Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary 2 Corinthians 3:12

"Having therefore such a hope, we use great boldness of speech," — 2 Corinthians 3:12 (ASV)

As participants in the new covenant, Paul and his fellow apostles and fellow preachers had the certain hope that it was a permanent, irrevocable covenant, never to be superseded and never to be surpassed in splendor. This accounted for their boldness and confidence in preaching. They had nothing to conceal but every reason for fearless candor (v.12).

This idea of openness prompts Paul to continue his commentary on Ex 34:29–35. This OT passage suggested to him that after each encounter between Moses and the Lord in the tent of meeting, when Moses returned to the people of Israel to tell them what he had been commanded, they were dazzled by the radiance of his face and he put on his “veil” (GK 2820). Only in the tabernacle did he keep the veil on. Although the OT does not explicitly state that the radiance on the face of Moses gradually faded and then disappeared, Paul suggests that the reason for Moses’ veiling was not so much to prevent the Israelites from being dazzled by its brightness (cf. Exodus 34:30–31) as it was to prevent them from continuing to gaze in amazement until his face totally lost the brilliance of the reflected glory (cf. v.7). He was attempting to teach them, Paul implies, that the newly established order was destined to be eclipsed and pass away.

Alternatively, the purpose of Moses’ veiling may have been to deny the Israelites the privilege of looking right on to the end of the fading glory. It was an acted parable condemning them, emphasizing that their sins had made them unable and unworthy to behold even temporary glory without interruption. Others suggest that Moses wished to avoid the personal embarrassment of having the people realize that the splendor of his face was fading.