The following is my translation of the notes and useful applications of the Epistle Reading for the Twelfth Sunday after Trinity, 2 Corinthians 3:4–11, as they are found in Das Weimarische Bibelwerk (1877). Square brackets indicate my own notes and additions. For the useful applications, I recommend the reader see this very helpful article by Dr. Benjamin T. G. Mayes.
2. A report as to whence the working [of the Preaching Office] comes. (v. 4–6)
4. But we have such a trust * through Christ to God (Luther: “that we have prepared you for the letter,” and that our Preaching Office is effective for the conversion of many people).
* Compare John 14:6ff.
5. Not * that we are sufficient of ourselves to think (much less to do or to think) something (good, which is for the promotion of our salvation or the salvation of other people) as from ourselves (from human powers), but rather, that we are sufficient, is (solely and only) from God.
* Compare 2 Corinthians 2:16; Philippians 2:13.
6. Who also has made us sufficient, to carry out the Office of the New Testament (which is an Office), not (primarily) of the letter (of the Law, which with letters was written on stone tablets, and prescribed a completely perfect obedience, which alone is not able to give grace to sinners, nor the power to such obedience), but rather of the Spirit (of the Gospel, through which the Holy Spirit works faith in the hearts of men, and is given to the faithful. Luther: “to teach the letter is to teach merely the Law and works without the knowledge of the grace of God, by which everything that man is and does is condemned and is recognized as guilty of death, for without God’s grace he can do nothing good. To teach the Spirit is to teach grace without Law and merit, by which man is made living and is saved.”). For the letter (of the Law) kills (because it gives man knowledge of his sins, Romans 3:20; it accuses man and convicts him in his heart that he is guilty of eternal death, Romans 4:15.), but * the Spirit (the Gospel) makes alive (it draws man out again from such terror of death because it directs him to Christ, the Mediator, who is the end of the Law, Romans 10:4.).
* Compare John 6:63; 2 Corinthians 5:18; Romans 7:6, 10–11; 2 Corinthians 5:20ff.; Galatians 3:10ff.
3. How the Law and the Gospel are to be held against one another, and how the Gospel is to be greatly esteemed compared to the Law. (v. 7–11)
7. But the office (of the Law in the Old Testament), that through the letter kills (v. 6) and in the stone is formed (written) **, has glory (is preached with a particular clarity, as when God glorified Moses before the people when he brought down the tablets of the Law the second time), in such a way that the children of Israel could not (properly and precisely) look * upon the appearance of Moses on account of the glory of His appearance, it nevertheless ceased (for when Moses died, this glory had ceased).
* See Exodus 34:30.
** Greek: graven –
8. How shall not much more the office (of the Gospel in the New Testament), that gives the * Spirit **, (which the Word of the Gospel writes in the heart, a particular) glory have? (which was proved in the miracles of Christ and His Apostles, as well as in the bodily glory of the appearance of Christ, which He allowed to be seen at His Transfiguration, which glory remains into eternity, and then in the powerful working of the Gospel, through which the hearts of men are enlightened.)
* See Galatians 3:14; Galatians 3:2ff.
** Greek: the office of the Spirit
9. For as the office that preached condemnation (which convicted men through the Law, that they merit condemnation), had glory; * much more does the office ** which preaches righteousness (which teaches men how they can and ought to be come righteous and be saved through Christ), have a surpassing glory.
* Greek: is glorious (that is, brings with itself and works [glory])
** See Romans 1:17; cf. 2 Corinthians 3:21; John 5:45.
10. For even that part (the office of the Old Testament), which was glorified (because the Law was given with great glory on Mount Sinai, and Moses, with a shining appearance, presented it to the people of Israel), is no to be considered glorious compared to this surpassing glory. *
* Greek: For in so far as it was honored with glory (the office of the Law), it is not even worthy that one call it (radiance or) glory, (in view of and) compared to this surpassing glory.
11. For if that has glory which ceases (since the Old Testament is abolished by the New Testament and believers are redeemed from the curse and coercion of the Law), much more will that have glory * which remains (because the New Testament will remain until the Last Day, and the benefits which have been distributed to us through the Gospel in the New Testament will extend to eternal life).
(See Hebrews 12:27ff.)
* Greek: be in glory (and constantly keep it).
PATTERN OF SOUND WORDS 