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Thursday, September 4th, 2025
the Week of Proper 17 / Ordinary 22
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Geneva Bible

2 Corinthians 3:8

Howe shall not the ministration of the Spirite be more glorious?

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Gospel;   Holy Spirit;   Law;   Minister, Christian;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Gospel, the;  

Dictionaries:

- Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Moses;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Corinthians, First and Second, Theology of;   Law of Christ;   Mediator, Mediation;   New Covenant;   Charles Buck Theological Dictionary - Atonement;   Covenant;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Christianity;   Corinth;   Dispensations;   Feasts;   Hebrews, the Epistle to the;   Holy Spirit, the;   James, the General Epistle of;   Old Testament;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Time, Meaning of;   Veil;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Glory;   Moses;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Glory;   Glory (2);   Good;   Law;   Liberty (2);   Merit;   Minister Ministry;   Moses;   Moses ;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Commandments, the Ten;  

Encyclopedias:

- Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia - Law of Moses, the;   International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Covenant, the New;   Galatians, Epistle to the;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
how will the ministry of the Spirit not be more glorious?
King James Version (1611)
How shall not the ministration of the spirit, be rather glorious?
King James Version
How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious?
English Standard Version
will not the ministry of the Spirit have even more glory?
New American Standard Bible
how will the ministry of the Spirit fail to be even more with glory?
New Century Version
So surely the new way that brings the Spirit has even more glory.
Amplified Bible
how will the ministry of the Spirit [the new covenant which allows us to be Spirit-filled] fail to be even more glorious and splendid?
New American Standard Bible (1995)
how will the ministry of the Spirit fail to be even more with glory?
Legacy Standard Bible
how will the ministry of the Spirit not be even more in glory?
Berean Standard Bible
will not the ministry of the Spirit be even more glorious?
Contemporary English Version
So won't the agreement that the Spirit brings to us be even more wonderful?
Complete Jewish Bible
won't the working of the Spirit be accompanied by even greater glory?
Darby Translation
how shall not rather the ministry of the Spirit subsist in glory?
Easy-to-Read Version
So surely the new agreement that comes from the life-giving Spirit has even more glory.
George Lamsa Translation
Why then shall not the ministration of the Spirit be more glorious?
Good News Translation
how much greater is the glory that belongs to the activity of the Spirit!
Lexham English Bible
how will the ministry of the Spirit not be even more with glory?
Literal Translation
how much rather the ministry of the Spirit will be in glory!
American Standard Version
how shall not rather the ministration of the spirit be with glory?
Bible in Basic English
Will not the operation of the Spirit have a much greater glory?
Hebrew Names Version
won't service of the Spirit be with much more glory?
International Standard Version
will not the Spirit's ministry have even more glory?Galatians 3:5;">[xr]
Etheridge Translation
how much more then doth not the ministry Of the Spirit excel in glory?
Murdock Translation
how then shall not the ministration of the Spirit be still more glorious?
Bishop's Bible (1568)
Howe shall not the ministration of the spirite be much more in glorie?
English Revised Version
how shall not rather the ministration of the spirit be with glory?
World English Bible
won't service of the Spirit be with much more glory?
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
For if the ministration of condemnation was glory,
Weymouth's New Testament
will not the service of the Spirit be far more glorious?
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
hou schal not the mynystracioun of the spirit be more in glorie?
Update Bible Version
how shall not rather the service of the spirit be with glory?
Webster's Bible Translation
How shall not the ministration of the Spirit be rather glorious?
New English Translation
how much more glorious will the ministry of the Spirit be?
New King James Version
how will the ministry of the Spirit not be more glorious?
New Living Translation
Shouldn't we expect far greater glory under the new way, now that the Holy Spirit is giving life?
New Life Bible
The new way of life through the Holy Spirit comes with much more shining-greatness.
New Revised Standard
how much more will the ministry of the Spirit come in glory?
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
How shall not, rather, the ministry of the Spirit, be with glory?
Douay-Rheims Bible
How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather in glory?
Revised Standard Version
will not the dispensation of the Spirit be attended with greater splendor?
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
why shall not the ministracion of the sprete be moche more glorious?
Young's Literal Translation
how shall the ministration of the Spirit not be more in glory?
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
how shal not ye mynistracion of ye sprete be moch more glorious?
Mace New Testament (1729)
shall not the ministration of the spirit be more glorious?
Simplified Cowboy Version
If the old code shined bright with God's glory but faded, how much more will the new one shine even brighter.

