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parallelVerse INT GEN EXO LEV NUM DEU JOS JDG RUTH 1SA 2SA PSA AMOS HOS 1KI 2KI 1CH 2CH PRO ECC SNG JOEL MIC ISA ZEP HAB JER LAM YNA NAH OBA DAN EZE EZRA EST NEH HAG ZEC MAL JOB YHN MARK MAT LUKE ACTs YAC GAL 1TH 2TH 1COR 2COR ROM COL PHM EPH PHP 1TIM TIT 1PET 2PET 2TIM HEB YUD 1YHN 2YHN 3YHN REV
2Cor Intro C1 C2 C3 C4 C5 C6 C7 C8 C9 C10 C11 C12 C13
2Cor 3 V1 V2 V3 V4 V5 V6 V7 V8 V10 V11 V12 V13 V14 V15 V16 V17 V18
Note: This view shows ‘verses’ which are not natural language units and hence sometimes only part of a sentence will be visible. Normally the OET discourages the reading of individual ‘verses’, but this view is only designed for doing comparisons of different translations. Click on any Bible version abbreviation down the left-hand side to see the verse in more of its context. 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=normal (All still tentative.)
OET (OET-RV) If the system that brought condemnation was incredible, how much greater is the system that leads to righteousness,
OET-LV For/Because if in_the the_service was of_ the _condemnation, glory by_much more is_being_plentiful the service of_ the _righteousness in_glory.
SR-GNT Εἰ γὰρ τῇ διακονίᾳ τῆς κατακρίσεως, δόξα πολλῷ μᾶλλον περισσεύει ἡ διακονία τῆς δικαιοσύνης δόξῃ. ‡
(Ei gar taʸ diakonia taʸs katakriseōs, doxa pollōi mallon perisseuei haʸ diakonia taʸs dikaiosunaʸs doxaʸ.)
Key: khaki:verbs, light-green:nominative/subject, pink:genitive/possessor, cyan:dative/indirect object.
Note: Automatic aligning of the OET-RV to the LV is done by some temporary software, hence the OET-RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).
ULT For if the ministry of this condemnation had glory, the ministry of this righteousness abounds much more in glory!
UST Indeed, when Moses acted on behalf of the old agreement that led to God condemning people, it was glorious. So then, when people act on behalf of the new agreement that leads to people becoming righteous, it is even more glorious!
BSB For if the ministry of condemnation was glorious, how much more glorious is the ministry of righteousness!
BLB For if glory was in the ministry of condemnation, much more does the ministry of righteousness abound in glory!
AICNT For if the ministry of condemnation had glory, much more does the ministry of righteousness abound in glory.
OEB For, if there was a glory in the religion that involved condemnation, far greater is the glory of the religion that confers righteousness!
WEBBE For if the service of condemnation has glory, the service of righteousness exceeds much more in glory.
WMBB (Same as above)
NET For if there was glory in the ministry that produced condemnation, how much more does the ministry that produces righteousness excel in glory!
LSV For if the ministry of the condemnation [is] glory, much more does the ministry of righteousness abound in glory;
FBV If the old way that condemns us has glory, the new way that makes us right with God has so much more glory!
TCNT For if [fn]the ministry of condemnation was glorious, the ministry of righteousness abounds in glory even more.
3:9 the ministry of condemnation was glorious ¦ there was glory in the ministry of condemnation NA SBL TH
T4T The message that Moses taught them was wonderful, but when people heard that message, they realized that they were sinners and that God would punish them. But God’s message that we (exc) teach is a much more wonderful message. We teach people that God will ◄erase the record of/declare people no longer guilty for► the sinful things that they have done.
LEB For if there was glory in the ministry of condemnation, by much more will the ministry of righteousness overflow with glory.
BBE For if the operation of the law, producing punishment, had its glory, how much greater will be the operation of the Spirit causing righteousness?
Moff No Moff 2COR book available
Wymth For if the service which pronounces doom had glory, far more glorious still is the service which tells of righteousness.
ASV For if the ministration of condemnation hath glory, much rather doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory.
DRA For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more the ministration of justice aboundeth in glory.
YLT for if the ministration of the condemnation [is] glory, much more doth the ministration of the righteousness abound in glory;
Drby For if the ministry of condemnation [be] glory, much rather the ministry of righteousness abounds in glory.
RV For if the ministration of condemnation is glory, much rather doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory.
Wbstr For if the ministration of condemnation was glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory.
KJB-1769 For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory.
KJB-1611 For if the ministration of condemnation bee glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousnesse exceed in glorie.
