2 COR 3:6 Parallel Verse View

Note: This view shows ‘verses’ which are not natural language units and hence sometimes only part of a sentence will be visible—click on any Bible version abbreviation down the left-hand side to see the verse in more of its context. Normally the OET discourages the reading of individual ‘verses’, but this view is only designed as a tool for doing comparisons of different translations—the older translations are further down the page (so you can read up from the bottom to trace the English translation history). The OET segments on this page are still very early looks into the unfinished texts of the Open English Translation of the Bible—please double-check these texts in advance before using in public.

Text critical issues=small word differences Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)

OET (OET-RV) [ref]He qualified us as servants of a new agreement—not following it by the letter, but by the spirit, because following by the letter leads to death whereas following by the spirit gives life.

Key: khaki:verbs, light-green:nominative/subject, orange:accusative/object, pink:genitive/possessor, red:negative.
Note: Automatic aligning of the OET-RV to the LV is done by some temporary software, hence the RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).

ULT who indeed made us competent as servants of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit makes alive.

UST He has also enabled us to act on behalf of the new agreement. The Holy Spirit gives this new agreement, so it is not just words that someone wrote down. This is important because people who rely on the Holy Spirit will live, but people who rely on words that someone wrote down will die.

BSB And He has qualified us [as] ministers of a new covenant, not of [the] letter but of [the] Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

BLB who also has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter, but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

AICNT who also made us sufficient as ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

OEB our fitness comes from God, who himself made us fit to be assistants of a new covenant, of which the substance is, not a written Law, but a Spirit. For the written Law means death, but the Spirit gives life.

WEBBE who also made us sufficient as servants of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

WMBB (Same as above)

NET who made us adequate to be servants of a new covenant not based on the letter but on the Spirit, for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

LSV who also made us sufficient [to be] servants of the New Covenant, not of letter, but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, and the Spirit makes alive.

FBV He also gave us the ability to be ministers of a new agreement,[fn] based not on the letter of the law, but on the spirit. The letter of the law kills, but the spirit gives life.

3:6 Or “covenant.”

TCNT He has made us competent to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter, but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

T4T He is the one who enables us (exc) to be his messengers. He has enabled us to tell people the message about the new agreement that he is making with them. This is not a message about obeying all the written laws of his old agreement that he made with the Jewish people. Instead, it is a message about God giving us his Spirit. Previously, God condemned people to be separated from him forever if they did not obey his laws. But by God’s new agreement his Spirit enables people to live eternally.

LEB who also makes us adequate as servants of a new covenant, not of the letter, but of the Spirit, for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

BBE Who has made us able to be servants of a new agreement; not of the letter, but of the Spirit: for the letter gives death, but the Spirit gives life.

Moff and he has further qualified me to be the minister of a new covenant — a covenant not of written law but of spirit; for the written law kills but the Spirit makes alive.

Wymth It is He also who has made us competent to serve Him in connexion with a new Covenant, which is not a written code but a Spirit; for the written code inflicts death, but the Spirit gives Life.

ASV 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.

DRA Who also hath made us fit ministers of the new testament, not in the letter, but in the spirit. For the letter killeth, but the spirit quickeneth.

YLT who also made us sufficient [to be] ministrants of a new covenant, not of letter, but of spirit; for the letter doth kill, and the spirit doth make alive.

Drby who has also made us competent, [as] ministers of [the] new covenant; not of letter, but of spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit quickens.

RV 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.
(who also made us sufficient as ministers of a new covenant; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth/kills, but the spirit giveth/gives life. )

SLT Who rendered as fitting servants of the new covenant; not of the letter, but of the Spirit: for the letter kills, and the Spirit makes alive.

Wbstr 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.

KJB-1769 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.
(Who also hath/has made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth/kills, but the spirit giveth/gives life. )

KJB-1611 Who also hath made vs able ministers of the New Testament, not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit [fn]giueth life.
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above, apart from capitalisation and punctuation and footnotes)

3:6 Or, quickneth.

Bshps Which hath made vs able ministers of the newe testament, not of the letter, but of the spirite: For the letter kylleth, but the spirite geueth lyfe.
(Which hath/has made us able ministers of the new testament, not of the letter, but of the spirit: For the letter killeth/kills, but the spirit giveth/gives life.)

Gnva Who also hath made vs able ministers of the Newe testament, not of the letter, but of the Spirite: for the letter killeth, but the Spirite giueth life.
(Who also hath/has made us able ministers of the New testament, not of the letter, but of the Spirit: for the letter killeth/kills, but the Spirit giveth/gives life. )

Cvdl which hath made vs able, to be mynisters of the new Testament: not of the letter, but of the sprete. For the letter kylleth, but the sprete geueth life.
(which hath/has made us able, to be ministers of the new Testament: not of the letter, but of the spirit. For the letter killeth/kills, but the spirit giveth/gives life.)

