The Exceeding Ministration of Righteousness 2 Corinthians 3:9

Paul the apostle asked the church members in Corinth, “if the ministration of death, written and engraved in stones, was glorious...how shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious?”, and in chapter three and verse nine of Second Corinthians, Paul wrote, “much more does the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory”, where we read:

For if the ministration of condemnation be glory,

much more does the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory.

The verse begins, “For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, ...” Paul began with the word, “for” or “even as, indeed, no doubt, seeing then, verily and therefore” “if the ministration” which means “whether the service and ministry of those who execute the commands of other and by the command of God proclaim and promote religion among men” “of condemnation” or “sentencing adversely” “be glory” or “is opinion, judgment, view, estimate, splendor and brightness”. Paul recognized the “splendor and brightness” of the Old Covenant and the “service” of it.

The verse goes on to say, “ … much more does the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory.” Paul continued with the words, “much more” which means “to an exceeding, far greater, more willingly, readily and sooner degree” “does the ministration” or “does the service” “of righteousness” which refers to “integrity, virtue, purity of life, rightness, correctness of thinking and acting” “exceed” or “exist in abundance, overflows and falls to the lot of one in large measure” “in glory” which means “in opinion, judgment, view, estimate, splendor and brightness”. Paul declared the “service” of “purity and rightness” a far greater “splendor and brightness” than the one of “condemnation”.

When we meditate upon these words of Paul, we should remember Jesus' words in the gospel of John in chapter three and verse seventeen, “for God sent not his son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through him might be saved”. The law, or the “ministration of condemnation” demonstrated the “guilt” of people because no one other than Jesus whether past or present was able to keep it. This put people in a position of “condemnation” before God, and this is unacceptable to enter into Heaven with God. Jesus changed this as He kept God's Old Covenant perfectly and provided a way through belief and trust in Him as “Savior and Lord” to eternally be with God. This “ministration of righteousness” is superior to the one of “condemnation” because Jesus kept it and made provision for us to be forgiven. Let all who read these words know “the ministration of righteousness” is available today.

Next time Paul declares to the church members how, “that which was made glorious had no glory”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then,

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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