(For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousnesse exceed in glory.)
Bshps For yf the ministration of condempnation be glorie: much more doth the ministration of ryghteousnes exceede in glorie.
(For if the ministration of condempnation be glory: much more doth the ministration of righteousnes exceede in glory.)
Gnva For if the ministerie of condemnation was glorious, much more doeth the ministration of righteousnesse exceede in glorie.
(For if the ministerie of condemnation was glorious, much more doeth the ministration of righteousnesse exceede in glory. )
Cvdl For yf the office that preacheth damnacion be glorious, moch more doth the office that preacheth righteousnes exceade in glory.
(For if the office that preacheth damnacion be glorious, much more doth the office that preacheth righteousness exceed in glory.)
TNT For if the ministringe of condempnacion be glorious: moche more do the the ministracion of rightewesnes excede in glory.
(For if the ministringe of condempnacion be glorious: much more do the the ministracion of righteousness excede in glory. )
Wycl For if the mynystracioun of dampnacioun was in glorie, myche more the mynysterie of riytwisnesse is plenteuouse in glorie.
(For if the mynystracioun of dampnacioun was in glory, much more the ministerie of righteousness is plenteuouse in glory.)
Luth Denn so das Amt, das die Verdammnis prediget, Klarheit hat, viel mehr hat das Amt, das die Gerechtigkeit prediget, überschwengliche Klarheit.
(Because so the Amt, the the Verdammnis prediget, Klarheit has, many more has the Amt, the the Gerechtigkeit prediget, überschwengliche Klarheit.)
ClVg Nam si ministratio damnationis gloria est: multo magis abundat ministerium justitiæ in gloria.[fn]
(Nam when/but_if ministratio damnationis glory it_is: multo magis abundat ministerium justitiæ in gloria. )
3.9 Multo magis abundat. Id est in laude quam vetus: quia magis gloria Dei est in salute quam in morte. Quamvis enim juste damnet quod agebatur sub lege, tamen magis ad laudem proficit si indulget, ut possit se reus corrigere; quod per gratiam in Novo Testamento præstatur.
3.9 Multo magis abundat. That it_is in laude how vetus: because magis glory of_God it_is in salute how in morte. Quamvis because juste damnet that agebatur under lege, tamen magis to laudem proficit when/but_if indulget, as possit se guilty corrigere; that through gratiam in Novo Testamento præstatur.
UGNT εἰ γὰρ τῇ διακονίᾳ τῆς κατακρίσεως, δόξα πολλῷ μᾶλλον περισσεύει ἡ διακονία τῆς δικαιοσύνης δόξῃ.
(ei gar taʸ diakonia taʸs katakriseōs, doxa pollōi mallon perisseuei haʸ diakonia taʸs dikaiosunaʸs doxaʸ.)
SBL-GNT εἰ γὰρ ⸂τῇ διακονίᾳ⸃ τῆς κατακρίσεως δόξα, πολλῷ μᾶλλον περισσεύει ἡ διακονία τῆς ⸀δικαιοσύνης δόξῃ.
(ei gar ⸂taʸ diakonia⸃ taʸs katakriseōs doxa, pollōi mallon perisseuei haʸ diakonia taʸs ⸀dikaiosunaʸs doxaʸ.)
TC-GNT Εἰ γὰρ [fn]ἡ διακονία τῆς κατακρίσεως δόξα, πολλῷ μᾶλλον περισσεύει ἡ διακονία τῆς δικαιοσύνης [fn]ἐν δόξῃ.
(Ei gar haʸ diakonia taʸs katakriseōs doxa, pollōi mallon perisseuei haʸ diakonia taʸs dikaiosunaʸs en doxaʸ. )
Key for above GNTs: yellow:punctuation differs, red:words differ (from our SR-GNT base).
3:4-18 The contrast between Paul’s ministry and the others’ ministries leads Paul to contrast the old covenant of written laws (Exod 31:18) with the new covenant written on human hearts (Jer 31:33).
God’s New Covenant
God had promised to establish a new covenant with his people (Jer 31:31-34). This new covenant was initiated by Christ (see Luke 22:19-20), who removes the veil associated with the old covenant (2 Cor 3:14). Using the creation story of Genesis 1–2, Paul explains how the God of creation is also the God of the new creation (2 Cor 4:4-6; 5:17). God is now revealed in Christ, who brings God close to us.