TNT which hath made vs able to minister the newe testament not of the letter but of the sprete. For the letter kylleth but the sprete geveth lyfe.
(which hath/has made us able to minister the new testament not of the letter but of the spirit. For the letter killeth/kills but the spirit geveth life. )

Wycl Which also made vs able mynystris of the newe testament, not bi lettre, but bi spirit; for the lettre sleeth, but the spirit quykeneth.
(Which also made us able ministers of the new testament, not by lettre, but by spirit; for the lettre slayeth/slays/slaughters, but the spirit quykeneth.)

Luth welcher auch uns tüchtig gemacht hat, das Amt zu führen des Neuen Testaments, nicht des Buchstabens, sondern des Geistes. Denn der Buchstabe tötet, aber der Geist macht lebendig.
(which also us/to_us/ourselves efficient/proficient made has, the office/authority to/for lead the Neuen Testaments, not the letterss, rather the spirit. Because the/of_the booktabe kills, but the/of_the spirit power lively/alive.)

ClVg qui et idoneos nos fecit ministros novi testamenti: non littera, sed Spiritu: littera enim occidit, Spiritus autem vivificat.[fn]
(who/which and idoneos us he_did ministers new testament: not/no letter, but By_Spirit: letter because killed, Spirit however aliveficat. )

3.6 Qui et idoneos. Hic commendat se per dignitatem officii, scilicet Evangelii, præferens se non solum pseudoapostolis qui carnales observantias prædicant, sed et ipsi Moysi ministro legis.

3.6 Who and idoneos. Here/This recommends himself through dignity office, namely of_the_Gospels, beforeferens himself not/no only pseudoapostolis who/which carnal observantias they_preach, but and themselves of_Moses ministro law.

UGNT ὃς καὶ ἱκάνωσεν ἡμᾶς διακόνους καινῆς διαθήκης, οὐ γράμματος, ἀλλὰ Πνεύματος; τὸ γὰρ γράμμα ἀποκτέννει, τὸ δὲ Πνεῦμα ζῳοποιεῖ.
(hos kai hikanōsen haʸmas diakonous kainaʸs diathaʸkaʸs, ou grammatos, alla Pneumatos; to gar gramma apoktennei, to de Pneuma zōiopoiei.)

SBL-GNT ὃς καὶ ἱκάνωσεν ἡμᾶς διακόνους καινῆς διαθήκης, οὐ γράμματος ἀλλὰ πνεύματος, τὸ γὰρ γράμμα ἀποκτέννει, τὸ δὲ πνεῦμα ζῳοποιεῖ.
(hos kai hikanōsen haʸmas diakonous kainaʸs diathaʸkaʸs, ou grammatos alla pneumatos, to gar gramma apoktennei, to de pneuma zōiopoiei.)

RP-GNT ὃς καὶ ἱκάνωσεν ἡμᾶς διακόνους καινῆς διαθήκης, οὐ γράμματος, ἀλλὰ πνεύματος· τὸ γὰρ γράμμα ἀποκτένει, τὸ δὲ πνεῦμα ζῳοποιεῖ.
(hos kai hikanōsen haʸmas diakonous kainaʸs diathaʸkaʸs, ou grammatos, alla pneumatos; to gar gramma apoktenei, to de pneuma zōiopoiei.)

TC-GNT ὃς καὶ ἱκάνωσεν ἡμᾶς διακόνους καινῆς διαθήκης, οὐ γράμματος, ἀλλὰ πνεύματος· τὸ γὰρ γράμμα [fn]ἀποκτένει, τὸ δὲ πνεῦμα ζῳοποιεῖ.
(hos kai hikanōsen haʸmas diakonous kainaʸs diathaʸkaʸs, ou grammatos, alla pneumatos; to gar gramma apoktenei, to de pneuma zōiopoiei. )

3:6 αποκτενει ¦ αποκτεινει TR WH ¦ αποκτεννει ANT NA SBL TH

Key for above GNTs: yellow:punctuation differs, red:words differ (from our SR-GNT base).

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 3:1–4:6: Confidence in the gospel of Jesus

The false teachers in Corinth were Jews (11:22). In this section, Paul wrote about some of the false teachings of these men. Since they were Jews, Paul referred to people and events in the Old Testament, such as the tablets of stone (3:3), Moses (3:7), and Moses’ veil (3:13). They probably brought letters from other false teachers who said the false teachers in Corinth taught truthfully (3:1–3). The false teachers taught that believers must obey the Jewish laws. But Paul said that believers follow the new covenant with Jesus and not the old covenant with the Jews (3:14). He also spoke against their secret and shameful ways and said that they corrupted God’s word (4:2). Throughout this section Paul also encouraged the believers to follow Jesus.

