SEV Biblia, Chapter 3:9
Porque si el ministerio de condenacin fue de gloria, mucho ms abundar en gloria el ministerio de justicia.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - 2 Corinthians 3:9
Verse 9. The ministration of condemnation] The law, which ascertained sin, and condemned it to just punishment. The ministration of righteousness] The Gospel, the grand business of which was to proclaim the doctrine dikaiosunhv, of justification; and to show how God could be just and yet the justifier of him who believeth in Jesus.
Exceed in glory.] For great, glorious, and awful as the law may be, in its opposition to sin, which is a reproach to man, and a dishonour to God; and in its punishment of sin; yet it must be vastly exceeded by that system which, evidencing an equal abhorrence of sin, finds out a method to forgive it; to take away its guilt from the conscience, and remove all its infection from the soul. That this could be done the law pointed out by its blood of bulls and of goats: but every considerate mind must see that it was impossible for these to take away sin; it is the Gospel that does what the law signified; and forasmuch as the performance of a promise is greater than the promise itself, and the substance of a man is greater than the shadow projected by that substance; so is the Gospel of Jesus Christ greater than the law, with all its promises, types, ceremonies, and shadows.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 9. For if the ministration of condemnation be glory , etc..] So the Jews call the law, for they say, hrwt ala dwbk ya , there is no glory but the law f30 ; this is another head of opposition or difference between the law and the Gospel, from whence the superior glory of the one to the other is argued. The law is the ministration of condemnation; as sin is a transgression of the law, it accuses for it, convinces of it, pronounces guilty, and adjudges to death on account of it; which is the condemnation it ministers; and this it does to all Adam's posterity, and for his sin too; and to all the actual transgressors of it, to all unbelievers, to all that are under it; even to God's elect themselves, as considered in Adam, and in themselves as transgressors; and this it ministers to their consciences when convicted, though it is never executed on them, because of the suretyship engagement and performances of Christ. The Gospel is the ministration of righteousness ; not of a legal one, or a man's own, but of the righteousness of Christ, by which the law is honoured, justice is satisfied, and God's elect justified from all sin and condemnation; this being perfect, pure, and spotless, and for ever: the Gospel is the ministration of it, as it is a means of stripping a man of his own righteousness, of revealing Christ's to him, and of working faith in him, and encouraging him to lay hold upon it for himself; and thus it is not to righteous persons, but sinners, to all believers, to all the second Adam's posterity; now as much more as righteousness exceeds condemnation, and a justified state a condemned one, so much more does the Gospel exceed the law in glory .
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-11 - Even the appearance of self-praise and courting human applause, is painful to the humble and spiritual mind. Nothing is more delightful to faithful ministers, or more to their praise, than the success of their ministry, as shown in the spirits and lives of those among whom the labour. The law of Christ was written in their hearts, and the love of Christ shed abroad there. Nor was it written in tables of stone, as the law of God given to Moses, but on the fleshy (not fleshly, a fleshliness denotes sensuality) tables of the heart, Eze 36:26. Their hearts were humbled and softened to receive this impression, by the new-creating power of the Holy Spirit. He ascribes all the glory to God. And remember, as our whole dependence is upon the Lord, so the whole glory belongs to him alone. The letter killeth: the letter of the law is the ministration of death; and if we rest only in the letter of the gospel, we shall not be the better for so doing: but the Holy Spirit gives life spiritual, and life eternal. The Old Testamen dispensation was the ministration of death, but the New Testament of life. The law made known sin, and the wrath and curse of God; it showe us a God above us, and a God against us; but the gospel makes know grace, and Emmanuel, God with us. Therein the righteousness of God by faith is revealed; and this shows us that the just shall live by his faith; this makes known the grace and mercy of God through Jesu Christ, for obtaining the forgiveness of sins and eternal life. The gospel so much exceeds the law in glory, that it eclipses the glory of the legal dispensation. But even the New Testament will be a killin letter, if shown as a mere system or form, and without dependence of God the Holy Spirit, to give it a quickening power.
Greek Textus Receptus
ει 1487 COND γαρ 1063 CONJ η 3588 T-NSF διακονια 1248 N-NSF της 3588 T-GSF κατακρισεως 2633 N-GSF δοξα 1391 N-NSF πολλω 4183 A-DSM μαλλον 3123 ADV περισσευει 4052 5719 V-PAI-3S η 3588 T-NSF διακονια 1248 N-NSF της 3588 T-GSF δικαιοσυνης 1343 N-GSF εν 1722 PREP δοξη 1391 N-DSF
Vincent's NT Word Studies
9. Ministration of condemnation. Because Moses was the minister of the law. For the relation of the law to sin and condemnation, see Romans v. 20; vii. 7-13.
Robertson's NT Word Studies
3:9 {Of condemnation} (tes katakrisews). Genitive, that brings condemnation because unable to obey the law. {Is glory} (doxa). No copula, but makes the figure bolder. Paul freely admits the glory for the old dispensation. {Of righteousness} (tes dikaiosunes). Marked by and leading to righteousness. See #11:15. {Much more} (pollwi mallon). Instrumental case, by much more. {Exceed} (perisseuei). Overflow.
