2 Corinthians 3 17

2 Corinthians 3:17 kjv

Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.

2 Corinthians 3:17 nkjv

Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.

2 Corinthians 3:17 niv

Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.

2 Corinthians 3:17 esv

Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.

2 Corinthians 3:17 nlt

For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.

2 Corinthians 3 verses

2 Corinthians 3 17 Meaning

2 Corinthians 3:17 declares a profound theological truth central to Christian understanding of the New Covenant: the identity and active presence of "the Lord" with "the Spirit," and the consequent experience of "freedom" for believers. It asserts that where the presence and activity of the Spirit of the Lord are found, spiritual liberty, liberation from the Old Covenant's condemnation and its veiling effect, is also present. This freedom is multifaceted, encompassing liberation from sin, the demands of the law as a means of righteousness, and spiritual blindness.

2 Corinthians 3 17 Context

Chapter 3 of 2 Corinthians contrasts the Old Covenant, represented by the "letter" written on stone tablets and the fading glory of Moses' face, with the New Covenant of the Spirit. Paul argues that the ministry of the Spirit far surpasses the old in glory because it brings righteousness, life, and permanence. The previous verses (2 Cor 3:13-16) describe how the glory of the Old Covenant faded, necessitating Moses to veil his face, and how this veil spiritually remains over the hearts of those who read the Old Testament without turning to Christ, preventing them from understanding its true meaning and purpose. Verse 16 states, "But when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed." Verse 17 directly follows this, explaining how this removal of the veil and the subsequent understanding occurs – through the identity of "the Lord" with "the Spirit" and the freedom the Spirit brings. This context highlights liberation from spiritual blindness and legalistic bondage.

2 Corinthians 3 17 Word analysis

• Now (Δέ - De): This conjunction serves to transition and connect the preceding thought about the veil being removed when one turns to "the Lord" (v. 16) to the profound explanation that follows. It signifies a logical consequence or a further elaboration.
• the Lord (ὁ Κύριος - ho Kyrios): In the immediate context of 2 Corinthians 3, "the Lord" specifically refers to Jesus Christ. This aligns with Paul's consistent understanding of Christ as the New Covenant's mediator and the ultimate interpreter of the Law and Prophets. The Greek term Kyrios carries significant weight, being used for God in the Septuagint and affirming Jesus' divine authority and sovereignty.
• is (ἐστίν - estin): A simple present tense verb indicating an ongoing truth, a statement of identity or essence. It's not a temporary condition but a fundamental reality.
• the Spirit (τὸ Πνεῦμα - to Pneuma): Refers to the Holy Spirit. This identification is crucial. Paul does not mean the Lord morphs into the Spirit, nor is he collapsing the Persons of the Trinity into one mode of being (modalism). Rather, "the Lord is the Spirit" emphasizes a profound functional unity and shared activity between the ascended Christ and the Holy Spirit in the experience of believers. The Spirit is the active, empowering, and life-giving presence of the risen Lord, making Him truly accessible and immanent.
• and (δὲ - de): This conjunction introduces a further consequence or related truth based on the initial statement. It smoothly connects the identification of the Lord with the Spirit to the result of that presence.
• where (οὗ - hou): A locative adverb, signifying presence. It points to the specific sphere or location where the Spirit's influence is active. This is not necessarily a geographical location but a spiritual reality within believers or the church community.
• the Spirit of the Lord (τὸ Πνεῦμα Κυρίου - to Pneuma Kyriou): This phrase reinforces the intimate connection established in the first clause. The genitive Kyriou ("of the Lord") clarifies that this is not a general spirit but specifically the Holy Spirit, which is intimately connected to and proceeds from Christ, enabling His redemptive work and presence.
• is (ἔστιν - estin): Again, a present tense verb affirming a timeless truth.
• there is (ἐλευθερία - eleutheria): This is the core blessing. Eleutheria signifies "freedom" or "liberty." In this context, it's liberation from:
  • The condemnation and bondage of the Law: The Old Covenant could only reveal sin and condemn; the Spirit empowers living according to God's will.
  • Spiritual blindness (the veil): The Spirit opens the eyes of the heart to see Christ's glory in the Old Testament and His New Covenant.
  • Sin's power: The Spirit enables victory over sin, leading to sanctification.
  • Fear and ritualistic burden: Replaced by confidence and direct access to God.

Words-Group by words-group analysis:

• "Now the Lord is the Spirit": This clause asserts the profound operational unity and presence of the glorified Christ through the Holy Spirit. It clarifies how one "turns to the Lord" (v.16) and experiences the removal of the veil; it is by the Lord's active presence as the Spirit that understanding comes. This statement establishes a critical theological foundation for the New Covenant experience, underscoring that the Spirit is not just an ancillary force but intrinsically linked to the identity and activity of Christ.
• "and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom": This second clause outlines the direct, transformative consequence of the Spirit's presence, building upon the identity established in the first. The "freedom" is not mere license but spiritual liberation from the law's condemnation, from sin's dominion, from spiritual blindness, and from fear, enabling true, heartfelt worship and service to God. It underscores the practical and experiential aspect of the Spirit's work, which brings believers into the liberty of Christ.

2 Corinthians 3 17 Bonus section

This verse subtly carries an anti-gnostic undertone, though Gnosticism was nascent in Paul's time. The emphasis on the "Spirit" as tangible and active in the physical world and within believers directly contrasts with later Gnostic tendencies to view material existence as evil and to compartmentalize or negate a direct, immanent spiritual experience tied to a physical Savior. Additionally, the statement about "freedom" through the Spirit directly challenges any rigid legalistic or ascetic views, suggesting true piety is not found in human-imposed restrictions but in the Spirit's liberating work. This spiritual freedom is intrinsically linked to sanctification and glorification, not antinomianism.

2 Corinthians 3 17 Commentary

2 Corinthians 3:17 stands as a pinnacle of Paul's New Covenant theology, elegantly linking Christ, the Spirit, and the experience of freedom. "The Lord is the Spirit" does not collapse the Trinity but articulates the functional unity in Christ's redemptive work; the ascended Lord makes Himself present and effective as the Spirit. The Spirit is the animating power and the means by which Christ is experienced in the believer's life, granting revelation and spiritual understanding previously obscured by the "veil" of the Old Covenant without Christ. Therefore, "where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom" signifies liberation on multiple levels: freedom from the condemning power of the Law, from the spiritual blindness that prevented the understanding of Christ in the Old Testament, from the dominion of sin, and from the fear that legalism engenders. This freedom is the New Covenant blessing, enabling transformed lives that reflect God's glory with unveiled faces, as described in the subsequent verse (2 Cor 3:18). This freedom empowers genuine, Spirit-led worship and righteous living, fundamentally shifting from external obligation to internal transformation.