2 Coríntios 3
J. Vernon McGee · Citado em PreceptAustin
2 Coríntios 3
Vernon McGee explains that "the Word of God is the mirror that we are to look at, and we are beholding Him—just looking at Christ. That is the reason we need to stay in the Word of God and behold the Lord Jesus. As you behold Him, you are transformed. In other words, the Word of God does more than regenerate you (we are regenerated by the Spirit of God using the Word of God). “Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever” (1Pe 1:23). Also the Word of God transforms us. Oh, this is so important! I wish I had spent more time looking in the mirror, beholding Him more. My friend, in the Word of God we see Him. He is not a super star; He is not just a man. In the Word of God we see the unveiled Christ. Oh, how wonderful He is! Are being transformed (metamorphoo) into the same image (eikon) from glory (doxa) to glory (doxa), just as from the Lord (kurios), the Spirit (pneuma) - Being transformed is present tense signifying the fact that the one who continually beholds is continually being transformed. In other words it describes transformation as a process, progressive sanctification (present tense salvation), not an arrival (we call that glorification or future tense salvation). Being transformed is divine passive indicating the power for transformation is from the Spirit. This transformation is from inside out and is not a superficial fluctuation of fashion or conduct but a vital change revealing a new life. The same image is the image we are beholding which is the "the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, Who is the image of God." (2Cor 4:4+) We cannot transform ourselves any more than we could save (justify) ourselves. Just as we began this race by faith, we must continue to run by faith, trusting in the Spirit's power to transform us. Is this just "let go and let God?" I think not, for we do have a responsibility continually "behold God's glory", which is most clearly revealed in His Word of Truth (Php 2:16+, cf 1Jn 1:1+, Mt 4:4+, 1Pe 2:2+). As we take in His Word and live out His Word (obeying in the power of His Spirit), we proceed from glory to glory, growing "in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." (2Pe 3:18+). Just as we are changed "from glory to glory," we receive "grace upon grace" (Jn 1:16) (ministered by the Spirit of Grace Who enables our metamorphosis for glory to glory!). Only God's power (grace) can effect this supernatural transformation of the redeemed into His glorious image. (cp 1Jn 3:2,v3, cf Phil 3:21) Thus, we are gradually being restored to the full image of God in which we were created (Ge 1:26,27), being "renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him" (Col 3:10), for we indeed are predestined "to be conformed to the image of his Son" (Ro 8:29). Warren
2 Coríntios 3:1-4
McGee - Paul has spoken of the triumph of the ministry. Now he deals with the accreditation of the ministry. Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, as some, letters of commendation to you or from you? - Paul begins with two questions, both of which expect a negative reply. Commend means to place one with another and so to present as worthy of confidence. Paul asked the Corinthians if he needed some letter of commendation as if the Corinthians did not know who Paul was or what he did! A T
2 Coríntios 3:1-4
McGee - This gives me confidence. I know the Bible is the Word of God. When I was in seminary, I believed it was the Word of God. I think that intellectually it can be determined that it is the Word of God. But today I don’t even need the intellectual demonstrations anymore. I’ve passed that. To me it is very simple—the proof of the Word of God is what it does. They say that the proof of the pudding is in the eating. God put it like this: “O taste and see that the LORD is good …” (Ps. 34:8). This is His challenge to you. (2 Corinthians 3 Commentary) Alfred Plummer - He refers to the πεποίθησις just expressed, viz. that he has no need of any credentials other than the testimony which the existence of the Corinthian Church bears: that fact by itself suffices to prove his Apostleship. But he at once hastens to show that in this confidence there is no self-praise and no claim to credit; for it is conditioned in two ways which entirely exclude vain-glorious thoughts; it is through Christ, and it is towards God. (2 Corinthians 3) John
2 Coríntios 3:12-14
Vernon McGee - Now let’s make this very clear again that the veil Moses put on his face was not because his face was shining with a glory so that they couldn’t look at him. It was because that glory was beginning to fade away. The fact that Moses’ face shone was a glorious thing, but the glory began to fade. (2 Corinthians 3 Commentary) Charles Swindoll has an interesting comment - Yet 2 Corinthians 3:13 says that Moses kept the veil over his face to cover up the fact that the glory was fading, indicating that outside the very presence of God, our own finite, sinful inadequacy cannot maintain the glory of God. After all, it was God’s glory, which He shared with Moses, not Moses’ self-generated glory. (Insights on 1&2 Corinthians) Albert McShane - This boldness and confidence of the gospel preacher (2Co 3:12) is in sharp contrast to the veiled face of Moses at the time of the giving of the Law. In this covering of the face of Moses, Paul sees a picture of the veil that is upon the Jews as they read the Law (ED: PAUL DEFINITELY USES THE VEIL AS A METAPHOR IN 2Cor 3:14-15). (What the Bible Teaches - 2 Corinthians) W Mundle on the veil - Paul disregards the fear motive. He interprets the passage to mean that Moses put on the veil in order that the Israelites might not see the end of the temporary radiance. The passing glory (doxa) of the old covenant is contrasted with the eternal glory of the new (2 Cor. 3:11). (NIDNTT) Marvin
