2 Corinthians 2:17-3:11 Study Guide: The Spirit Gives Life

Community Group Study Guide — The Spirit Gives Live

2 Corinthians 2:17-3:11

Study Information:

How do you know someone is trustworthy? In our current cultural moment it seems like everyone is selling something or building a platform and we have so many tools to make that happen including social media, video sharing platforms and AI tools. This happens in the health and wellness space, political discourse, sales and the church. Yet, this is not a new thing, Paul wrote about this thousands of years ago in Corinth. Even though it was dangerous to be a Christian in the ancient world there were still nefarious people who saw an opportunity to make a buck and be important as a “Christian minister.” In this study guide we will explore Paul’s caution against those he called peddlers of God’s word and how the Holy Spirit is the source of our new life in Christ. 

Authentic Ministry

2 Corinthians 2:17-3:3

If we remember back to the context of the City of Corinth, they were a diverse and wealthy area of the Greco-Roman world and that made them somewhat of a target. Paul contrasted himself as a man of sincerity compared to peddlers of God’s word (2 Cor 2:17). These peddlers would bring in letters of recommendation from prominent Christians from other places to establish their credibility and gain a following and financial benefit in that new community. We see similar things in our modern day as people try to attach themselves to well established preachers, pastors and writers to build credibility to establish a platform, some of this can be well intentioned but it is also often nefarious. Paul did not have or need letters of recommendation about his credentials or ministry because the Corinthians themselves were his letter of recommendation (2 Cor 3:3). What Paul meant by this was the conversion and growth of the Corinthians under his pastoral ministry was proof enough that he was sent by God. Indeed, conversion and discipleship will be evidence of God’s work through his people even today. It is not the sole factor we should look for, many of the prophets in the Old Testament were faithful to God’s call without any change from the people because of their stubborn hearts. However, conversion and discipleship should be a factor of what authentic ministry looks like.  

Notice that these letters of recommendation are written on the human heart, not with ink and not on a table of stone. God is in the business of changing human hearts and changing us from the inside out. This idea launched Paul into his next thought which contrasted the power of the Old Covenant with the power of the New Covenant in conversion. It could be that the peddlers were leaning on the Old Covenant to establish their teaching, but likely Paul wanted to magnify the ministry of the Spirit in comparison to what God did through Moses. 

The Spirit Gives Life 

2 Corinthians 3:4-6

Only God is sufficient to change one’s heart. Paul’s ministry was not great because of his skills and abilities, it was authentic and sincere because the Spirit was behind it. 2 Corinthians 3:4-5 “such is the confidence that we have through Christ towards God… our sufficiency is from God.” Paul was not able to change someone’s heart or bring someone to saving faith, but God was and the agent of conversion or change was the Spirit. Paul introduces the idea of the New Covenant here which is a promise from Ezekiel 36 and Jeremiah 31 where God promised to give his people a new heart and a new spirit and to write his law on their hearts. Our next study guide will explore the power of the New Covenant in our spiritual growth, but notice here that Paul expressly says that the Spirit gives life. We are dependent on God’s saving act to change our hearts and give us a new Spirit in order that we may follow him and receive the new life that he promised in Christ. And the Spirit has validated the ministry of Paul through the Corinthians own faith and new life in Christ. 

This shows an incredible amount of humility from Paul in that he did not boast in his abilities or credentials, instead he knew that he was insufficient and only God could do the work of conversion. 

The Contrast of the Old and New Covenants 

2 Corinthians 3:7-11

Paul rejoiced in being a minister of the New Covenant and wanted the Corinthians to understand the surprising glory and power of this ministry compared to the Old Covenant. The Old Covenant is not limited to just the Mosaic Law (the commandments in Exodus, Leviticus and Deuteronomy), but Paul uses it as short hand for that here and we know that because he referenced the tallest of stone earlier (2 Cor 3:3). Notice what he called the Old Testament law, ministry of death carved in letters on stone, ministry of condemnation, the “letter kills,” that it has a lesser glory and would come to an end. Paul then used the imaged of Moses coming down the mountain after spending time with God and the light that radiated from his face. That kind of light was a lesser glory compared to the light in the presence of God. Paul used that contrast to compare the Law and the ministry of the Spirit. Paul did not say that the Old Testament law was bad, rather he affirmed the glory of the Law but just that it was a lesser glory meant to point to a greater glory. If you’ve ever been to a light show or seen something like the Eiffel Tower lit up at night you know the glory and beauty of that, the Law of Moses would be like a flashlight in the dark in comparison. The Law served a purpose in that it highlighted our sin and our need for God, but it was unable to bring someone to life. The ministry of the Spirit would be permanent because only the Spirit can change someone heart from dead to life and that change is not temporary, it is something that God does once and for all in Christ. 

At your community group:

Take 15-20 minutes to share about how God has been at work in your life, prayer concerns and pray for one another.

How did God speak to you through the scripture and the sermon this week? 

Discussion Questions:

2 Corinthians 2:17-3:11

What were the intentions of the peddlers of God’s word? What modern day comparisons do you see today?

How do we know today if the Holy Spirit is behind a certain church or ministry? What evidence would we look for?

Paul described the Law (Old Covenant) and compared it to the Holy Spirit’s ministry. Compare and contrast the two using Pauls words in 2 Corinthians 3:4-11. What was the Old Covenant useful for and how is the ministry of the Spirit of surpassing glory?

What are some reasons that it is good news that only God is sufficient to bring about a new heart in his people? Does that make you feel powerless or hopeful?