2 Corinthians 3:6
What does 2 Corinthians 3:6 mean?
A plain-English look at 2 Corinthians 3:6 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What 2 Corinthians 3:6 means
God has made Paul and his coworkers competent to serve a “new covenant.” This covenant is characterized not by the letter that kills but by the Spirit who gives life. “Letter” here points to the law as an external code that, when applied to sinners, exposes guilt and brings death. The Spirit brings inner renewal, forgiveness, and power to obey because of Christ’s saving work. The new covenant is therefore life-giving in essence. It does not discard God’s righteousness; it fulfills it by writing it on hearts. The contrast is not between Scripture and spirituality but between an external economy of condemnation and an internal work of the Spirit that grants life.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000who also made us sufficient as ministers of a new covenant; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.
KJV
King James Version · 1611Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901who also made us sufficient as ministers of a new covenant; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949Who has made us able to be servants of a new agreement; not of the letter, but of the Spirit: for the letter gives death, but the Spirit gives life.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862who also made us sufficient <FI>to be<Fi> ministrants of a new covenant, not of letter, but of spirit; for the letter doth kill, and the spirit doth make alive.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Who also hath made us fit ministers of the new testament, not in the letter but in the spirit. For the letter killeth: but the spirit quickeneth.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890who has also made us competent, [as] ministers of [the] new covenant; not of letter, but of spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit quickens.
Context
Verses 4–5 affirmed that sufficiency is from God; verse 6 names the task: ministry of the new covenant. The key contrast—letter kills, Spirit gives life—introduces the chapter’s central theme. Verses 7–11 will expand this with the language of “glory,” comparing the old covenant’s real but fading glory with the surpassing and enduring glory of the Spirit’s ministry of righteousness. The theological contrast provides the basis for the practical boldness and unveiled access in the remainder of the chapter.
v.5not that we are sufficient of ourselves, to account anything as from ourselves; but our sufficiency is from God;
v.6This passage
v.7But if the ministration of death, written, and engraven on stones, came with glory, so that the children of Israel could not look stedfastly upon the face of Moses for the glory of his face; which glory was passing away:
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Romans 8:2
For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus made me free from the law of sin and of death.
- Colossians 1:25
whereof I was made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which was given me to you-ward, to fulfil the word of God,
- 1 Corinthians 3:5
What then is Apollos? and what is Paul? Ministers through whom ye believed; and each as the Lord gave to him.
- 1 John 1:1
That which was from the beginning, that which we have heard, that which we have seen with our eyes, that which we beheld, and our hands handled, concerning the Word of life
- John 6:63
It is the spirit that giveth life; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I have spoken unto you are spirit, and are life.
- Hebrews 13:20
Now the God of peace, who brought again from the dead the great shepherd of the sheep with the blood of an eternal covenant, even our Lord Jesus,
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