2 Coríntios 3:12-14
McGee - Their minds are blinded until this very day. The veil that Moses wore on his face is now a veil on the minds of God’s ancient people. It is still there because of the fact that these people actually do not see that Christ is the end of the Law for righteousness. They do not see that He is the fulfillment of the whole Law. The blindness is still there. When we get into the next chapter, we will find that the “god of this world” has blinded the minds of those who do not believe, and we will see why this is true (2Cor 4:3-4+) (2 Corinthians 3 Commentary) Wiersbe on minds were hardened - There was a “spiritual veil” over their minds and hearts. Their “spiritual eyes” were blinded, so that when they read the Old Testament Scriptures, they did not see the truth about their own Messiah. Even though the Scriptures were read systematically in the synagogues, the Jewish people did not grasp the spiritual message God had given to them. They were blinded by their own religion.....In each of the three churches I have pastored, it has been my joy to baptize Jewish people who have trusted Jesus Christ. It is amazing how their minds open to the Scriptures after they have been born again. One man told me, “It’s like scales falling from your eyes. You wonder why everybody doesn’t see what you see!” (ED: HE MAY NOT HAVE REALIZED IT BUT HE DESCRIBED ANOTHER JEWISH MAN - Acts 9:18+!) The veil is removed by the Spirit of God and they receive spiritual vision.(Bible Exposition Commentary) P E
2 Coríntios 3:18
Vernon McGee explains that… the Word of God is the mirror that we are to look at, and we are beholding Him—just looking at Christ. That is the reason we need to stay in the Word of God and behold the Lord Jesus. As you behold Him, you are transformed. In other words, the Word of God does more than regenerate you (we are regenerated by the Spirit of God using the Word of God). “Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever” (1Pe 1:23). Also the Word of God transforms us. Oh, this is so important! I wish I had spent more time looking in the mirror, beholding Him more. My friend, in the Word of God we see Him. He is not a super star; He is not just a man. In the Word of God we see the unveiled Christ. Oh, how wonderful He is! Dr. H. A. Ironside told the story about an old Scot who lay suffering and, actually, dying. The physician told him he didn’t have very long to live. A friend came to spend a little time with him and said to him, “They tell me you’ll not be with us long.” That’s a nice thing to say to a man who is dying. Then he continued, “I hope you get a wee glimpse of the Savior’s blessed face as you are going through the valley of the shadow.” The dying man looked up when he gathered a little strength and answered, “Away with the glimpse, mon; it’s a full view of His blessed face I’ve had these forty years, and I’ll not be satisfied with any of your wee glimpses now.” How wonderful to behold Him today. ILLUSTRATION - Perhaps some of you remember Nathaniel Hawthorne’s story about the great stone face. A little lad lived in a village where there was a mountain with a rock formation which they called the great stone face. The people had a legend that someday someone would come to the village who would look like the great stone face. He would do wonderful things for the village and be a means of great blessing. That story really took hold of the lad. During his lifetime he would gaze at the great stone face at every opportunity that he had, and he would dream of the time someone looking like the great stone face would come to the village. Years passed and as time went by, he became a young man, then an old man. He was tottering down the street one day when someone looked up and saw him coming and shouted, “He has come. The one who looks like the great stone face is here.” This man had looked at the great stone face for so long that now he bore its image. Listen to me. Do you want to be Christlike? Then spend time looking at Jesus. I recall that Dr. Lewis Sperry Chafer at the Dallas Theological Seminary used to stop us when we would sing the song, “Take time to be holy, speak oft with thy Lord” by William D. Longstaff. He would say, “Change that first line. Let us sing ‘Take time to behold Him.’” Do you want to be holy? Then behold Him. Turn your eyes upon Jesus; Look full in His wonderful face; And the things of earth will grow strangely dim In the light of His glory and grace. I need this. I hope you, too, sense a need of seeing Jesus Christ on the pages of the Word of God so that you might grow more like Him. (2 Corinthians 3:18 Mp3) MAN IN THE MIRROR - Years ago, Walter A. Maier, an eloquent radio preacher, told about an African tribal chief who was presented with a mirror by a visitor. He peered curiously into the glass and commented on the ugliness of the person he saw. When he realized he was looking at himself, he became enraged and smashed the mirror on a rock. The apostle James described God's Word as a mirror in which we can see ourselves reflected (Jas 1:23, 24). It shows us that although we were created to reflect God's character, in our fallen condition we are spiritually ugly and marred by sin. But when we put our faith in Jesus Christ, we are spiritually reborn (Jn 3:3, 8). Then, as we look into God's Word, we see ourselves as God sees us—our ugliness has been transformed into the beauty of Christ's likeness. And we grow in His likeness from that point on (2Co 3:18). —V C Grounds The Word of God is the only mirror that can transform our appearance.