2 Corinthians 3:7-9 - How much more glorious

3:7,8

For the Jews the new covenant was a radical departure. Even though it was a continuation of God’s plans, and the fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets, it required a radical new way of thinking (Matt 9:14-17). It also requires a new way of thinking for Gentiles, ie for anyone. The Corinthians’ minds were saturated with ideas of human glory, and 1 Corinthians had to deal with some of this. All man thinking is man-centred. Letting go of something is difficult, here Paul is assuring them that the glory of the new covenant is greater than that of the old, and is teaching them the new thinking that they require. 

Under the old covenant Moses’ face was reflecting a little of the glory of God when he came down from the mountains (Ex 34:29-35), his face was radiant. This was for a law that ultimately brought death, for it declared judgement on those who did not meet the Law’s requirements (ie all of us). The gospel, the new covenant, brings life. So one would expect it to be even more glorious.

3:9

The Law brought condemnation because it showed up man’s sinfulness, yet it was glorious. The gospel brings righteousness, so it will be even more glorious. See what is going on here. The Jews were afraid of losing the glory of the Law. The gentiles were afraid of losing the glory of man. They would indeed lose these things,  but the glory of the gospel is many times greater than the glory of the Law, and definitely greater than man’s glory. We see this phenomenon again and again. People react against the gospel because they fear losing something, and indeed they will lose something. The gospel does demand change, it does demand repentance. But we gain far, far more than we ever lose.