KELSIE PETERSEN | Former Adventist and Mom of Three Boys
In the past months, I admit I’ve been stuck. It seems when I sit down to read the Bible, the words just pass right through my mind, and I struggle to retain what I’ve read and let it sink in. My solution to this has been to just continue to read the same passage over and over again, until it feels like it’s sunk in. I’ve been “stuck” in 2 Corinthians this way for some time, and though I struggle with feeling guilty over not making more “progress” in my reading, it has been beneficial in a few ways. The biggest benefit is simply having TIME to read over the passages again and again and let them sink in.
As someone who has, in the past, lived under the bondage of the law, a portion that has particularly struck me is 2 Corinthians 3:3-18. While I’d read these verses before and was certainly aware that they existed, being able to spend time going over and over them has made them all the more poignant. The comparison between the old and the new covenants is clear, and as I broke down the two descriptions, I put all the descriptions and comparison of the old covenant into one place, and I wrote the same for the new covenant in a separate place. As I examined these details, the picture became even more apparent.
The Contrasts Begin
The comparison of the Old and the New begins in verse 3, where Paul transitions from speaking about how the Corinthians are a testament to his ministry, and how their lives are not written with ink, or on stone, but with the Spirit on tablets of human hearts.
He then moves to contrasting the difference between the old and new covenants, weaving comparisons and metaphors into the next 14 verses. As he weaves back and forth between the two, he paints a very clear picture of what the old covenant is and was, as well as the reality of the new covenant. Because of the way he moves back and forth between the two, drawing previous metaphors back into new ones, Paul’s first comparison is between the sources or forms of each covenant. He states that the new covenant is “of the Spirit,” “not of the letter.” He adds that the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. What a stark contrast!
As an Adventist, I was taught that the Ten Commandments, which will, in the next section, be identified as the old covenant, were the literal transcription of God’s character. As we go on, though, Paul makes it even more clear that he IS referring to the Ten Commandments. How did we justify identifying the Ten Commandments as the “transcript of God’s character” in light of what is said here? How could letters that KILL be God’s character?
As we will see at the end of the passage, God is quite the opposite of what we Adventists were taught He is.
In the next verses, Paul makes it painfully clear that he IS referring to the Ten Commandments. Often, those who would like to draw us back either to the Decalogue’s being binding (such as the Seventh-day Adventist Church), or a “good idea” for the church to observe will make a distinction between a “moral” law and a “ceremonial” law, claiming that Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross only fulfilled the ceremonies and sacrifices. These, they claim, are the substance of the old covenant, but that the Ten Commandments stand alone and are ongoing.
This phrase, “…the ministry of death, carved in letters on stone…” couldn’t be clearer: the Ten Commandments are in focus here.
This phrase, “…the ministry of death, carved in letters on stone…” couldn’t be clearer: the Ten Commandments are in focus here. While there will be other contrasts drawn that paint the Ten Commandments in a less than positive light, right out of the gate, Paul calls them “the ministry of death.” It’s not a gentle approach, and it’s meant to lower the defenses of his audience. He is determined to be very clear and not leave any room for misunderstanding. While there will still be those who argue that there may have been other laws written on tablets of stone, the scriptural record really only mentions one law, and that is the Ten Commandments. It is most reasonable to approach this passage by understanding that Paul is referring to the Decalogue—especially given the next comparison: glory.
Contrasts In Glory
The next word picture Paul paints to compare the two covenants is a contrast of “glory”. Glory is described as a shining or physical glowing, at times so bright that the human eye cannot behold it. Paul says in verse 7 that this “ministry of death” came with glory that prevented the Israelites from even looking at Moses’ face.
This story is found in Exodus 34, and it details how Moses returned from being in the presence of God on Mount Sinai, unaware that the glory of God was continuing to reflect from the skin of his face. The people were afraid of him, and the Exodus passages says he would take the veil off when he returned to the presence of the Lord, then put it on again when he came back to the Israelites.
