Which Bible translation is shown on 2 Corinthians 3?

This page reproduces the public-domain World English Bible Protestant edition.

How should I cite a verse in 2 Corinthians 3?

Use the book, chapter, and verse, and name the World English Bible when the wording matters.

2 Corinthians 3 (WEB) — Full Text

New Testament

2 Corinthians 3

1Are we beginning again to commend ourselves? Or do we need, as do some, letters of commendation to you or from you?

2You are our letter, written in our hearts, known and read by all men,

3being revealed that you are a letter of Christ, served by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tablets of stone, but in tablets that are hearts of flesh.

4Such confidence we have through Christ toward God,

5not that we are sufficient of ourselves to account anything as from ourselves; but our sufficiency is from God,

6who 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.

7But if the service of death, written engraved on stones, came with glory, so that the children of Israel could not look steadfastly on the face of Moses for the glory of his face, which was passing away,

8won’t service of the Spirit be with much more glory?

9For if the service of condemnation has glory, the service of righteousness exceeds much more in glory.

10For most certainly that which has been made glorious has not been made glorious in this respect, by reason of the glory that surpasses.

11For if that which passes away was with glory, much more that which remains is in glory.

12Having therefore such a hope, we use great boldness of speech,

13and not as Moses, who put a veil on his face so that the children of Israel wouldn’t look steadfastly on the end of that which was passing away.

14But their minds were hardened, for until this very day at the reading of the old covenant the same veil remains, because in Christ it passes away.

15But to this day, when Moses is read, a veil lies on their heart.

16But whenever someone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.

17Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.

18But we all, with unveiled face seeing the glory of the Lord as in a mirror, are transformed into the same image from glory to glory, even as from the Lord, the Spirit.

READ IN CONTEXT

Before applying this chapter

Paul defends cruciform ministry and explores weakness, reconciliation, generosity, and comfort. Read 2 Corinthians 3 within the complete 2 Corinthians overview, and use the contextual Bible reading guide before forming a personal application. Chapter divisions aid navigation, but the literary unit may begin earlier or continue into the next chapter.

Observe first

Mark repeated words, changes of speaker, commands, promises, contrasts, questions, and the relationship between paragraphs.

Apply responsibly

Distinguish description from command and immediate audience from later readers before forming a personal application.

TEXT-DERIVED READING NOTES

What to notice in 2 Corinthians 3

2 Corinthians 3 contains 18 verses and about 371 words in this translation. These observations come from the chapter itself; they are prompts for close reading, not claims about its only possible meaning.

The opening movement

Verse 1 begins: “Are we beginning again to commend ourselves? Or do we need, as do some, letters of commendation to you or from you?” Ask what situation, voice, image, or argument this opening establishes for everything that follows.

The closing movement

Verse 18 closes: “But we all, with unveiled face seeing the glory of the Lord as in a mirror, are transformed into the same image from glory to glory, even as from the Lord, the Spirit.” Compare the ending with the opening and note what changed, resolved, intensified, or remained open.

Vocabulary worth tracing

Recurring or prominent content words include glory, spirit, away, letter, service, face. Follow where each word appears and whether its meaning shifts with the speaker or setting.

COMMON QUESTIONS

About 2 Corinthians 3

Which Bible translation is shown here?+

This page reproduces the World English Bible Protestant edition (WEBP), a modern-English translation dedicated to the public domain.

How should I cite a specific verse?+

Use the book, chapter, and verse—for example, 2 Corinthians 3:1—and name the World English Bible if the wording matters. Each verse number above is a direct anchor link.

Does the chapter number define the complete literary unit?+

Not always. Chapter and verse numbers were added for navigation. Check the paragraphs, scenes, poetic stanzas, or argument before and after this chapter.