Font Size
2 Corinthians 3:4-6
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
2 Corinthians 3:4-6
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
4 [a]Such confidence we have through Christ toward God. 5 Not that of ourselves we are qualified to take credit for anything as coming from us; rather, our qualification comes from God,(A) 6 who has indeed qualified us as ministers of a new covenant, not of letter but of spirit;(B) for the letter brings death, but the Spirit gives life.[b]
Read full chapterFootnotes
- 3:4–6 These verses resume 2 Cor 2:1–3:3. Paul’s confidence (2 Cor 3:4) is grounded in his sense of God-given mission (2 Cor 2:17), the specifics of which are described in 2 Cor 3:1–3. 2 Cor 3:5–6 return to the question of his qualifications (2 Cor 2:16), attributing them entirely to God. 2 Cor 3:6 further spells out the situation described in 2 Cor 3:3b and “names” it: Paul is living within a new covenant, characterized by the Spirit, which gives life. The usage of a new covenant is derived from Jer 31:31–33 a passage that also speaks of writing on the heart; cf. 2 Cor 3:2.
- 3:6 This verse serves as a topic sentence for 2 Cor 3:7–6:10. For the contrast between letter and spirit, cf. Rom 2:29; 7:5–6.
2 Corinthians 3:4-6
New International Version
2 Corinthians 3:4-6
New International Version
4 Such confidence(A) we have through Christ before God. 5 Not that we are competent in ourselves(B) to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God.(C) 6 He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant(D)—not of the letter(E) but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.(F)
New American Bible (Revised Edition) (NABRE)
Scripture texts, prefaces, introductions, footnotes and cross references used in this work are taken from the New American Bible, revised edition © 2010, 1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., Washington, DC All Rights Reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.
New International Version (NIV) 
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.