Commentary on 2 Corinthians 3:12—4:2

This fascinating passage from Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians is part of his larger discussion with them of what it means to be “in Christ.” Paul seeks to distinguish and defend his ministry from other forms of ministry in Corinth, ones that might also appeal to the Corinthians. 

A fragmentary letter?

Scholars have debated whether this letter should be interpreted as a single letter or as a series of fragments. While there are good arguments for reading the letter as a series of fragments (with breaks in the argument at the following points: 1:1–2:13; 2:14–6:13; 6:14–7:1; 7:2–7:16; 8:1–24; 9:1–15; 10:1–13:13), there are also solid arguments for reading the letter as a unified whole. For lay readers, this scholarly debate is not incredibly important, since they most regularly encounter the text as a whole. This passage (3:12–4:2) tends to be interpreted within the context of the surrounding chapters in most configurations, due to the continuation of the argumentation and themes. 

Rival ministries

At issue in Corinth is the concern about leadership and authority—which ministry and whose teachings should the Corinthians follow? Much of 2 Corinthians can be read as Paul’s response to accusations about his leadership and the truth of his ministry, such as why he changed his plans to come to them (1:15–2:2), the authority with which he speaks (2:17), the raising of funds for the saints in Jerusalem (8:1–9:15), and the skill and manner with which he communicates (10:10). 

Compared to other ministries that depend on human qualifications of rhetorical training or lineage, Paul states that his qualifications come from God (3:5), and that his letter of recommendation is written on their hearts by the Spirit of the living God (3:3). He argues that they are his letter of recommendation that his ministry is good and is of God (3:3). 

Danger of supersessionist readings

This passage (3:12–4:2) has often been interpreted to promote supersession, a belief that falsely pits Christianity against Judaism. Paul should not be interpreted as saying that Judaism is a religion of death and condemnation while Christianity is one of glory. Such readings are both anachronistic and unethical. While Paul has been called on a mission to the Gentiles, it is a Jewish mission to bring these Gentiles into the people of Israel through Christ. Paul’s argument in this passage is that turning to the Spirit of the Lord brings transformation into the same image and same community, while focusing on divisions breaks apart the community and divides people from the Lord. 

In the tradition of Moses

On the one hand, Paul wants to root the Corinthian Gentiles who are “in Christ” in the history of the Israelites as descendants of the tradition of Moses. Moses received the Law in glory. This Law enables the people of Israel to remain in covenant with God as God’s people. The glory of Moses’ face and of the Spirit is like a light shining in bright sunlight. While the glory of the Lord is shown through Moses, this glory is being transformed into another degree of glory in the Spirit of the Lord that works through Paul and the “in Christ” Corinthians. Paul wants the “in Christ” Gentiles to see themselves in this tradition of glory and the history of the Israelites. 

People of the Spirit

On the other hand, as he constructs the Corinthians as people of the Spirit, Paul also distinguishes his ministry from the people of Israel who do not recognize Christ or the inclusion of the Gentiles. The people of Israel only recognize the covenant between God and Abraham (Genesis 12 and following) that Abraham’s descendants must be circumcised in the flesh to be God’s people. This is symbolized in the veil over their hearts. But the new covenant with Christ allows for the Gentiles to be grafted into the people of God as descendants through a circumcision of the heart and spirit (see Romans 2:28–29). 

Gloriously transformed

Paul wants the Corinthians to be a part of the people of God, to be transformed from disparate groups into the same image, all reflective of God’s image. All are made into the glorious image of God. This transformation is only possible by seeing the glory of the Lord, reflected in one another. When we feel ourselves to be a part of the people of God, we feel at ease, free to join together in community. While people may come from different backgrounds, lineages, ideologies, nations, ethnicities, genders, political parties, or statuses, through the Spirit of the living Christ all people are transformed into the beloved community. 

Christians today

Christians reading this passage today should take away the idea that when they love and recognize the “other” as reflecting the image of God, it frees them to join with that other as part of the same glorious image and same community. Christians should renounce shameful behaviors of hate that divide the body of Christ, such as denying another person’s inherent worth as created in the image of God. Racism, sexism, transphobia, homophobia, and nationalism are some examples of these enslaving and hateful movements of division today. 

But in spite of these hateful forces, Paul argues that since we know the truth of the freedom available in the glory of the living Spirit of the Lord, we must not lose hope. We must not lose heart. Life-giving transformation of individuals and the community is ongoing, even if its progress cannot always be seen immediately. Freedom is coming. 

Critical questions

Reading this passage critically inspires questions as to whether Paul goes far enough toward inclusivity. Are there valid reasons that certain members of the community might need distance from others or to form separate community groups, such as concerns about safety or belonging, for example? While Paul’s rhetoric suggests that all are created in the same image, does this same rhetoric negate differences that might be important for maintaining unique identities? There is a difference between unity and uniformity, and it is not always clear which one Paul would like to see, or which one would actually work best for the community.