3 Are we beginning to commend ourselves^(A) again? Or do we need, like some people, letters of recommendation^(B) to you or from you? ² You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everyone.^{(C) 3} You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God,^(D) not on tablets of stone^(E) but on tablets of human hearts.^(F)

⁴ Such confidence^(G) we have through Christ before God. ⁵ Not that we are competent in ourselves^(H) to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God.^{(I) 6} He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant^(J)—not of the letter^(K) but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.^(L)

The Greater Glory of the New Covenant

⁷ Now if the ministry that brought death,^(M) which was engraved in letters on stone, came with glory, so that the Israelites could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of its glory,^(N) transitory though it was, ⁸ will not the ministry of the Spirit be even more glorious? ⁹ If the ministry that brought condemnation^(O) was glorious, how much more glorious is the ministry that brings righteousness!^{(P) 10} For what was glorious has no glory now in comparison with the surpassing glory. ¹¹ And if what was transitory came with glory, how much greater is the glory of that which lasts!

¹² Therefore, since we have such a hope,^(Q) we are very bold.^{(R) 13} We are not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face^(S) to prevent the Israelites from seeing the end of what was passing away. ¹⁴ But their minds were made dull,^(T) for to this day the same veil remains when the old covenant^(U) is read.^(V) It has not been removed, because only in Christ is it taken away. ¹⁵ Even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts. ¹⁶ But whenever anyone turns to the Lord,^(W) the veil is taken away.^{(X) 17} Now the Lord is the Spirit,^(Y) and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.^{(Z) 18} And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate^[a](AA) the Lord’s glory,^(AB) are being transformed into his image^(AC) with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

Present Weakness and Resurrection Life

4 Therefore, since through God’s mercy^(AD) we have this ministry, we do not lose heart.^{(AE) 2} Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways;^(AF) we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God.^(AG) On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience^(AH) in the sight of God. ³ And even if our gospel^(AI) is veiled,^(AJ) it is veiled to those who are perishing.^{(AK) 4} The god^(AL) of this age^(AM) has blinded^(AN) the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ,^(AO) who is the image of God.^{(AP) 5} For what we preach is not ourselves,^(AQ) but Jesus Christ as Lord,^(AR) and ourselves as your servants^(AS) for Jesus’ sake. ⁶ For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,”^[b](AT) made his light shine in our hearts^(AU) to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.^(AV)

⁷ But we have this treasure in jars of clay^(AW) to show that this all-surpassing power is from God^(AX) and not from us. ⁸ We are hard pressed on every side,^(AY) but not crushed; perplexed,^(AZ) but not in despair; ⁹ persecuted,^(BA) but not abandoned;^(BB) struck down, but not destroyed.^{(BC) 10} We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus,^(BD) so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.^{(BE) 11} For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake,^(BF) so that his life may also be revealed in our mortal body. ¹² So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.^(BG)

¹³ It is written: “I believed; therefore I have spoken.”^[c](BH) Since we have that same spirit of^[d] faith,^(BI) we also believe and therefore speak, ¹⁴ because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead^(BJ) will also raise us with Jesus^(BK) and present us with you to himself.^{(BL) 15} All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving^(BM) to overflow to the glory of God.

¹⁶ Therefore we do not lose heart.^(BN) Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly^(BO) we are being renewed^(BP) day by day. ¹⁷ For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.^{(BQ) 18} So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen,^(BR) since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.