2 Corinthians 3:18

And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into His image with intensifying glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Paul writes to the Corinthian church, defending his ministry against rivals who demand letters of recommendation. He has just contrasted the old covenant's fading glory with the new covenant's permanent glory (vv. 6–18).

The words — anakekalummenō (ἀνακεκαλυμμένῳ) is a rare, intensified form of "unveiled," echoing Moses' veil (Exodus 34:33–35) but here applied to believers' faces. The prefix ana- adds a sense of complete, irreversible removal.

The thread — Romans 12:2 speaks of transformation by the renewing of the mind; Ephesians 4:22 commands putting off the old self corrupted by deceitful desires. Both describe the same progressive change Paul names here as reflection of the Lord's glory.

Why it lands — The verse presents transformation as a present, ongoing process ("are being transformed"), not a single event. It asks the reader to stay in the presence of the Lord's glory rather than retreat from it, and to expect the change to intensify.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Greek words

King James Version

But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

Cross-references

2 Corinthians 4:6 For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made His light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
Ephesians 4:22 to put off your former way of life, your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires;
Romans 12:2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.
2 Corinthians 4:4 The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
1 Corinthians 13:12 Now we see but a dim reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
Colossians 3:10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.
1 Corinthians 15:49 And just as we have borne the likeness of the earthly man, so also shall we bear the likeness of the heavenly man.
Romans 8:29 For those God foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brothers.
2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away. Behold, the new has come!
John 1:14 The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.