In 2 Corinthians 3:13, though, we read the additional insight that Moses also continued to wear the veil to prevent the people from seeing that the glory was fading away (because he was not continually in the presence of the Lord). Therefore, while Paul must concede that the old covenant DID come with glory, he repeatedly makes the point that it was “transitory” (NIV), and “brought to an end” (ESV—verses 7 and 11).
Verse 10 further states that that which HAD (past tense, referring to the ministry of death, carved in letters on stone) glory, now has no glory at all—that is, it has lost the reflection of the presence of God.
To compare and contrast the old and new covenant, we read in verse nine that because the new covenant brings righteousness where the old brought condemnation, the new must be that much MORE glorious. Verse 11 says that this “more glorious” glory of the new covenant is a glory that will last, and it has no end point. As we read to the end of this passage, verse 18 takes it even a step further, proclaiming that this better, bigger glory will “ever increase” (NIV), and in the ESV it says that we will be transformed “from one degree of glory to another,” giving the same idea of increasing glory compared to the decreasing glory of the old covenant that finally fades away
The Veil of Separation
As I’ve pondered this passage, the imagery of the veil has been something that has caught my attention, something I’ve spent more time pondering than the others. As striking and blunt as it is to call the old covenant/Ten Commandments the “ministry of death” and something that “kills,” the idea of the veil has been intriguing to me. Exodus 34 tells us that Moses didn’t even realize his face was shining brightly, but it was because Aaron and the Israelites were afraid that he put the veil over his face. While on the surface, the veil provided a sense of safety for the fearful Israelites, it also effectively provided separation between the Israelites and the glory of the Lord reflected in Moses’ face. In essence, it kept the people from a fuller realization of the glory and majesty of the God who had brought them up out of Egypt and rescued them from slavery.
As I was reading, I was also struck with the similarity of the veil that Moses wore and the curtain that separated the Holy and Most Holy Places of the tabernacle and temples. The Holy Place was where priests could go, but the Most Holy Place was where only the High Priest could go—and only once a year. The veil that separated the people of Israel from the glory of the very presence of God displayed on the face of Moses is similar in function to the curtain which separated people from the presence and glory of God.
This comparison becomes more interesting when I realize that the reason Moses’s veil was no longer needed was that the glory faded.
This comparison becomes more interesting when I realize that the reason Moses’s veil was no longer needed was that the glory faded. The temple curtain, however, ceased its usefulness when Jesus completed His sacrifice on the cross, making a way for us to return to the Father and be in His presence based on the merits of Christ on our behalf! That is a glory that will never fade and never end.
In fact, when we visit the book of Revelation, we read:
“And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb.”—(Revelation 21:23)
As we continue moving through the passage in 2 Corinthians, this juxtaposition of the two “glories” becomes more and more distinct.
Continuing with the picture of the veil, Paul uses verses 12–16 to discuss the impact and effect of this veil, showing how it figuratively continues to this day. He says that another purpose of the veil was so that Moses could “prevent the Israelites from seeing the end of what was passing away,” (NIV) or “so that the Israelites might not gaze at the outcomes of what was being brought to an end.”
It seems that one of the purposes of the veil, from Moses’ perspective, was to somehow not let Israel see that the glory he reflected from spending time in the presence of the Lord was not lasting. We don’t know how long this shining glory lasted on his face, as the veil is not mentioned again in the stories of Moses and the Israelites, but it is clear from this passage that the glory was NOT something that lasted, and this temporary glory was reflective of the “glory” of the “ministry of death, carved in letters on stone.”
Even though Moses did not physically continue to wear a veil because there was no need for one, Paul continues on to say that the veil remains, metaphorically, to separate people from the full realization of the glory of the Lord when they “read the old covenant,” even to this day. Of course, the context of this statement is that Israel, on the whole, has rejected Jesus as the expected Messiah, so they would be reading the old covenant in its original context. In contrast, when we as believers read the old covenant, we can read it through the lens of the new understanding that its purpose has been fulfilled!
