Albert Barnes Commentary 2 Corinthians 3:6

"who also made us sufficient as ministers of a new covenant; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life." — 2 Corinthians 3:6 (ASV)

Who also hath made us able ministers, etc. This translation does not quite capture the force of the original. It might seem to imply that Paul regarded himself and his fellow workers as men of talents and of signal ability, and that he was inclined to boast of it.

But this is not the meaning. It refers properly to his sense of the responsibility and difficulty of the work of the ministry, and to the fact that he did not consider himself sufficient for this work in his own strength (2 Corinthians 2:16; 2 Corinthians 3:5). He here says that God had made him sufficient—not able, talented, or learned, but sufficient (ikanwsen hmav); He has supplied our deficiency; He has made us competent, or fit. If a word may be coined after the manner of the Greek here, "He has sufficienced us for this work." Therefore, there is no assertion here that they were men of talents or peculiar ability, but only that God had qualified them for their work and made them by His grace sufficient to meet the toils and responsibilities of this arduous office.

Of the new testament. Of the new covenant (Matthew 21:28), in contrast to the old covenant, which was established through Moses. They were appointed to go out and make the provisions of that new covenant known to a dying world.

Not of the letter. Not of the literal or verbal meaning, in contrast to the spirit (Romans 2:27, Romans 2:29; Romans 7:6).

This is said, doubtless, in opposition to the Jews and Jewish teachers. They insisted much on the letter of the law but entered little into its real meaning. They did not seek out the true spiritual sense of the Old Testament; and consequently, they rested on the mere literal observance of the rites and ceremonies of religion, without understanding their true nature and design.

Their service, though in many respects conformed to the letter of the law, yet became cold, formal, and hypocritical, abounding in mere ceremonies, and in which the heart played little part. Hence, there was little pure spiritual worship offered to God; and thus also, they rejected the Messiah whom the old covenant foreshadowed and was designed to present.

For the letter killeth. (Romans 7:9–10).

The mere letter of the law of Moses. Its effect was merely to produce condemnation, a sense of guilt and danger, and not to produce pardon, relief, and joy. The law declared death, condemned sin in all forms, and its effect was to produce a sense of guilt and condemnation.

But the spirit giveth life. The spirit, in contrast to the mere literal interpretation of the Scriptures. The Spirit, that is, Christ, says Locke. (Compare to 2 Corinthians 3:17). The spirit here means, says Bloomfield, that new spiritual system, the gospel. The Spirit of God speaking in us, says Doddridge. The spirit here seems to refer to the New Testament, or the new dispensation, in contrast to the old.

That was characterized mainly by its strictness of law, its burdensome rites, and by the severe tone of its denunciations against sin. It did not in itself provide a way of pardon and peace. Law condemns; it does not speak of forgiveness. On the contrary, the gospel, a spiritual system, is designed to impart life and comfort to the soul.

It speaks peace. It comes not to condemn, but to save. It discloses a way of mercy, and it invites all to partake and live. It is called "spirit," probably because its consolations are imparted and secured by the Spirit of God—the source of all true life to the soul. It is the dispensation of the Spirit; and it demands a spiritual service—a service that is free, elevated, and especially tending to purify the heart and save the soul (2 Corinthians 3:17).

Regarding spirit giveth life, see John 6:63; Romans 8:2. Regarding giveth life, an alternative term is "quickeneth."