Contextual Overview

6 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. 7 If then the ministration of death written with letters and ingrauen in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel coulde not beholde the face of Moses, for the glorie of his countenance (which glorie is done away.) 8 Howe shall not the ministration of the Spirite be more glorious? 9 For if the ministerie of condemnation was glorious, much more doeth the ministration of righteousnesse exceede in glorie. 10 For euen that which was glorified, was not glorified in this point, that is, as touching the exceeding glorie. 11 For if that which should be abolished, was glorious, much more shall that which remaineth, be glorious.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

the ministration: 2 Corinthians 3:6, 2 Corinthians 3:17, 2 Corinthians 11:4, Isaiah 11:2, Isaiah 44:3, Isaiah 59:21, Joel 2:28, Joel 2:29, John 1:17, John 7:39, Acts 2:17, Acts 2:18, Acts 2:32, Acts 2:33, Romans 8:9-16, 1 Corinthians 3:16, 1 Corinthians 12:4-11, Galatians 3:2-5, Galatians 3:14, Galatians 5:5, Galatians 5:22, Galatians 5:23, Ephesians 2:18, 2 Thessalonians 2:13, 1 Peter 1:2, Jude 1:19, Jude 1:20

Reciprocal: Exodus 31:18 - the finger Isaiah 32:15 - the spirit Jeremiah 31:33 - I will Acts 6:15 - saw 2 Corinthians 4:4 - lest Galatians 3:5 - that Ephesians 4:12 - the work 1 Timothy 1:11 - glorious Hebrews 8:10 - I will put

Cross-References

Genesis 3:1
Nowe the serpent was more subtill then any beast of the fielde, which the Lord God had made: and he said to the woman, Yea, hath God in deede said, Ye shall not eate of euery tree of the garden?
Genesis 3:2
And the woman said vnto the serpent, We eate of the fruite of the trees of the garden,
Genesis 3:3
But of the fruite of the tree which is in the middes of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eate of it, neither shall ye touche it, lest ye die.
Genesis 3:9
But the Lord God called to the man, and said vnto him, Where art thou?
Genesis 3:10
Who saide, I heard thy voyce in the garden, and was afraide: because I was naked, therefore I hid my selfe.
Genesis 3:12
Then the man saide, The woman which thou gauest to be with me, she gaue me of the tree, and I did eate.
Genesis 3:21
Vnto Adam also and to his wife did the Lord God make coates of skinnes, and clothed them.
Genesis 3:22
And the Lord God said, Beholde, the man is become as one of vs, to knowe good and euill. And nowe lest he put foorth his hand, and take also of ye tree of life & eate & liue for euer,
Deuteronomy 4:33
Did euer people heare the voyce of God speaking out of the middes of a fire, as thou hast heard, and liued?
Deuteronomy 5:25
Now therefore, why should we dye? for this great fire wil consume vs: if we heare ye voyce of the Lord our God any more, we shall dye.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

How shall not the ministration of the Spirit,.... By "the ministration of the Spirit", is meant the Gospel; so called not only because it ministers spiritual things, as peace, pardon, righteousness and salvation, spiritual joy and comfort, and even spiritual life; but because it ministers the Spirit of God himself, by whom it is not only dictated, and by him at first confirmed, and who qualities persons for the preaching of it; but by it he conveys himself into the hearts of men, and makes it powerful for illumination, consolation, edification, and an increase of every grace; and therefore must be rather glorious, or much more glorious than the law, the ministration of death.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

How shall not the ministration of the Spirit - This is an argument from the less to the greater. Several things in it are worthy of notice:

(1) The proper contrast to the “ministration of death” 2 Corinthians 3:7, would have been ‘ministration of life.’ But Paul chose rather to call it the ‘ministration of the spirit;’ as the source of life; or as conferring higher dignity on the gospel than to have called it simply the ministration of life.

(2) By the “Spirit” here is manifestly meant the Holy Spirit; and the whole phrase denotes the gospel, or the preaching of the gospel, by which eminently the Holy Spirit is imparted.

(3) It is the high honor of the gospel ministry, that it is the means by which the Holy Spirit is imparted to human beings. It is designed to secure the salvation of people by his agency; and it is through the ministry that the Holy Spirit is imparted, the heart renewed, and the soul saved. The work of the ministry is, therefore, the most important and honorable in which man can engage.

Be rather glorious -

(1) Because that of Moses tended to death; this to life.

(2) Because that was engraved on stone; this is engraved on the heart.

(3) Because that was the mere giving of a law; this is connected with the renovating influences of the Holy Spirit.

(4) Because that was soon to pass away. All the magnificence of the scene was soon to vanish. But this is to remain. Its influence and effect are to he everlasting. It is to stretch into eternity; and its main glory is to be witnessed in souls renewed and saved; and amidst the splendors of heaven. “The work of the Spirit of God on the heart of a rational being, is much more important than any dead characters which can be engraved on insensible stones” - Doddridge.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 2 Corinthians 3:8. The ministration of the Spirit — The Gospel dispensation, which gives the true spiritual sense of the law.

Be rather glorious? — Forasmuch as the thing signified is of infinitely more consequence than that by which it is signified. The THING bread will preserve a man alive; the WORD bread can give life to nothing.


 
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