In the new covenant, God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, is also our Father because he has enabled us to be adopted as his children (2 Cor 1:3; Gal 3:26–4:7). He is the faithful God whose Old Testament promises are fulfilled in the Messiah (2 Cor 1:18-22). And he is the author of reconciliation (5:18-21), as Christ became the means by which God won the sinful world back to himself. Jesus Christ became one with sinful humankind (see 8:9) and released God’s saving power and righteousness to restore the broken relationship between God and the world.
Under the new covenant, God sends his Spirit to dwell among his people. The Spirit gives believers life, freedom, and the ability to conform to Christ (3:6, 17-18). The Spirit unites us to Christ and serves as the guarantee of our complete salvation in the resurrection (1:22; 5:1-5), when believers’ mortal bodies will be transformed into glorified bodies (1 Cor 15:42-57). Paul gives a full account of this hope in 2 Cor 5:1-10. This will be the final outcome of the new covenant that God has established for his people.
Passages for Further Study
Gen 9:1-17; 12:1-9; 15:1-21; Exod 19:3-6; 2 Sam 7:5-16; 1 Chr 10:13-14; Isa 59:20-21; 65:17-25; Jer 2:1–3:10; 31:31-34; Matt 26:27-29; Luke 22:20; 1 Cor 11:23-32; 2 Cor 3:4-18; 4:4-6; Heb 8:6-13; 9:11-28; 10:1-25; 12:18-24
Note 1 topic: grammar-connect-words-phrases
γὰρ
for
Here, the word For introduces further explanation of what Paul has said about the two ministries in 3:7–8. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a different word or phrase that introduces further explanation. Alternate translation: “Further,” or “Even more,”
Note 2 topic: grammar-connect-condition-fact
εἰ
if
Paul is speaking as if the glory of the ministry of this condemnation were only a possibility, but he means that it is actually true. If your language does not state something as a condition if it is certain or true, and if your readers might think that what Paul is saying is not certain, then you can introduce the clause with a word such as “since” or “given that.” Alternate translation: “since” or “given that”
Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit
τῇ διακονίᾳ τῆς κατακρίσεως & ἡ διακονία τῆς δικαιοσύνης
˱in˲_the /the/_service_‹was› ¬the ˱of˲_condemnation & the service ¬the ˱of˲_righteousness
Here, the word ministry could refer primarily to: (1) the action of ministering. In this case, the word refers to how people administered the two covenants. Alternate translation: “the service of this condemnation … the service of this righteousness” or “the act of ministering that leads to this condemnation … the act of ministering that leads to this righteousness” (2) the system of ministry. In this case, the word refers to a covenant or its principles. Alternate translation: “the system of this condemnation … the system of this righteousness” or “the law that leads to condemnation … the principle that leads to righteousness”
Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / possession
τῇ διακονίᾳ τῆς κατακρίσεως
˱in˲_the /the/_service_‹was› ¬the ˱of˲_condemnation
Here Paul uses the possessive form to describe a ministry that leads to condemnation. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the idea in another way. Alternate translation: “the ministry that caused this condemnation” or “the ministry that ended in this condemnation”
Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns
τῇ διακονίᾳ τῆς κατακρίσεως, δόξα
˱in˲_the /the/_service_‹was› ¬the ˱of˲_condemnation glory
If your language does not use abstract nouns for the ideas of condemnation and glory, you could express the idea in another way. Alternate translation: “the ministry that caused people to be condemned was great”
Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / exclamations
πολλῷ μᾶλλον περισσεύει ἡ διακονία τῆς δικαιοσύνης δόξῃ
˱by˲_much more /is/_abounding the service ¬the ˱of˲_righteousness ˱in˲_glory
Here, Paul uses an exclamation to emphatically compare the two ministries and to show that the ministry of this righteousness has much more glory. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the idea in a way that naturally compares the glory of the two ministries. Alternate translation: “then certainly the ministry of this righteousness abounds in much more glory!”
Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / possession
ἡ διακονία τῆς δικαιοσύνης
the service ¬the ˱of˲_righteousness
Here Paul uses the possessive form to describe a ministry that leads to righteousness. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the idea in another way. Alternate translation: “the ministry that caused this righteousness” or “the ministry that ended in this righteousness”
Note 8 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns
πολλῷ μᾶλλον περισσεύει ἡ διακονία τῆς δικαιοσύνης δόξῃ.
˱by˲_much more /is/_abounding the service ¬the ˱of˲_righteousness ˱in˲_glory
If your language does not use abstract nouns for the ideas of righteousness and glory, you could express the ideas in another way. Alternate translation: “the ministry that makes people righteous is even more great”