Expositor's Bible Commentary 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)

Paul realized that being divinely commissioned required being divinely equipped. His equipment to be a minister of a new covenant was given at his Damascus call when he was named a “chosen instrument” of God and filled with his Spirit (Acts 9:15, 17–19). There follows a contrast between two basic characteristics of the old and new covenants. The basis of the old covenant between the Lord and Israel was a lifeless, written code, “the book of the covenant” (Exodus 24:7). The basis of the new covenant between God and the church is a dynamic, pervasive Spirit. The written code (or “letter”; GK 1207) pronounced a sentence of death (Galatians 3:10), but the Spirit brings a transformation of life (Romans 7:6; Romans 8:3). Though the new covenant was ratified by the shedding of Christ’s blood (Hebrews 13:20) and is symbolized in the communion cup (1 Corinthians 11:25), it becomes operative only through the indwelling Spirit who imparts new life. Where “the letter” was powerless, the Spirit is powerful in producing holiness of life, enabling a person fully to meet the righteous requirements of the law (Romans 8:4). This is what makes the new covenant “new” (GK 2785) and the old covenant (3:14) “old” .