The Blog

In verses four and five, it seems Paul is boasting. While the false teachers boasted on their own power and prestige, Paul expressed his humility before God. No one is competent to carry out the responsibilities of God’s calling in his or her own strength.

In verse six, Paul states toward the end “the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life”. This phrase states that trying to be saved by obeying the law in the Old Testament will end in eternal death.

No one but Jesus has ever fulfilled the law perfectly, and thus the world is condemned to death.

Under the new covenant, salvation comes from the Holy Spirit. The Spirit gives new life to those who believe in Christ.

Many people ask what is the point of keeping the law in the Old Testament. It is a simple answer. The law acts as our spiritual mirror which shows us clearly why we will never be righteous enough to be in God’s presence. The moral law still points out our sin and shows us how to obey God, but forgiveness comes from the grace and mercy of God himself.

2 Corinthians 3:4-6
4 Such confidence we have through Christ before God. 5 Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God. 6 He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant—not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.