Bible Strands
2 Corinthians 3:9
For if the ministry of condemnation was glorious, how much more glorious is the ministry of righteousness!
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Paul addresses the Corinthian believers to contrast the old covenant with the new. He makes this comparison while defending his apostolic authority and explaining the superiority of the new covenant.
The words — διακονία (diakonia) means ministry, and κατακρίσεως (katakriseōs) means condemnation. The text explicitly pairs these terms to set up a direct comparison between two covenants.
The thread — The ministry of righteousness appears in Romans 3:21 as God’s righteousness revealed apart from the law, and in 2 Corinthians 5:21 as believers becoming righteousness in Christ. The theme of surpassing glory connects to the warning in Hebrews 12:18 about approaching a tangible, fearful mountain.
Why it lands — The text states that the ministry of righteousness is more glorious than the ministry of condemnation. It asks a reader to accept that the new covenant’s work of imparting righteousness surpasses the old covenant’s work of pronouncing guilt.
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
For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory.
Cross-references
- Romans 3:21 But now, apart from the law, the righteousness of God has been revealed, as attested by the Law and the Prophets.
- Hebrews 12:18 For you have not come to a mountain that can be touched and that is burning with fire; to darkness, gloom, and storm;
- 2 Corinthians 5:21 God made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.
- Exodus 19:12 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.
- Exodus 20:18 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.
- Isaiah 46:13 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 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 1:17 For the gospel reveals the righteousness of God that comes by faith from start to finish, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”
- Romans 4:11 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 righteousness might be credited to them.
- Romans 5:15 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!