This morning while I was reading the study outline for today's lesson, on my E-sword account, I discovered something of an inspiration and it is for this reason that I am sharing this with you. This comes from Paul's letter to the Corinthians in the second letter chapter 3 and for this study I will pull from verses 4 through 11 though the subject targeted matter is in verses 7 through 11 and pull also from verse 18 as well. I shall again copy and paste from the KJV and American Standard Bibles as the introduction to the Mirror Study Bible's out line, as coming from a renewed mindset as spoken of in Romans 12:1-3 written by Paul's hand.
2Co 3:4-6, 7-11, 18 (KJV) "And such trust have we through Christ to God-ward: Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God; 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.
But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away: How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious? For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory. For even that which was made glorious had no glory in this respect, by reason of the glory that excelleth. For if that which is done away was glorious, much more that which remaineth is glorious.
But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord."
2Co 3:4-6, 7-11, 18 (ASV) "And such confidence have we through Christ to God-ward: Not that we are sufficient of ourselves, to account anything as from ourselves; but our sufficiency is from God; Who also made us sufficient as ministers of a new covenant; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.
For if the ministration of death, written, and engraven on stones, came with glory, so that the children of Israel could not look stedfastly upon the face of Moses for the glory of his face; which glory was passing away: How shall not rather the ministration of the spirit be with glory? For if the ministration of condemnation hath glory, much rather doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory. For verily that which hath been made glorious hath not been made glorious in this respect, by reason of the glory that surpasseth. For if that which passeth away was with glory, much more that which remaineth is in glory.
But we all, with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are transformed into the same image from glory to glory, even as from the Lord the Spirit."
Okay, now for the Mirror Study Bible's rendering of this area:
2Cor. 3:4-6, 7-11, 18 Christ is our proof of our persuasion about you (manly) [1]before GOD. (The Greek preposition [1, G4314 translated to] pros, means towards; ie..face to face. see also 2Cor. 1:18, 19, and 20.) We have not [1]reached this conclusion by any merit of our own! Of GOD'S doing are we made competent! (The word, [1, G3049, Middle voice from G3056 logos, reason] logitsomai, means to reckon, making a calculation to which there can only be one logical conclusion.) It is GOD'S signature in our spirit that authorizes and authenticates us as New Testament ministers. We are not qualified by a legal document endorsed by a fellow human. The letter (of the Mosaic Law) is the administration of death (ignorance and spiritual bondage); It is the Spirit (of grace) that quickens life.
Because of its prophetic purpose even the old administration of death, carved in stone evidenced a glimpse of glory; For a brief moment the face of Moses shone with such brilliance that the people of Israel could not (more like, would not) even look at his face. The fact that this glory reflected in Moses was for a brief and fading confirmation of the ministry of the letter had a "sell by" date and that it was destined [1]to be brought to naught. (It served merely to emphasize the failure of the flesh to access the glory that Adam had lost (to sin, it became sin) on humanity's behalf. The word, [1, G2673, From G2596, down ward, and G691, to be idle, From G692] katarego, is derived from (G2596) kata, meaning intensity, and (G692) argos , meaning labor, denotes that the law of self works would be rendered entirely useless; Thus, the new arrangement would free humanity from all self effort to attempt to improve what GOD had already perfected (Gen. 2) in Christ. Consider the contrast of verse 18; From a mere glimpse of a veiled and fading glory to unveiling gazing into the face of glory as in a mirror and a transformed life radiating the same glory of Genesis 2, renewed or restored by mindset, ones perspective of thought.) How much more radiant would the ministry of the Spirit be? If the ministry of condemnation had a glimpse of glory, the glory that the ministry if righteousness now communicates far beyond any comparison! (There are two administrations: the one confirms humanity's guilt because of Adam; The other confirms humanity's innocence because of Christ! The one was upheld by the Mosaic Law; The other is sustained by the resurrected life of the Spirit. Humanity's standing before GOD is restored to that of it's origin, in Genesis 2; Where righteousness first reigned and then came in by merit of the cross, righteousness which far outweighs any attempt or dependency on the flesh to compete! Nothing that anyone can do can improve their standing before GOD!) What seemed glorious and important at the time has been reduced to total obscurity and irrelevance. The fragile and fading glory of the flesh is dwarfed into insignificance by the unfading glory of the resurrection life of the Spirit! (It being the original design as first seen in Genesis 2. The ministry of the New Testament reveals humanity's oneness and permanence. In Christ the idea of distance and delay is cancelled, whereas in religion any religion it remains a distant future some day or time kind of thing. Now verse 18)
