2 Corinthians 3:8 - An Understandable Version (2005 edition)

⁸ will not the ministry of the Holy Spirit [i.e., the New Agreement] have [greater] splendor?

More versions

King James Version (Oxford) 1769

⁸ how shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious?

Amplified Bible - Classic Edition

⁸ Why should not the dispensation of the Spirit [this spiritual ministry whose task it is to cause men to obtain and be governed by the Holy Spirit] be attended with much greater and more splendid glory?

American Standard Version (1901)

⁸ how shall not rather the ministration of the spirit be with glory?

Common English Bible

⁸ Won’t the ministry of the Spirit be much more glorious?

Catholic Public Domain Version

⁸ how could the ministration of the Spirit not be in greater glory?

2 Corinthians 3:8 Cross References

John 1:17

For the Law was given through Moses; [but] God’s favor and truth came through Jesus Christ.

John 7:39

Now He said this about the Holy Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were to receive [See Acts 2:38]. For [at that time] the Holy Spirit had not yet been given, since Jesus had not yet received splendor [in heaven].

1 Corinthians 3:16

Do you people not know that you are God’s Temple [i.e., the church. See I Pet. 2:5; I Tim. 3:15], and that the Holy Spirit of God lives in you [i.e., collectively]?

2 Corinthians 11:4

For if someone comes [to you] proclaiming another “Jesus,” whom we [apostles] had not preached, or if you people receive a different “spirit” from the one you have [already] received, or a different “gospel” from the one you have [already] accepted, you put up with him quite well.

2 Corinthians 3:17

Now the Lord [i.e., Christ] is the Holy Spirit, and there is freedom [from the bondage of sin and fear] wherever the Spirit of the Lord is.

2 Corinthians 3:6

He has also made us competent as ministers of a New Agreement [i.e., between Himself and mankind]. It is not [an agreement] based [merely] on a written document [i.e., such as the Law of Moses], but on the Holy Spirit, for the written document brings [spiritual] death [See Rom. 8:2], but the Holy Spirit brings [never ending] life.

2 Corinthians 3:7

But if the ministry [of the law] that brings [spiritual] death, being carved in letters on stones, came with [such] splendor that the Israelites could not look at Moses’ face because of its radiance [See Ex. 34:29-35], (even though such radiance [eventually] faded away),

2 Corinthians 3:9

For if the ministry [of the law] that brings condemnation came with splendor, will not the ministry that brings righteousness [i.e., the New Agreement] have greater splendor?

Galatians 3:14

[This happened] so that the blessing [promised] to Abraham might be received by the Gentiles through [the person and work of] Christ, so that we might receive the promised [gift of the] Holy Spirit through [our] faith [in Jesus].

Galatians 5:5

For we are waiting for the hope [to be fulfilled] of being made right with God by [the power of] the Holy Spirit.

Ephesians 2:18

For through Him we [Jews and Gentiles] both have access to the Father by means of one Holy Spirit.

2 Thessalonians 2:13

But we ought to thank God for you always, brothers [who are] dearly loved by the Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginning [Note: Some manuscripts use the Greek word for “first fruits” instead of “beginning” here, but it is difficult to know in what sense the Thessalonian Christians were “first”], in order to be saved through being set apart by the Holy Spirit and through belief of the truth [of the Gospel].

1 Peter 1:2

These people have been [specially] selected, and [their acceptance was] pre-planned by God the Father, and they were set apart through [the work of] the Holy Spirit. This resulted in their obedience and sprinkling [Note: This is a figurative reference to the Old Testament practice of cleansing, See Exodus 24:7-8] by the blood of Jesus Christ. May God’s unearned favor and peace be continually upon you.