When I read this passage, my mind is also drawn back to Adventism and to other groups who would say that the Ten Commandments are still binding on believers. When we do not acknowledge the fulfillment of the old covenant and place ourselves, even partially, under the authority of the old, if what Paul says is true, we are prevented from seeing the full reality of Scripture. We are blinded to how the finished work of Christ on the cross impacts us, and what it means for our reality as believers.
Paul does not leave the reader hopeless, however! In verse 16, he says “BUT…” (one of my favorite Bible words) “…when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed” (ESV). He is clearly making a distinction between the way the Israelites were to turn to, and trust, the Lord under the old covenant, and the way we, as believers, are to do so under the new covenant. Here, Paul is not speaking to unbelievers among the Gentiles, but specifically to those who have been sitting under the teaching and authority of the old covenant. Adventism and other groups that hold the Ten Commandments as binding would be included in this group.
So, what is the impact of the veil being removed? In the remaining two verses of the chapter, he tells us.
Transformed Into Greater Glory
Paul expands his reference to turning to the Lord and reminds us in verse 17, “Now the Lord is Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.”
From this sentence we understand that the impact of turning to the Lord and having that veil removed is that we are free. Free to do what?
Verse 18 explains,
“And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image, from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.”—(2 Corinthians 3:18, ESV)
The NIV has some different wording which I also found interesting. It says “And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into His image, with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.”
When we turn to the Lord, we are FREE: free to behold, to contemplate, to gaze upon, not glance fleetingly, at the Lord’s glory. We are free to see Him for who He really is.
In April of this year, much of North America experienced at least some degree of a total solar eclipse. Of course, in the weeks leading up to the event, we all read the warnings against looking directly at the sun in an effort to see the eclipse. People bought special viewing glasses or made special tools with which to view the eclipse without looking directly at it.
Despite my best efforts to be the ever-prepared homeschool mom, I had nothing prepared for my son with which to experience this event. In the hours leading up to the eclipse in our area, though, I suddenly wished I had—something! I turned to the internet, and I found different things online that indicated the frequency of search terms such as “what to do if I looked at the sun” increased exponentially, so I knew I wasn’t the only one unprepared!
Now, if you will promise me not to think less of me, I will admit that I devised a very carefully thought out (but perhaps unwise) plan to close my eyes, point my face at the sun and quickly open and close my eyes. This worked, perhaps to my detriment, as I was able to see the shadow of the image of the eclipsed sun in my closed eyes afterwards for several minutes**. But—it faded.
For those who had the foresight to order the special lenses, they were able to view the eclipse, but not in its full reality.
…unlike the old covenant, which not only had no power to transform but actually brought death, the new covenant brings life and freedom, and it has the power to transform us through “ever-increasing” glory.
When we turn to the Lord, however, we are able to view the glory of the Lord, to gaze upon it, to contemplate it, without turning away. And, unlike the old covenant, which not only had no power to transform but actually brought death, the new covenant brings life and freedom, and it has the power to transform us through “ever-increasing” glory. There is no end to this glory; rather, it transforms us from one degree to another.
Of course, we will not fully realize the glory of God until we are with Him in heaven, and His glory becomes THE light. Earlier I referred to Revelation 21:23 where it speaks of the glory of God Himself being the light for the city. It goes on to say that, “By its light, the nations will walk…”.
Everything that exists will be made seeable and knowable because of the brilliance of the full glory of the Lord. The verse earlier talks about how there is no temple because the temple IS the Lord God the Almighty. The veil is torn, the glory is revealed.
What we see now, as believers in Christ Jesus, partakers in the new covenant, is only a taste of what we will see when we see Him face to face. When I contemplate from what we have been plucked, what we have the privilege of living here on earth, and then think ahead to the wonder that awaits us, my heart can’t help but be filled with gratitude. What a privilege we have now, and what thrill and awe await us when we finally behold Him, face to face. †
**For those wondering, I was able to find a quick DIY method with which to view the eclipse. By holding a kitchen strainer up to the window, so the sun could shine through, an image of the eclipsed sun was projected through each hole of the strainer, giving hundreds of tiny “eclipse” projections onto my kitchen floor. The next eclipse is in 2043, and I plan to be better prepared!
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