1. 2 Corinthians Class Schedule
4/2/16 2 Cor 3: R. Henderson

2. 12  Therefore having such a hope, we use great boldness in our speech, 13  and are not like Moses, who used to put a veil over his face so that the sons of Israel would not look intently at the end of what was fading away. 14  But their minds were hardened; for until this very day at the reading of the old covenant the same veil remains unlifted, because it is removed in Christ. 15  But to this day whenever Moses is read, a veil lies over their heart; 16  but whenever a person turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.
17  Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.

3. 12 Therefore having such a hope, we use great boldness in our speech,
having – present tense, continuous action
hope - elpis - in the NT, favorable and confident expectation – when God is the source of the hope it is an absolute certainty
see Col 1:27
we use great boldness in our speech
Lit: we act with much boldness
we act - present tense, continuous action
boldness - parrēsia - from pas, "all," rhesis, "speech"; denotes primarily, freedom of speech, unreservedness of utterance – see Acts 4:29 & 31, Philemon 1:8-9

4. Exodus 34:29 It came about when Moses was coming down from Mount Sinai (and the two tablets of the testimony were in Moses' hand as he was coming down from the mountain), that Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone because of his speaking with Him. 30  So when Aaron and all the sons of Israel saw Moses, behold, the skin of his face shone, and they were afraid to come near him. 31  Then Moses called to them, and Aaron and all the rulers in the congregation returned to him; and Moses spoke to them. 32  Afterward all the sons of Israel came near, and he commanded them to do everything that the LORD had spoken to him on Mount Sinai. 33  When Moses had finished speaking with them, he put a veil over his face. 34  But whenever Moses went in before the LORD to speak with Him, he would take off the veil until he came out; and whenever he came out and spoke to the sons of Israel what he had been commanded, 35  the sons of Israel would see the face of Moses, that the skin of Moses' face shone. So Moses would replace the veil over his face until he went in to speak with Him.

5. so that – with a purpose that
13  and are not like Moses, who used to put a veil over his face so that the sons of Israel would not look intently at the end of what was fading away.
and are not like Moses who used to put a veil over his face
nor [do we act] like Moses (Amp)
one meaning of boldness of v:12 is “barefacedness” Constable
so that – with a purpose that
the sons of Israel would not look intently
look intently - to look fixedly, gaze – Luke 22:56, Acts 1:10
with the negative in above: “were not able to see”
at the end of what was fading away
fading away - katargeō - "to reduce to inactivity" (kata, "down," argos, "inactive") - see verses 11,14 & Rom 6:6
4/2/16 2 Cor 3: R. Henderson

6. But their minds were hardened
14  But their minds were hardened; for until this very day at the reading of the old covenant the same veil remains unlifted, because it is removed in Christ.
But their minds were hardened
hardened - pōroō - to make hard, callous, to petrify; of the mind (or thoughts) - in 2 Cor. 3:14, of those in Israel who refused the revealed will and ways of God in the Gospel
see John12:37-40, 2 Cor 4:4
for until this very day
for until this present day (Amp)

7. because it (veil) is removed in Christ
14  But their minds were hardened; for until this very day at the reading of the old covenant the same veil remains unlifted, because it is removed in Christ.
at the reading of the old covenant the same veil remains unlifted (lit: not being unveiled)
note: the old covenant with Israel was under the Law of Moses; therefore the Law is like a veil over Israel’s eyes
Gal 5:4 You have been severed from Christ, you who are seeking to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace.
because it (veil) is removed in Christ
removed - katargeō – rendered inoperative
see Gal 5:18, Rom 7:4

8. But to this day whenever Moses is read (lit: is being read)
15  But to this day whenever Moses is read, a veil lies over their heart;
But to this day whenever Moses is read (lit: is being read)
this day (lit: until today)
What does “whenever Moses is read” mean?
a veil lies over their heart;
first we had the veil remains unlifted (not being unveiled)
speaks of condition of the veil
now we have a veil lies over their heart
speaks of the place of the veil
heart - kardia - the word came to stand for man's entire mental and moral activity, both the rational and the emotional elements. see Matt 15:19-20, Rom10:9

9. 16 but whenever a person turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.
now Paul tells us what happens to a person when he becomes a believer
but whenever a person turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away
but whenever - hēníka - the word is used to indicate time
(lit: at which time)
But at the very instant a man turns to the Lord - McCalley
is taken away – from the word “to lift up and take away”; of a veil, to remove in 2 Cor. 3:16 (present, indicative, passive)
the veil is being continuously taken away in Christ
We will see the wonderful results of an “unveiled face” in the last verse (i.e. v18)

10. where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty
17  Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.
Now the Lord is the Spirit
This speaks of the unity of the Trinity and that the Spirit is God
This verse explains the former one. The Holy Spirit (v:3, 6, 8) is the member of the Trinity who causes a person to understand and believe that Jesus Christ is the fulfillment of the law.
Constable
where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty
liberty – lit: freedom
Rom 8:2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.
see Gal 5:1 & 13, Acts 13:39
4/2/16 2 Cor 3: R. Henderson