2 Corinthians 3:12 kjv
Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech:
2 Corinthians 3:12 nkjv
Therefore, since we have such hope, we use great boldness of speech?
2 Corinthians 3:12 niv
Therefore, since we have such a hope, we are very bold.
2 Corinthians 3:12 esv
Since we have such a hope, we are very bold,
2 Corinthians 3:12 nlt
Since this new way gives us such confidence, we can be very bold.
2 Corinthians 3 12 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 2 Cor 3:16 | But whenever their heart turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. | Direct fulfillment |
| Exod 34:29-30 | Moses' face shone when he came down from Mount Sinai; the people feared to come near him. | OT antecedent; veiled aspect |
| Lev 16:11-12 | Aaron brought his sin offering and sprinkled blood within the veil. | OT priestly barrier |
| Heb 4:16 | Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace... | NT confidence in approaching God |
| Heb 6:19-20 | We have this hope as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and entering... | NT security and access |
| Rom 1:17 | For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written... | Glory revealed in the gospel |
| Rom 8:29-30 | For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son... | Conformed to Christ's image |
| 1 Cor 13:12 | For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know... | Dimness vs. direct vision |
| Gal 3:22-25 | ...so that the law was our disciplinarian until Christ, so that we might be justified by faith. | Law as a tutor; transition |
| 1 John 3:2 | Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared... | Future conformity |
| John 1:14, 16 | And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory... And from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. | Christ's glory revealed |
| Ps 84:7 | They go from strength to strength; each one appears before God in Zion. | Progressive spiritual strength |
| Isa 25:7 | And he will swallow up death in victory; the Lord God will wipe away tears from off all faces... | Removal of sorrow/veiling |
| Jer 31:31-34 | "Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will make a new covenant..." | New Covenant promise |
| Heb 10:19-22 | Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus... | Direct access through Christ |
| Eph 2:18 | For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. | Access through Spirit |
| Phil 3:13-14 | ...forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal... | Moving towards perfection |
| Col 3:10 | ...and have been renewed in knowledge according to the image of him who created it. | Renewal in His image |
| 2 Cor 4:18 | As we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. | Focus on the unseen |
| 1 Pet 1:8 | Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him... | Belief without direct sight |
| Rev 22:4 | They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. | Final direct vision |
2 Corinthians 3 verses
2 Corinthians 3 12 Meaning
Because of this new covenant of Christ, which offers freedom and the direct revelation of God through His Spirit, believers have boldness and openness in approaching God. Unlike the Israelites under the Mosaic Law who veiled their faces when speaking to Moses about God's glory, Christians can look directly into the glory of God. This leads to a transformation in character, reflecting Christ's image, a process that increases from glory to glory.
2 Corinthians 3 12 Context
Second Corinthians chapter 3 contrasts the old covenant of the Law with the new covenant of the Spirit. Paul is defending his apostleship and ministry against detractors who were questioning his authority and message. He explains that the ministry of the Spirit is superior because it brings righteousness and freedom, and it transforms believers into the likeness of Christ. This particular verse emphasizes the openness and boldness Christians have due to the presence of the Holy Spirit, allowing direct communion with God. The veil Moses put on his face in Exodus represented a barrier to seeing God's glory clearly under the Old Covenant.
2 Corinthians 3 12 Word Analysis
Since (Greek: Epeidē - as, since, because): This is a causal conjunction, indicating a reason for the statement that follows.
we (Greek: hēmeis): The pronoun refers to Paul and his fellow ministers, and by extension, all believers in Christ.
have (Greek: echomen - we possess, we hold): Indicates possession of boldness.
this (Greek: toiautēn - such, of this kind): Refers to a specific kind of boldness.
hope (Greek: elpida - expectation, assurance): This hope is not mere wishful thinking, but a confident expectation based on God's promises.
we (Greek: hēmeis): Again, refers to believers.
use (Greek: chresometha - to make use of, to employ, to deal with): Implies employing or wielding this boldness.
boldness (Greek: parrhēsia - full, free, open speech, frankness, assurance): This signifies speaking and acting with complete openness and without fear or shame, especially before God. It’s a confidence rooted in innocence or in forgiveness.
we (Greek: hēmeis): Reinforces the subject.
speak (Greek: laloumen - to talk, speak): To communicate, particularly in relation to God.
make (Greek: poioumetha - we make, we produce): We are the agents of making known.
known (Greek: phanerous - manifest, visible, clear, open): To make evident or public.
Group analysis of "have this hope we use boldness": This phrase captures the essence of Christian access to God. The boldness (parrhesia) is directly linked to the confident hope believers have in Christ's finished work and the indwelling Spirit, which enables direct communication with God.
Group analysis of "we speak and make known": This highlights the active expression of faith. It is not passive but involves communication (speaking) and proclamation (making known) of the truth, enabled by the divine confidence.
2 Corinthians 3 12 Bonus Section
The Greek word parrhēsia (boldness) is significant. It carries the connotation of fearless speech, a liberty to speak plainly and openly, as well as freedom from shame. This boldness is a characteristic gift of the new covenant ministry. The progression "from glory to glory" is a key theme, indicating a continuous process of spiritual growth and transformation in the life of a believer, reflecting God's glory more fully over time. The reference to a "veil" strongly alludes to the Old Testament account of Moses’ shining face, signifying the veiled understanding of the Law compared to the clear understanding of the Gospel under the new covenant. This clarity is what facilitates the boldness in speaking.
2 Corinthians 3 12 Commentary
The new covenant allows believers direct and unhindered access to God through Christ and the Holy Spirit. This removes the barriers and fears associated with the old covenant. Because of the finished work of Christ and the constant presence of the Holy Spirit, Christians possess a confident hope that empowers them to approach God with boldness, speak freely about Him, and make His truth openly known. This is not arrogance but a humble confidence in God's grace, transforming them from glory to glory as they behold His face.
- Practical usage: When praying, a believer can approach God without the Old Testament Levitical restrictions, knowing they are welcomed into His presence through Jesus. They can speak boldly in sharing the Gospel, confident that the Spirit is at work.