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SEPTEMBER 12
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countenance, which glory was passing away, end of what was passing away. But their
8 how will the ministry of the Spirit not be more minds were blinded. For until this day the
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glorious? For if the ministry of condemnation same veil remains unlifted in the reading of
had glory, the ministry of righteousness the Old Testament, because the veil is taken
exceeds much more in glory. For even what away in Christ. But even to this day, when
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was made glorious had no glory in this Moses is read, a veil lies on their heart. Nev-
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respect, because of the glory that excels. For ertheless when one turns to the Lord, the veil
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if what is passing away was glorious, what is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit; and
remains is much more glorious. where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.
12 Therefore, since we have such hope, we 18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in
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use great boldness of speech— unlike Mo- a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being trans-
ses, who put a veil over his face so that the formed into the same image from glory to
children of Israel could not look steadily at the glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.
DAY 11:What credentials of his apostleship did Paul give to the Corinthians?
Because Paul did not want to allow the false teachers to accuse him of being proud,he began
his defense in 2 Corinthians 3:1 by posing two questions rather than making any overt claims.“Do
we begin again to commend ourselves?”The Greek word for “commend”means “to introduce.”Thus
Paul was asking the Corinthians if he needed to reintroduce himself, as if they had never met, and
prove himself once more.The form of the question demanded a negative answer.“Or do we need,
as some others,…letters of commendation from you?”The false teachers also accused Paul of not
possessing the appropriate documents to prove his legitimacy. Such letters were often used to
introduce and authenticate someone to the first-century churches (1 Cor. 16:3,10,11). The false
teachers undoubtedly arrived in Corinth with such letters,which they may have forged (Acts 15:1,5)
or obtained under false pretenses from prominent members of the Jerusalem church. Paul’s point
was that he did not need secondhand testimony when the Corinthians had firsthand proof of his
sincere and godly character, as well as the truth of his message that regenerated them.
“You are our epistle written in our hearts”(v.2).An affirmation of Paul’s affection for the believ-
ers in Corinth—he held them close to his heart.“Known and read by all men.”The transformed lives
of the Corinthians were Paul’s most eloquent testimonial, better than any secondhand letter.Their
changed lives were like an open letter that could be seen and read by all men as a testimony to
Paul’s faithfulness and the truth of his message.
“You are an epistle of Christ” (v. 3). The false teachers did not have a letter of commendation
signed by Christ,but Paul had the Corinthian believers’changed lives as proof that Christ had trans-
formed them.“Written not with ink.”Paul’s letter was no human document written with ink that can
fade. It was a living one.“Spirit of the living God.” Paul’s letter was alive, written by Christ’s divine,
supernatural power through the transforming work of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 2:4,5; 1 Thess. 1:5).
“Tablets of stone.” A reference to the Ten Commandments.“Tablets of flesh…of the heart.” More
than just writing His Law on stone,God was writing His Law on the hearts of those people He trans-
formed.The false teachers claimed external adherence to the Mosaic Law as the basis of salvation,
but the transformed lives of the Corinthians proved that salvation was an internal change wrought
by God in the heart.

2 He has gone up to the temple and Dibon,
September 12 To the high places to weep.
Moab will wail over Nebo and over
Medeba;
Isaiah 15:1–16:14 On all their heads will be baldness,
And every beard cut off.
15 The burden against Moab. 3 In their streets they will clothe
themselves with sackcloth;
Because in the night Ar of Moab is laid On the tops of their houses
waste And in their streets
And destroyed, Everyone will wail, weeping bitterly.
Because in the night Kir of Moab is 4 Heshbon and Elealeh will cry out,
laid waste Their voice shall be heard as far as
And destroyed, Jahaz;

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