Other examples of headings for this section are:

The Ministry That Comes From Christ Is Greater Than Moses’ Ministry (GW)

The new covenant is greater than the law of Moses

3:6a

And He has qualified us as ministers of a new covenant,

He has caused us^(excl) to become capable/competent ministers/servants/agents of a new covenant/promise/agreement,
He enables us to have all the ability we need to do his work of the new covenant of Jesus well.

He has qualified us as ministers: This clause indicates that God has caused Paul and the others to become qualified…as ministers. Other ways to translate this clause are:

He made us able to be servants of (NCV)

He has given us the power to be good ministers

who made sufficient our ability to do his work

He gives us^(excl) ability to be his workersUma Back Translation on TW.

ministers: This word refers to people who serve, help, or care for others. Here the word refers to Paul and the other evangelists preaching and helping the believers in Corinth to become strong in their faith. Other ways to translate this word are:

servants (NCV)

capable of serving (GNT)

doing the work of

This word refers to people who do ministry. The word “ministry” is used in 3:7–11. These two words should be translated in a way that the readers will see the connection between the two words.

a new covenant: God made the first covenant with the Jewish people through Moses at Mt. Sinai. The new covenant refers to the promise that God would put his laws into people’s hearts and they would become his people (Hebrews 8:8–13). Jesus put the new covenant into effect by dying on the cross. In some languages a literal translation would not refer to that. If that is true in your language, you may want to:

Explain in your translation. For example:
the new covenant that Jesus began
a new covenant through Jesus
Translate literally and explain the meaning in a footnote. An example footnote is:
The new covenant refers to the promise that God would put his laws into people’s hearts and they would become his people (Hebrews 8:8–13). Jesus put the new covenant into effect by dying on the cross.

covenant: This word refers to an agreement or contract. God made the contract and people must accept it or reject it. Other ways to translate this word are:

promise (GW)

agreement (CEV)

3:6b–c

3:6b–c describe two differences between the first covenant and the new covenant. Some versions indicate the change in theme with a long dash at the end of 3:6a. Other versions use simple punctuation. For example:

a new covenant, ^6bnot in a written code… (RSV)

Some other versions repeat some of 3:6a to help indicate the change in theme. For example:

a new covenant, ^6ba covenant which is not of written letters… (NJB)

3:6b

not of the letter but of the Spirit;

which is not of written laws but of the Holy Spirit,
This new covenant is based on the leading of the Holy Spirit in our^(incl) hearts and not based on external control by written laws.

not of the letter but of the Spirit: These phrases indicate that the first covenant is characterized by the written law, but the new covenant is characterized by the Holy Spirit. The written law controls outward behavior, but the Holy Spirit speaks to the inner being of a person and causes that person to follow Jesus from his heart. Other ways to translate this are:

not in a written code but in the Spirit (RSV)

not of written laws, but of the Spirit (NLT)

In some languages a literal translation would not have the correct meaning. If that is true in your language, you may want to:

Explain in your translation. For example:
not like the written law of Moses, but rather based on the work of God’s Spirit
not based on external control by a written law but based on the internal prompting of the Holy Spirit
Translate literally and explain the meaning in a footnote. An example footnote is:
The written law controls behavior, but the Holy Spirit speaks to the inner being of a person and causes that person to follow Jesus from his heart.

When Paul compared letter and Spirit, he was not saying that the written law of the first covenant was evil. Your translation should not indicate or imply that the written law was evil.

letter: Here the word letter refers to the written words and the letters with which words are spelled. It implies the law of Moses. The word letter does not refer to a letter of recommendation as in 3:1b.

the Spirit: Here this phrase refers to the Holy Spirit. In some languages a literal translation would not clearly refer to the Holy Spirit. If that is true in your language, you may want to explain in your translation. For example:

the Holy Spirit (CEV)

3:6c

for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

because the written laws called for death as punishment, but the Holy Spirit gives life.
For the written laws of the old covenant condemn people to die, but under/by the new covenant the Holy Spirit enables people to live.

for: This conjunction introduces an explanation of 3:6b.

the letter kills: This phrase indicates that the law of Moses demands perfect obedience and that many of the punishments are death for the sinner. In some languages a literal translation would not have the correct meaning. If that is true in your language, you may want to:

Explain in your translation. For example:
The written law brings death (GNT)
the law condemns people to die
Translate literally and explain the meaning in a footnote. An example footnote is:
The law of Moses demands perfect obedience and many of the punishments are death for the sinner. The law did not help the person obey, it just caused fear of disobeying.

the Spirit gives life: This phrase indicates that the Holy Spirit provides the promise of eternal life to a new believer. The Holy Spirit also helps the believer change his heart to follow Jesus better. In some languages people will not see how the Spirit gives life. If that is true in your language, you may want to:

Explain in your translation. For example:
the Spirit enables people to live
Translate literally and explain the meaning in a footnote. An example footnote is:
The Holy Spirit provides the promise of eternal life to a new believer. The Holy Spirit also helps the believer change his heart to follow Jesus better.

