ELNORA'S BIBLE STUDY WITH FRIENDS, 2 Corinthians, Chapter 3 - Friday, October 18, 2024 (Jennifer's Birthday!!!)

 

        

Introduction to Chapter 3

Earlier chapters described the Corinthians' response to Paul's earlier instructions. Here, Paul once again defends the legitimacy of his role as an apostle of Christ. He then compares the old covenant of the law of Moses with the new covenant of faith in Christ. The old covenant revealed human sinfulness, God's condemnation, and the death required to pay for sin. The new covenant brings God's forgiveness for sin to all who trust in Christ, making it possible to look on His glory and to begin to be changed by it into the image of Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit. This launches Paul into a description of the value of the gospel, in contrast to the struggles of earthly life.  (https://www.bibleref.com/2-Corinthians/3/2-Corinthians-chapter-3.html)

An Introduction, Verses 1-6, TEANNIE

1 Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, like some people, letters of recommendation to you or from you? ² You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everyone. ³ 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. ⁴ Such confidence we have through Christ before God. ⁵ Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God. ⁶ He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant—not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

^{SECTION QUESTIONS:} 

1. How are the Corinthians like letters of recommendation for Paul and the apostles of Christ? 

2. Explain vers 3 for us in your own words. 

THOUGHT QUESTIONS: 

1. What do you think Paul is saying in verse 6? 

2. How do you feel about Paul's need to consistently defend the legitimacy of his role as an apostle of Christ? 

The Glory of the New Covenant, Part 1, Verses 7-11, KITTY

⁷ Now if the ministry that brought death, which was engraved in letters on stone, came with glory, so that the Israelites could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of its glory, transitory though it was, ⁸ will not the ministry of the Spirit be even more glorious? ⁹ If the ministry that brought condemnation was glorious, how much more glorious is the ministry that brings righteousness! ¹⁰ For what was glorious has no glory now in comparison with the surpassing glory. ¹¹ And if what was transitory came with glory, how much greater is the glory of that which lasts!

^{SECTION QUESTIONS:} 

1. Why do you think Paul refers to the old covenant as "the ministry that brought death"?

2. "...engraved in letters on stone"...what is Paul referencing here? 

3. "...could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of its glory"... (Exodus 34:29-35)

4. What was being brought to an end? (Verse 11)

^{THOUGHT QUESTIONS:}

1. How can we reflect God's glory to the people around us? 

2. If Paul was not saying the old covenant was bad and the new covenant is good, what is he saying to us? (Verses 9-11) 

Ministers of the New Covenant, Verses 12-18, DESTINY

¹² Therefore, since we have such hope, we are very bold. ¹³ We are not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face to prevent the Israelites from seeing the end of what was passing away. ¹⁴ But their minds were made dull, for to this day the same veil remains when the old covenant is read. It has not been removed, because only in Christ is it taken away. ¹⁵ Even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts. ¹⁶ But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. ¹⁷ Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. ¹⁸ And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate^[a] the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

^{SECTION QUESTIONS:} 

1. Who are those the scriptures reference when it says, "...the same veil remains when the old covenant is read."? How is the veil removed? 

2. What is verse 17 saying to us? 

^{THOUGHT QUESTIONS:}

1. What is the significance of the veil that covered Moses' face and the veil in the temple of God?

2. How are we being transformed into the image of God with ever-increasing glory? 

Application: 

Is something holding you in bondage? Is there perhaps a sin with power over you that you want to break free from? Your own willpower is not enough to set you free. You need Jesus. You need the power of the Holy Spirit. Confess that sin to God. And ask His Spirit to empower you to live a victorious life. Then pursue righteousness by getting accountability and taking practical steps to protect yourself from temptation. Source: https://studyandobey.com/inductive-bible-study/2-corinthians/2-corinthians-3-7-18/

The Mosaic Law was given with a specific purpose: 

1. Giving a clear standard of right and wrong, God's standard. 

2. Showing that no person could keep this standard. 

3. With this standard, providing a mirror that emphasizes people's sin. 

4. Confirming that people are hopelessly mired in sin which brings death. 

5. Preparing people for a Savior by teaching them that they cannot ever save themselves. 

Source: https://studyandobey.com/inductive-bible-study/2-corinthians/2-corinthians-3-7-18/

The Good News:

God created the world.

People sinned. 

Sin has consequences including death, judgment, and separation from God.

There is nothing any person can do on how own to solve this problem of sin. 

God loves you and he made a way for you to be reconciled. 

He sent His son, Jesus, as a Savior.

Jesus died to take away your sin and rose again to prove He could. 

Source: https://studyandobey.com/inductive-bible-study/2-corinthians/2-corinthians-3-7-18/

Prayer Confession for 2Corinthians, Chapter 3

“Do we begin again to commend ourselves? or need we, as some others, epistles of commendation to you, or letters of commendation from you?” 2Corinthians 3:1

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that there is nothing I can do to commend myself to You because Jesus did it all on the Cross, on my behalf. Thank You that by faith in His death and Resurrection, I have been declared righteous and have been brought into the family of God. Keep me from any legalistic leanings and give me discernment to identify and reject teachers and teachings that are not from You. I pray that my life may be a sweet aroma to my fellow believers and You, and help me to grow in grace and in the knowledge of the Lord Jesus, day by day. This I ask in His precious name, AMEN.

“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.” 2Corinthians 3:3

Thank You, Father, for the day-by-day working of the Holy Spirit in my life. Shape me into the vessel that You would have me be, and may my life be an open letter to all who cross my path so that I may be a good and faithful witness to my Savior and King. In Jesus' name, I pray, AMEN.

“Such confidence we have through Christ before God.” 2Corinthians 3:4

Heavenly Father, thank You that our confidence is not in ourselves but in Christ, as the indwelling Spirit of God transforms us, day by day, into the image and likeness of the Lord Jesus. May we be living epistles that show forth the love of God and the truth of the glorious gospel of grace in all we say and do for Your praise and glory. This I ask in Jesus' name, AMEN.

“Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.” 2Corinthians 3:17

Heavenly Father, thank You that I am a full and equal member of the Church and that by Your grace I was baptized into the Body of Christ at the moment of my salvation. Thank You that I can partake of the same spiritual benefits that have been promised to all Your children. Thank You for the gifts, graces, benefits, and ministry You have seen fit to give to me, by Your grace. I pray that I may be a willing and obedient member of Christ's Body and fulfill all the work You have prepared for me to do, to Your praise and glory. This I ask in Jesus' name and for His eternal glory, AMEN.

“But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.” 2Corinthians 3:18

Heavenly Father, thank You for Your written Word and the glories it contains. Help me not to become too familiar with its truth that I become complacent. Help me to read Your Word with childlike expectation and a deep-seated sense of awe. May I increasingly see the beauty of Jesus radiating from its pages, and I pray that as I gaze on His loveliness, I too will start to be transformed from glory to glory. This I pray in Jesus' name, AMEN.

Source: https://prayer.knowing-jesus.com/3-Corinthians/3