Trying harder won’t fix the human heart, and that’s exactly why the new covenant is such good news. In this episode, Krisan Marotta walks us through 2 Corinthians 3:1-6, where Paul defends his ministry by pointing not to his qualifications, but to the life-giving work of the Spirit. Paul’s confidence doesn’t come from his own strength. It comes from what God is doing through him.



In this week’s episode, we explore:




* Why Paul calls the Corinthians his letter of recommendation.



* How Paul carefully walks the line between defending his ministry and boasting.



* How Paul compares his ministry to the ministry of Moses



* How the Spirit changes hearts in a way the Law never could



* Why the “Victorious Christian Life” reading of this passage misses Paul’s point




By listening, you’ll gain a clearer understanding of the difference between law and Spirit, external obedience and inward transformation, and why the gospel offers something better than a new strategy for self-improvement.







What's New About the New Covenant (2 Corinthians 3:1-6)



In 2 Corinthians 3:1–6, Paul continues defending his ministry to the Corinthian church. Some in the church questioned his authority and demanded proof of his legitimacy. Paul responds by pointing to the Corinthian believers themselves as the evidence of his ministry and explains how his message brings life through the Spirit in a way the Law could not.



Paul’s Defense: No Letters Needed



Paul asks whether he needs to commend himself again or bring letters of recommendation.




* Paul walked a fine line between affirming the importance of his message and not boasting about himself.



* His ministry is critical because of the gospel message, not because of who he is personally.



* He is just a man, but nevertheless God chose him to preach the gospel as an apostle.




The Corinthians as Evidence of the Spirit’s Work



Paul expands the metaphor of the Corinthians as his “letter.”




* You give a letter of recommendation to someone who does not know you.



* Paul rejects the idea that he needs to reintroduce himself to the Corinthians.



* The changes in their lives testify that he preached the gospel to them.



* Paul describes himself as the deliveryman of this letter. God is its author.



* The transformation in Corinth came from God, not from Paul’s skill or power.




The Letter Kills but the Spirit Gives Life Explained



Paul introduces a contrast between the letter and the Spirit.




* “Letter” refers to the Old Testament Law.



* “Spirit” refers to the inner transformation that comes from the Holy Spirit.



* Paul claims that “the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.”




Paul’s reference to the “new covenant” connects to Old Testament promises of heart transformation.




* Deuteronomy 30:4-6: Moses predicts God will circumcise hearts so that the people will love and follow Him.



* Ezekiel 36:22-28 God promises to remove hearts of stone and replace them with hearts of flesh, putting His Spirit within His people.



* Jeremiah 31:31-34: God promises a new covenant in which He will write His law on people’s hearts and forgive their sins.