Charles Ellicott Commentary 2 Corinthians 3:10

"For verily that which hath been made glorious hath not been made glorious in this respect, by reason of the glory that surpasseth." — 2 Corinthians 3:10 (ASV)

For even that which was made glorious had no glory.—More accurately, Saint Paul, reproducing the very tense he found in the Septuagint of Exodus 34:35, that which had been glorified has not been glorified—that is, it has lost its glory.

In this respect . . .—The phrase is the same as in 2 Corinthians 9:3; 1 Peter 4:16. The English translation expresses it very well. “In this point,” when compared with the gospel, the Law has lost its glory; it is thrown into the shade by “the glory that excelleth.”

The imagery seems to bring before us the symbolic meaning of the Transfiguration. Moses and Elijah appear in glory, but the glory of the Son of Man surpasses that of either. (Compare Notes on Matthew 16:1-4.)

The word for “excelleth” may be noted as peculiar to Saint Paul among the writers of the New Testament.