2 Corinthians 3:6 “And He has qualified us as ministers of a new covenant, not of the let…”

2 Corinthians 3:6

And He has qualified us as ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

Berean Standard Bible

Other translations

King James Version

Who 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.

World English Bible

who also made us sufficient as servants of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

American Standard Version

who 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.

Geneva Bible 1599

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.

Darby Translation

who 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.

Young's Literal Translation

who also made us sufficient [to be] ministrants of a new covenant, not of letter, but of spirit; for the letter doth kill, and the spirit doth make alive.

Bible in Basic English

Who 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.

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Cross references

“hath”

Matthew 13:52 2 Corinthians 5:18–20 Ephesians 3:7 Colossians 1:25–29 1 Timothy 4:6 1 Corinthians 3:5

Matthew 13:52 · BSB

Then He told them, “For this reason, every scribe who has been discipled in the kingdom of heaven is like a homeowner who brings out of his storeroom new treasures as well as old.”

2 Corinthians 5:18–20 · BSB

All this is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation:

Ephesians 3:7 · BSB

I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace, given me through the working of His power.

Colossians 1:25–29 · BSB

I became its servant by the commission God gave me to fully proclaim to you the word of God,

1 Timothy 4:6 · BSB

By pointing out these things to the brothers, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, nourished by the words of faith and sound instruction that you have followed.

1 Corinthians 3:5 · BSB

What then is Apollos? And what is Paul? They are servants through whom you believed, as the Lord has assigned to each his role.

“the new”

Jeremiah 31:31 Hebrews 8:6–10 2 Corinthians 3:14 Hebrews 12:24 Hebrews 7:22 Hebrews 13:20

Jeremiah 31:31 · BSB

Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah.

Hebrews 8:6–10 · BSB

Now, however, Jesus has received a much more excellent ministry, just as the covenant He mediates is better and is founded on better promises.

2 Corinthians 3:14 · BSB

But their minds were closed. For to this day the same veil remains at the reading of the old covenant. It has not been lifted, because only in Christ can it be removed.

Hebrews 12:24 · BSB

to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.

Hebrews 7:22 · BSB

Because of this oath, Jesus has become the guarantee of a better covenant.

Hebrews 13:20 · BSB

Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep,

“not”

Romans 7:6 Romans 2:27–29

Romans 7:6 · BSB

But now, having died to what bound us, we have been released from the law, so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code.

Romans 2:27–29 · BSB

The one who is physically uncircumcised yet keeps the law will condemn you who, even though you have the written code and circumcision, are a lawbreaker.

“for”

Romans 3:20 Galatians 3:10–12 Deuteronomy 27:26 Romans 7:9–11 2 Corinthians 3:7 Romans 4:15

Romans 3:20 · BSB

Therefore no one will be justified in His sight by works of the law. For the law merely brings awareness of sin.

Galatians 3:10–12 · BSB

All who rely on works of the law are under a curse. For it is written: “Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.”

Deuteronomy 27:26 · BSB

‘Cursed is he who does not put the words of this law into practice.’ And let all the people say, ‘Amen!’

Romans 7:9–11 · BSB

Once I was alive apart from the law; but when the commandment came, sin sprang to life and I died.

2 Corinthians 3:7 · BSB

Now if the ministry of death, which was engraved in letters on stone, came with such glory that the Israelites could not gaze at the face of Moses because of its fleeting glory,

Romans 4:15 · BSB

because the law brings wrath. And where there is no law, there is no transgression.

“but the”

John 6:63 Romans 8:2 1 John 1:1

John 6:63 · BSB

The Spirit gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life.

Romans 8:2 · BSB

For in Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set you free from the law of sin and death.

1 John 1:1 · BSB

That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our own eyes, which we have gazed upon and touched with our own hands—this is the Word of life.

“giveth life”

1 Corinthians 15:45 1 Peter 3:18 John 5:21 Romans 4:17 Ephesians 2:5 Ephesians 2:1

1 Corinthians 15:45 · BSB

So it is written: “The first man Adam became a living being”; the last Adam a life-giving spirit.

1 Peter 3:18 · BSB

For Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit,

John 5:21 · BSB

For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom He wishes.

Romans 4:17 · BSB

As it is written: “I have made you a father of many nations.” He is our father in the presence of God, in whom he believed, the God who gives life to the dead and calls into being what does not yet exist.

Ephesians 2:5 · BSB

made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in our trespasses. It is by grace you have been saved!

Ephesians 2:1 · BSB

And you were dead in your trespasses and sins,

Cross references adapted from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0) and the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

In context

5Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim that anything comes from us, but our competence comes from God.

7Now if the ministry of death, which was engraved in letters on stone, came with such glory that the Israelites could not gaze at the face of Moses because of its fleeting glory,

Read 2 Corinthians 3