2 Corinthians 3:9 “For if the ministry of condemnation was glorious, how much more glorio…”

2 Corinthians 3:9

For if the ministry of condemnation was glorious, how much more glorious is the ministry of righteousness!

Berean Standard Bible

Other translations

King James Version

For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory.

World English Bible

For if the service of condemnation has glory, the service of righteousness exceeds much more in glory.

American Standard Version

For if the ministration of condemnation hath glory, much rather doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory.

Geneva Bible 1599

For if the ministerie of condemnation was glorious, much more doeth the ministration of righteousnesse exceede in glorie.

Darby Translation

For if the ministry of condemnation [be] glory, much rather the ministry of righteousness abounds in glory.

Young's Literal Translation

for if the ministration of the condemnation [is] glory, much more doth the ministration of the righteousness abound in glory;

Bible in Basic English

For if the operation of the law, producing punishment, had its glory, how much greater will be the operation of the Spirit causing righteousness?

.mt-body { max-height: none !important; -webkit-mask-image: none !important; mask-image: none !important; } .mt-bar { display: none !important; } .o-trans::after { display: block !important; }

Cross references

“the ministration of condemnation”

Hebrews 12:18–21 Exodus 19:12–19 Galatians 3:10 2 Corinthians 3:6 2 Corinthians 3:7 Exodus 20:18

Hebrews 12:18–21 · BSB

For you have not come to a mountain that can be touched and that is burning with fire; to darkness, gloom, and storm;

Exodus 19:12–19 · BSB

And you are to set up a boundary for the people around the mountain and tell them, ‘Be careful not to go up on the mountain or touch its base. Whoever touches the mountain shall surely be put to death.

Galatians 3:10 · 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.”

2 Corinthians 3:6 · BSB

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.

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,

Exodus 20:18 · BSB

When all the people witnessed the thunder and lightning, the sounding of the ram’s horn, and the mountain enveloped in smoke, they trembled and stood at a distance.

“the ministration of righteousness”

2 Corinthians 5:21 Isaiah 46:13 Jeremiah 23:6 Romans 4:11 Romans 5:15–21 Romans 10:3–10

2 Corinthians 5:21 · BSB

God made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.

Isaiah 46:13 · BSB

I am bringing My righteousness near; it is not far away, and My salvation will not be delayed. I will grant salvation to Zion and adorn Israel with My splendor.

Jeremiah 23:6 · BSB

In His days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell securely. And this is His name by which He will be called: The LORD Our Righteousness.

Romans 4:11 · BSB

And he received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. So then, he is the father of all who believe but are not circumcised, in order that righteous…

Romans 5:15–21 · BSB

But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did God’s grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, abound to the many!

Romans 10:3–10 · BSB

Because they were ignorant of God’s righteousness and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness.

“exceed”

1 Corinthians 15:41 2 Corinthians 3:10 2 Corinthians 3:11 Hebrews 3:5 Hebrews 3:6

1 Corinthians 15:41 · BSB

The sun has one degree of splendor, the moon another, and the stars another; and star differs from star in splendor.

2 Corinthians 3:10 · BSB

Indeed, what was once glorious has no glory now in comparison to the glory that surpasses it.

2 Corinthians 3:11 · BSB

For if what was fading away came with glory, how much greater is the glory of that which endures!

Hebrews 3:5 · BSB

Now Moses was faithful as a servant in all God’s house, testifying to what would be spoken later.

Hebrews 3:6 · BSB

But Christ is faithful as the Son over God’s house. And we are His house, if we hold firmly to our confidence and the hope of which we boast.

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

In context

8will not the ministry of the Spirit be even more glorious?

10Indeed, what was once glorious has no glory now in comparison to the glory that surpasses it.

Read 2 Corinthians 3