John Bengel Commentary - 2 Corinthians 3:18 - 3:18

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John Bengel Commentary - 2 Corinthians 3:18 - 3:18


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2Co 3:18. Ἡμεῖς δὲ πάντες, but we all) we all, the ministers of the New Testament, in antithesis to Moses, who was but one person.-ἀνακεκαλυμμένῳ προσώπῳ) our face being unveiled with regard to men; for in regard to God, not even Moses’ face was veiled. The antithesis is hid, 2Co 4:3.-τὴν δόξαν, the glory) divine majesty.-Κυρίου, of the Lord) Christ.-κατοπτριζόμενοι) The Lord makes us mirrors, κατοπτρίζει, puts the brightness of His face into our hearts as into mirrors: we receive and reflect that brightness. An elegant antithesis to ἐντετυπωμένη, engraved [2Co 3:7, the ministration of death-the law-engraven on stones]: for things which are engraven become so by a gradual process, the images which are reflected in a mirror are produced with the utmost celerity.-τὴν αὐτὴν) the same, although we are many. The same expression [lively reproduction] of the glory of Christ in so many believers, is the characteristic mark of truth.-εἰκόνα, the image) of the Lord, which is all glorious.-μεταμορφούμεθα, we are transformed) The Lord forms by quick writing (2Co 3:3) His image in us; even as Moses reflected the glory of God. The passive retains the accusative; as in the phrase, διδάσκομαι υἱόν.-ἀπο δόξης εἰς δόξαν, from glory to glory) from the glory of the Lord to glory in us. The Israelites had not been transformed from the glory of Moses into a similar glory; for they were under the letter.-καθάπερ, even as) an adverb of likeness: comp. 2Co 3:13. As the Lord impresses Himself on us, so He is expressed to the life by us. He Himself is the model; we are the copies [images].-ἀπὸ Κυρίου πνεύματος) from [by] the Lord’s (viz. Christ’s, 2Co 3:14) Spirit. This refers to 2Co 3:17, but where the Spirit of the Lord, etc. If there were an apposition Paul would have said, ἀπὸ Κυρίου τοῦ πνεύματος. Elsewhere the Spirit of the Lord is the mode of expression; but here the Lord’s Spirit, emphatically. Ἀπὸ is used as in 2Co 1:2, and often in other places.