For we all, with new understanding, see ourselves in Him as in a mirror. The days of window-shopping are over! In Him every face is [1]unveiled. In [2]gazing with wonder at the [5] blueprint of GOD'S display in humanity's form (His eternal image, ie..Gen. 1:26-27), we suddenly realize that we are looking into a mirror, where every feature of His [3]Image articulated in Christ is [2]reflected within us! The Spirit of the LORD engineers this radical [4]transformation; We are led [6]from an inferior [5]mind-set to the revealed [5]endorsement of our authentic identity. ( The word, [1, G343, from G303 (in the sense of reversal) and G2572] anakalupto, is from (G303) ana, a preposition denoting upward, to return again, and (G2572) kalupto, to uncover, unveil. The word, [2, G2734, middle voice from a compound of G2596 and a derivative of G3700 (compare G2072)] katoptrizomai, means to gaze into a reflection, to mirror oneself. Paul used [4, G] metamorphumetha as a present Passive indicative form (G3339 from G3326 and G3445 )metamorphoo, (G3326) meta, together with, and (G3445 morphoo) (G3444) morphe, form. [The word commonly translated sin, [1, G266 From G264, from G1 (as a negative particle) and the base of G3313] hamartia , is from (G1) ha , a negative or without and (G3313) meros, allotted portion of form; Thus, a distorted form, which is the opposite of metamorphe; with form. The word meros is the sum of morphe.] Now, with unveiled faces we are gazing at the glory of the LORD as in a mirror and metaporhe happens - image and likeness awakens within us!
The word, [3, G1504] eikon, translated as exact resemblance, image and likeness; eikon always assumes a prototype, a weak copy, that which it not merely resembles, but from that which it is drawn from; [5, G1391 from the base of G1380] doxa, glory, translates as mind-set, or opinion, from (G1380) dokeo, authentic, blueprint-thought. Changes 'from glory to glory,' apo doxes eis doxan; (G1519 translated, to) eis, is a point reached in conclusion; [6, G575 translated as from and by] apo, away from, meaning away from the glory of our original design that now defines us.Two glories are mentioned in this chapter; The glory of the flesh, which was veiled, because of it's fading kind of response represented by Moses and the unfading, unveiled glory of GOD'S I mage and likeness, now mirrored in the face of Christ redeemed in us,,,ie. humanity. Look at chapter 4:4-7 shared elsewhere in this blog.
[ Note, the Greek word translated "from" in this verse is not the same as the word translated "from" in Romans 1:17, where Paul says the unveiling of GOD'S righteousness is from faith to faith. Here he does not use the word apo, away from, but the preposition, ek, which always denotes source or origin.]
Some translations of this scripture read, "we are being changed from glory to glory." This would suggest that change is gradual and will more than likely take a lifetime, which was the typical thinking that trapped Israel for forty years in the wilderness of unbelief! It is reflected in all religious forms and systems still to this very day. We cannot become more than what we already are in Christ as the anointed ones. We do not grow more complete; We simply grow in knowledge and awareness of our completeness! [look at Colossians 3:10] How long does it take the beautiful swan to awaken to the truth of its design? The ugly duckling was an illustration of an illusion! Whatever it was that endorsed the 'ugly duckling' mindset, co-died together within Christ! In the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, GOD did not redeem a compromised replica of you; He rescued the original, blueprint you, created in His radiance of a mirrored likeness! Any other 'self' you're trying to find or esteem will disappoint! Look to Romans 6:11, Reckon your 'DIY-law of works-self' dead, and your redeemed self co-raised and co-seated together within Christ! This is freedom indeed! Galatians 2:19-20; 20, So here I am dead and alive at the same time! I'm dead to the old me I saw trying to be and alive to the real me which is Christ in me! Co-crucified, now co-alive! What a glorious entanglement! I was in Him in His flesh death; Now He is in me in my life! For the first time I'm free to be me in my skin, immersed in His faith in our joint-sonship, bone of His bone and flesh of His flesh (of Genesis 2:23)! He loves me and believes in me! He is GOD'S gift to me! ( The verb sustauroo, is in the Perfect tense, indicating that not only was I crucified with Christ in the past, but I am existing now in that present condition. How can any human effort improve on that?! Look again at Hosea 6:2 and Ephesians 2:5 also Romans 7:6. For now we are fully released from any further association with a life directed by the rule of the Mosaic Law, we are dead to that which once held humanity captive, free to be slaves to the newness of spirit-spontaneity rather than age old religious rituals, imitating the mere face value of the written code. The moment one exchanges spontaneity with rules, the edge of romance is compromised!)
Now you all know what I saw in that study....
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