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / exclusive

ἡμᾶς διακόνους

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: ὅς καί ἱκάνωσεν ἡμάς διακόνους καινῆς διαθήκης οὒ γράμματος ἀλλά Πνεύματος τό γάρ γράμμα ἀποκτενεῖ τό δέ Πνεῦμα ζῳοποιεῖ)

Here, just as in [3:1–5](../03/01.md), the word us does not include the Corinthians. It could refer to: (1) Paul and those who proclaim the gospel with him. Alternate translation: [us, who preach the gospel, … as servants] (2) just Paul. Alternate translation: [me … as a servant]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / possession

διακόνους καινῆς διαθήκης

˱as˲_servants ˱of˲_˓a˒_new covenant

Here Paul uses the possessive form to identify himself and his fellow workers as servants who serve for the benefit of a new covenant. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the idea in another way. Alternate translation: [as those who serve a new covenant] or [as servants who administer a new covenant]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / infostructure

οὐ γράμματος, ἀλλὰ Πνεύματος

If your language would not naturally put the negative statement before the positive statement, you could reverse the two clauses here. Alternate translation: [of the Spirit, not of the letter]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

οὐ γράμματος, ἀλλὰ Πνεύματος

When Paul contrasts letter and Spirit, he implies that letter describes the old covenant and Spirit describes the new covenant. What he means is that the old covenant was only written down and could not change people on the inside. On the other hand, the new covenant is empowered by the Holy Spirit, who can change people on the inside. If it would be helpful in your language, you could make this contrast more explicit. Alternate translation: [not a covenant of the letter that is powerless but a covenant of the powerful Spirit] or [not one that is only written down but one that the Spirit puts inside people]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

γράμματος & τὸ & γράμμα

˱of˲_˓the˒_letter & (Some words not found in SR-GNT: ὅς καί ἱκάνωσεν ἡμάς διακόνους καινῆς διαθήκης οὒ γράμματος ἀλλά Πνεύματος τό γάρ γράμμα ἀποκτενεῖ τό δέ Πνεῦμα ζῳοποιεῖ)

Here, the word letter refers generally to a message written using sound-symbols called letters. More specifically, Paul uses the word letter to refer to the old covenant, a written document. It could not change people like the Spirit can. If it would be helpful in your language, you could refer to a message written in “letters”. Alternate translation: [in written form … what was written]

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / possession

γράμματος, ἀλλὰ Πνεύματος

˱of˲_˓the˒_letter (Some words not found in SR-GNT: ὅς καί ἱκάνωσεν ἡμάς διακόνους καινῆς διαθήκης οὒ γράμματος ἀλλά Πνεύματος τό γάρ γράμμα ἀποκτενεῖ τό δέ Πνεῦμα ζῳοποιεῖ)

Here, Paul uses the possessive form to describe a covenant that is given or mediated by the Spirit, not by the letter. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the idea in another way. Alternate translation: [in letters but by the Spirit] or [mediated by letter but by the Spirit]

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

Πνεύματος & τὸ δὲ Πνεῦμα

˱of˲_˓the˒_Spirit & (Some words not found in SR-GNT: ὅς καί ἱκάνωσεν ἡμάς διακόνους καινῆς διαθήκης οὒ γράμματος ἀλλά Πνεύματος τό γάρ γράμμα ἀποκτενεῖ τό δέ Πνεῦμα ζῳοποιεῖ)

Here, the word Spirit could refer to: (1) the Holy Spirit. Alternate translation: [of God’s Spirit … but God’s Spirit] (2) the spirit of a person, or their mind or heart. Alternate translation: [of the spirit … but the spirit] or [of the heart … but the heart]

Note 8 topic: figures-of-speech / personification

τὸ & γράμμα ἀποκτέννει

Here Paul speaks as if the letter were a person who kills others. He speaks in this way to indicate that the letter (which refers to the old covenant and its regulations) does not have the power to give life but instead can only condemn people to die. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a comparable figure of speech or plain language. Alternate translation: [the letter is like someone who kills] or [the letter dooms people to die] or [the letter causes death]

Parallel 2 COR 3:6

Section 3:1–4:6: Confidence in the gospel of Jesus

3:6a

3:6b–c

3:6b

3:6c

Parallel 2 COR 3:6