Remarks on 2 Cor. iii by George W. Holt

Publishing Committee · Saratoga Springs, N. Y. · Jan 13, 1852

Remarks on 2 Cor. iii.

By George W. Holt

It is considered by some that this chapter produces positive proof that the law, or ten commandments that were written and engraven in the two tables of stone by the finger of God, are “abolished,” “done away,” when in fact it gives not the least intimation of the kind.

The apostle Paul in this chapter is contrasting the ministration of the old covenant under Moses, with the ministration of the new covenant under Jesus Christ. It is well known that there is an essential difference between a law, and the ministration of a law. A law is the constitution necessary for the government of the people. The ministry is the ordained powers to carry its laws into execution.

Verse 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 fleshly tables of the heart.” This verse declares the Corinthians to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, Paul, Silvanus and Timotheus. Chap. i, 19. It is not written with ink as it was by Moses in a book under the old covenant, “But with the Spirit of the living God.” The ten commandments are not written in tables of stone as they were under the ministration of Moses, “But in fleshly tables of the heart.” See Heb. viii, 10.

Verse 6. “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.” The minister, or ordained power under the old covenant killed the transgressor of the law written on tables of stone. The man that broke the letter of that law was stoned to death. There was no promise of life to the sinner. It is properly called the ministration of death in the next verse. The minister administered death to the sinner under the old covenant. “But the Spirit giveth life.” The minister under the new covenant administers life through Jesus Christ, instead of death. One is the ministration of the letter that killed, the other the ministration of the spirit that giveth life.

Paul considered “the ministration of death,” when the law was “written and engraven in stones.” A glorious one; but that “was to be done away,” and the one that excelleth to remain. “For if that which is done away was glorious much more that which remaineth is glorious.” What is “done away?” The ministration of death is done away, and the ministration of the Spirit, that giveth life, remaineth.

Verse 12. “Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech.” Hope of what? Of life through “Jesus Christ who hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel?” 2 Tim. i, 10. The glory of the latter ministration eclipses the glory of the former. The children of Israel could not see that death was abolished when they read Moses, because the veil was upon their heart; but “when it (the heart) shall turn to the Lord, the veil shall be taken away.” That veil is the ministration of Moses; that would be taken away when they looked at the blood of Christ for the atonement that taketh away sin; and faith is revealed by the Spirit. “Now the Lord is that Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.” That is, if they have the spirit of Christ dwelling in them, they are free from the bondage of death and condemnation that they were under, while under the ministration of Moses; and while they are beholding the glory of the Lord, they are changed from glory to glory, by the spirit of the Lord.

Thus we see the difference of the two ministrations clearly taught in this chapter, and not the abolition of the Law of God written on the tables of stone. But the abolishment of death, and the bringing in a better covenant, established on better promises, when the holy laws of God are written in the fleshly tables of the heart, and put in the mind by the holy Spirit. For, said Jesus, “the Holy Ghost shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.” And under this covenant the promise of mercy through Jesus Christ, and life by the holy Spirit is a more glorious ministration. May we all with open face behold this glory, and be changed into the same image from glory to glory, until we are changed from mortal to immortality, and caught up to meet the Lord in the air, and behold the glories of the New Jerusalem, and the earth made new. Amen.

G. W. HOLT. Rochester, (N. Y.), Dec. 18th, 1851.