2 COR 3:9 Parallel Verse View

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

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 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!

MSB 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 If there was glory in the administration that condemned, then the administration that acquits abounds far more in glory

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.
(For if the ministration of condemnation is glory, much rather doth/does the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory. )

SLT For if the service of condemnation glory, much more the service of justice abounds 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.
(For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more doth/does 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.
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above)

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/does the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory.)

Gnva For if the ministerie of condemnation was glorious, much more doeth the ministration of righteousnesse exceede in glorie.
(For if the ministry of condemnation was glorious, much more doth/does the ministration of righteousness exceed 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/does 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 ministeringe of condempnacion be glorious: much more do the the ministracion of rightewesnes 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 damnation was in glory, much more the ministerie of righteousness is plenteous/plentiful 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 office/authority, the the Verdammnis preaches, Klarheit has, many more has the office/authority, the the justice preaches, in_abundancee Klarheit.)

ClVg Nam si ministratio damnationis gloria est: multo magis abundat ministerium justitiæ in gloria.[fn]
(For/Surely when/but_if servesio of_condemnation glory it_is: much more abundat ministry justice in/into/on glory. )

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 Much more abundat. That it_is in/into/on praise how old/aged: because more glory of_God it_is in/into/on salute how in/into/on death. Although because justly damnet that was_being_done under lawfully, nevertheless more to praise is_progressing when/but_if indulget, as can himself guilty/criminal to_correct; that through grace in/into/on Novo Testamento providesur.

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.)

RP-GNT Εἰ γὰρ ἡ διακονία τῆς κατακρίσεως δόξα, πολλῷ μᾶλλον περισσεύει ἡ διακονία τῆς δικαιοσύνης ἐν δόξῃ.
(Ei gar haʸ diakonia taʸs katakriseōs doxa, pollōi mallon perisseuei haʸ diakonia taʸs dikaiosunaʸs en 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. )

3:9 ἡ διακονία ¦ τῇ διακονίᾳ NA SBL TH

3:9 εν ¦ — CT

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

TTN Tyndale Theme Notes:

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

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

3:9a

For if the ministry of condemnation was glorious,

And if the ministry of the written laws that condemns people had glory/splendor,
Also, the old covenant condemned those who broke it. Yet glory/radiance accompanied the work of serving in/under it.

For: This verse begins with a Greek conjunction that is often translated as “for” or “because.” Here it indicates that 3:9 continues explaining the differences between the two ministries. Indicate that the explanation continues. For example:

Also,

the ministry of condemnation was glorious: The Greek clause is literally “glory (is) in the ministry of condemnation.” God’s glory was associated with the old covenant (1 Kings 8:10–11). Other ways to translate this clause are:

there was glory in the ministry of condemnation (NRSV)

the ministry that brings punishment has glory (GW)

glory accompanied the ministry that caused God to condemn/punish people

the ministry of condemnation: This phrase refers to the ministry based on the law of Moses (as in 3:7). All people sin and break the law. Therefore God must condemn them according to the law. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

the ministry of the old covenant, which condemns people

the ministry of the old covenant that caused people to be punished

the ministry of the law of Moses that caused God to punish those who broke it

3:9b

how much more glorious is the ministry of righteousness!

surely the new ministry that causes its people to be righteous has even more glory!
But the ministry that produces righteousness abounds in much more glory!

how much more glorious is the ministry of righteousness: The Greek clause is literally “surely the ministry of righteousness abounds much more in glory.” The ministry of the new covenant has much more glory than the old ministry. Other ways to translate this clause are:

much more does the ministry of righteousness abound in glory (NASB)

surely the new ministry that causes its people to be righteous has even more glory

the ministry of the new covenant that causes people to become righteous is surely much more glorious

the ministry of the Spirit who makes us^(incl) righteous has much more glory

the ministry of righteousness: The Greek phrase that the BSB translates literally “the ministry of righteousness” indicates that the Holy Spirit guides the new ministry and helps believers to believe and do the right things. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

the ministry that produces righteousness (NET)

the ministry that causes its followers to become right in God’s eyes/consideration

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: grammar-connect-words-phrases

γὰρ

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: εἰ Γάρ τῇ διακονίᾳ τῆς κατακρίσεως δόξα πολλῷ μᾶλλον περισσεύει ἡ διακονία τῆς δικαιοσύνης δόξῃ)

Here, the word For introduces further explanation of what Paul has said about the two ministries in [3:7–8](../03/07.md). 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

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]

Parallel 2 COR 3:9

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

3:9a

3:9b

Parallel 2 COR 3:9