2 Corinthians 3:6 Meaning and Explanation
“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.”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →God has made Paul a capable minister of the new covenant, which works not by the bare letter that brings death but by the Spirit that gives life.
What Does 2 Corinthians 3:6 Mean?
Paul names what God has equipped him for: service to the new covenant promised through the prophets. He sets a contrast that will guide the rest of the chapter, between the letter and the Spirit, between a code that condemns and a power that makes alive.
The letter that kills is the commandment standing alone, exposing sin yet unable to cure it. The Spirit gives what no written rule can: life from within. This is the heart of the good news. God does not merely tell us what is right and leave us to fail; through his Spirit he breathes new life into those who could not save themselves, fulfilling the law's purpose by transforming the person.
2 Corinthians 3:6 in the Original Language
diatheke (διαθήκη), 'testament' -- a covenant or solemn arrangement, here the new covenant established through Christ.
Frequently Asked Questions About 2 Corinthians 3:6
What does 2 Corinthians 3:6 mean?
God has made Paul a capable minister of the new covenant, which works not by the bare letter that brings death but by the Spirit that gives life.