer for us next time.