A Comparison of Two Covenants – 2 Corinthians 3:10

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Encouraging, comforting, and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory. (1 Thess. 2:12 NIV)

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For indeed, what had been glorious now has no glory because of the tremendously greater glory of what replaced it.

2 Corinthians 3:10 NET

In 2 Corinthians 3:6-18, Paul presents a comparison of two covenants. The first covenant, established at Mt. Sinai, had its terms inscribed on stone tablets. When this covenant was given, the glory of God was seen on Sinai (Ex. 24:16-17). This glory was such that when Moses went up Mt. Sinai, his face glowed with the glory of God (Ex. 34:29-35). But that glory was only temporary; it faded over time.

The second covenant, established at the cross of Christ, had its terms written on our hearts (Heb. 8:10). While the glory of the first covenant was fading, the glory of the second shines bright. Its glory comes from the Holy Spirit living in the lives of believers. And it shines out from us as we are being transformed into the image of Christ.

The first covenant, which God gave to Israel, was glorious. That covenant, written on stone tablets, could not change the nature of those under it. As a result, it led to condemnation and death.

The second covenant was even more glorious. It was a covenant that brought life and righteousness to those under it. What the first covenant, with its external regulations, was incapable of doing, the second did. With the terms of the covenant written on our hearts, we are transformed and given a new nature.

The first covenant was good. The problem was with humanity. But the covenant that replaced it was even better. It resolved the problem with humanity by writing on our hearts, transforming us from our old humanity into a new humanity created to be like Christ.