KJV: For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory.
YLT: for if the ministration of the condemnation is glory, much more doth the ministration of the righteousness abound in glory;
Darby: For if the ministry of condemnation be glory, much rather the ministry of righteousness abounds in glory.
ASV: For if the ministration of condemnation hath glory, much rather doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory.
| τῇ | in the |
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Parse: Article, Dative Feminine Singular Root: ὁ Sense: this, that, these, etc. |
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| διακονία | ministry |
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Parse: Noun, Dative Feminine Singular Root: διακονία Sense: service, ministering, esp. |
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| τῆς | - |
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Parse: Article, Genitive Feminine Singular Root: ὁ Sense: this, that, these, etc. |
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| κατακρίσεως | of condemnation [was] |
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Parse: Noun, Genitive Feminine Singular Root: κατάκρισις Sense: condemnation. |
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| δόξα | glory |
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Parse: Noun, Nominative Feminine Singular Root: δόξα Sense: opinion, judgment, view. |
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| πολλῷ | much |
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Parse: Adjective, Dative Neuter Singular Root: πολύς Sense: many, much, large. |
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| μᾶλλον | more |
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Parse: Adverb Root: μᾶλλον Sense: more, to a greater degree, rather. |
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| περισσεύει | abounds |
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Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular Root: περισσεύω Sense: to exceed a fixed number of measure, to be left over and above a certain number or measure. |
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| διακονία | ministry |
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Parse: Noun, Nominative Feminine Singular Root: διακονία Sense: service, ministering, esp. |
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| δικαιοσύνης | of righteousness |
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Parse: Noun, Genitive Feminine Singular Root: δικαιοσύνη Sense: in a broad sense: state of him who is as he ought to be, righteousness, the condition acceptable to God. |
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| δόξῃ | [in] glory |
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Parse: Noun, Dative Feminine Singular Root: δόξα Sense: opinion, judgment, view. |
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Greek Commentary for 2 Corinthians 3:9
Genitive, that brings condemnation because unable to obey the law. [source]
No copula, but makes the figure bolder. Paul freely admits the glory for the old dispensation. Of righteousness (της δικαιοσυνης tēs dikaiosunēs). Marked by and leading to righteousness. See note on 2 Corinthians 11:15. Much more Instrumental case, by much more. Exceed (περισσευει perisseuei). Overflow. [source]
Marked by and leading to righteousness. See note on 2 Corinthians 11:15. [source]
Instrumental case, by much more. Exceed (περισσευει perisseuei). Overflow. [source]
Overflow. [source]
Because Moses was the minister of the law. For the relation of the law to sin and condemnation, see Romans 5:20; Romans 7:7-13. [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for 2 Corinthians 3:9
Let us wait on is supplied. Lit., or ministry in our ministry. The word appears in the New Testament always in connection with the service of the Christian Church, except Luke 10:40, of Martha's serving; Hebrews 1:14, of the ministry of angels, and 2 Corinthians 3:7, of the ministry of Moses. Within this limit it is used, 1. Of service in general, including all forms of christian ministration tending to the good of the christian body (1 Corinthians 12:5; Ephesians 4:13; 2 Timothy 4:11). Hence, 2. Of the apostolic office and its administration; (a) generally (Acts 20:24; 2 Corinthians 4:1; 1 Timothy 1:12); or (b) defined as a ministry of reconciliation, of the word, of the Spirit, of righteousness (2 Corinthians 5:18; Acts 6:4; 2 Corinthians 3:8, 2 Corinthians 3:9). It is not used of the specific office of a deacon; but the kindred word διάκονος occurs in that sense (Philemon 1:1; 1 Timothy 3:8, 1 Timothy 3:12). As the word is employed in connection with both the higher and lower ministrations in the Church (see Acts 6:1, Acts 6:4), it is difficult to fix its precise meaning here; yet as it is distinguished here from prophecy, exhortation, and teaching, it may refer to some more practical, and, possibly, minor form of ministry. Moule says: “Almost any work other than that of inspired utterance or miracle-working may be included in it here.” So Godet: “An activity of a practical nature exerted in action, not in word.” Some limit it to the office of deacon. [source]
Rev., that which hath been made glorious hath not been made glorious. The peculiar form of expression is taken from Exodus 34:29, Exodus 34:35, Sept., “Moses knew not that the appearance of the skin of his face was glorified.” “The children of Israel saw the face of Moses that it was glorified.” Much unnecessary difficulty has been made, chiefly about the connection and meaning of in this respect. That which hath been made glorious is the ministry of death and condemnation (2 Corinthians 3:7, 2 Corinthians 3:9), the ministry of Moses in the giving of the law, which ministry was temporarily glorified in the shining of Moses' face. Hath not been made glorious is only another way of expressing was passing away (2 Corinthians 3:7): of saying that the temporary glory of Moses' ministry faded and paled before the glory of the ministry of Christ. The figure which pervades the whole passage (2 Corinthians 3:7-11) is that of a glorified face. The ministration of the law, impersonated in Moses, is described as having its face glorified. It is to this that in this respect refers. Paul says that the ministry of the law, which was temporarily glorified in the face of Moses, is no longer glorified in this respect; that is, it no longer appears with glorified face, because of the glory that excelleth, the glory of Christ ministering the Gospel, before which it fades away and is as if it had not been. This accords with ch. 4, where the theme is the same as here, ministry or ministration (2 Corinthians 4:1); and where the christian revelation is described as “the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ” (2 Corinthians 4:6). This is the key to our passage. To the same purpose is 2 Corinthians 4:18, where the Christian is represented as gazing, through the Gospel, with unveiled face, upon the glory of God in Christ, and as being changed thereby into the image of Christ. The glory of the law in the face of Moses has faded before the glory of the Gospel in the face of Jesus Christ. [source]