2 Corinthians 3:10
in 2 Corinthians 3Indeed, what was once glorious has no glory now in comparison to the glory that surpasses it.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
For verily that which hath been made glorious hath not been made glorious in this respect, by reason of the glory that surpasseth.
KJV
For even that which was made glorious had no glory in this respect, by reason of the glory that excelleth.
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This verse in 2 Corinthians 3
Commentary
15 notes on this verseAnd this is what the apostle writes in another place: "And yet what was glorified is without glory because of the surpassing glory"; for the justice of the law, to be sure, in comparison with the grace of the gospel would not appear to be justice. "For if that," he says, "which is done away with is glorious, much more will that be glorious which abides."
This site's exposition
the ministry of death
on 2 Corinthians 3:7-11
Sinai's glory was real, since the Israelites could not gaze at the face of Moses. Three times Paul reasons up to the greater glory of the ministry of righteousness, which gives life and standing.
This site's exposition
in comparison to the glory that surpasses it
The old glory stays real and is outshone. John Chrysostom notes that Paul adds the words in comparison so that the old covenant is not disparaged. John Wesley says that the greater light swallows up the less.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers3 voices
A commentator
Theodoret of CyrusCOMMENTARY ON THE SECOND EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS 304 · Written before 458.
proposed
The light of a lamp shines brightly in the darkness of the night, but at midday it is barely visible and is not even thought of as light.
Now in what has gone before, indeed, he showed that this also is with glory; and not simply is with glory, but even exceedeth in it: for he did not say, "How shall not the ministration of the Spirit be rather in glory?" but, "exceed in glory;" deriving the proof from the arguments before stated. Here he also shows the superiority, how great it is, saying, 'if I compare this with that, the glory of the Old Covenant is not glory at all;' not absolutely laying down that there was no glory, but in view of the comparison. Wherefore also he added, "in this respect," that is, in respect of the comparison. Not that this doth disparage the Old Covenant, yea rather it highly commendeth it: for comparisons are wont to be made between things which are the same in kind.
The law of Moses was not made glorious because of the splendor on his face. That splendor was of no benefit to anyone and did not have the reward of glory. It was rather a hindrance, not through its own fault but through the fault …
The Medieval Church2 voices
But because the false apostles could say that even though the ministry of the New Covenant is greater than that of the Old, it is not much greater. Therefore, it is good for us to continue in that ministry, which they did, because they observed …
For what am I, he says, comparing the Old and New Testaments with each other? The superiority of the New Testament is such "in this regard," that is, in comparison, that the glorified one, that is, the Old Testament, appears to have no glory at …
7 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening4 voices
), whence he infers what is the duty of gospel ministers, and the advantage of those who live under the gospel above those who lived under the law,
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — leading-punctuation+unbalanced-parens
It hath no glory in this respect, because of the glory that excelleth - That is, none in comparison of this more excellent glory. The greater light swallows up the less.
For even that which was made glorious,....
As the shining of a burning lamp is lost, or not regarded, when the sun arises and goes forth in his strength; so there was no glory in the Old Testament, in comparison with that of the New. The law is done away, but the gospel does and shall remain,
The Nineteenth Century3 voices
For even that which was made glorious - The law, which was exhibited for a time in great glory and splendor, partly when it was given, and partly by the splendor of God in the tabernacle and first temple; but all this ceased and was done away; was intended to give place to the Gospel; and has actually given place to that system; so that now, in no part of the world is that law performed, even by the people who are attached to it and reject the Gospel.
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
For even the ministration of condemnation, the law, 2Co 3:7 (which has been glorified at Sinai in Moses' person), has now (English Version translates less fitly, "was made . . . had") lost its glory in this respect by reason of the surpassing glory (of the Gospel): as the light of the stars and moon fades in the presence of the sun.
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
For even that which was made glorious - (τὸ δεδοξασμένον to dedoxasmenon). That was splendid, excellent, or glorious. This refers doubtless, to the laws and institutions of Moses, especially to the primary giving of the Law. Paul does not deny that it had an honor and majesty such, in some respects, as the Jews claimed for it. It was glorious in the manner in which it was given; it was glorious in the purity of the Law itself; and it was glorious, or splendid in the magnificent and imposing ritual in which the worship of God was celebrated. But all this was surpassed in the brighter glory of the gospel. Had no glory - Greek: “Was not glorious, or splendid” (οὐδὲ δεδόξασται oude deoxastai. It had comparatively no glory or splendor. Its glory was all eclipsed. It was like the splendor of the moon and stars compared with the bright light of the sun. By reason of the glory that excelleth - In the gospel; in the incarnation, life, sufferings, death, and resurrection of the Lord Jesus; in the pardon of sin; in the peace and joy of the believer; and in the glories of the heavenly world to which the gospel elevates dying men.
The words behind it
14 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| καὶ | kai | Even | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| γὰρ | gar | for | G1063 → | 1039 times |
| οὐ | ou | not | G3756 → | 1664 times |
| δεδόξασται | dedoxastai | has been glorified | G1392 → | 61 times |
| τὸ | to | that | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| δεδοξασμένον | dedoxasmenon | glorified | G1392 → | 61 times |
| ἐν | en | in | G1722 → | 2738 times |
| τούτῳ | touto | this | G3778 → | 1381 times |
| τῷ | to | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| μέρει | merei | respect | G3313 → | 42 times |
| εἵνεκεν | eineken | on account of | G1752 → | 26 times |
| τῆς | tes | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ὑπερβαλλούσης | huperballouses | surpassing [it] | G5235 → | |
| δόξης. | doxes | glory. | G1391 → | 165 times |
καὶEven
kaiG2532 →9120 times
γὰρfor
garG1063 →1039 times
οὐnot
ouG3756 →1664 times
δεδόξασταιhas been glorified
dedoxastaiG1392 →61 times
τὸthat
toG3588 →19766 times
δεδοξασμένονglorified
dedoxasmenonG1392 →61 times
ἐνin
enG1722 →2738 times
τούτῳthis
toutoG3778 →1381 times
τῷ<the>
toG3588 →19766 times
μέρειrespect
mereiG3313 →42 times
εἵνεκενon account of
einekenG1752 →26 times
τῆςthe
tesG3588 →19766 times
ὑπερβαλλούσηςsurpassing [it]
huperballousesG5235 →
δόξης.glory.
doxesG1391 →165 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
2 Peter 1:17For He received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to Him from the Majestic Glory, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”
it leads to
- Mark 9:7
Then a cloud appeared and enveloped them, and a voice came from the cloud: “This is My beloved Son. Listen to Him!”
- Matthew 17:5
While Peter was still speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Listen to Him!”
- Matthew 3:17
And a voice from heaven said, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased!”
- Luke 3:22
and the Holy Spirit descended on Him in a bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are My beloved Son; in You I am well pleased.”
- Luke 9:34–35
While Peter was speaking, a cloud appeared and enveloped them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud.
- Mark 9:7
Through
Acts 26:13About noon, O king, as I was on the road, I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, shining around me and my companions.
it leads to
- Revelation 21:23
And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, because the glory of God illuminates the city, and the Lamb is its lamp.
- Revelation 1:16
He held in His right hand seven stars, and a sharp double-edged sword came from His mouth. His face was like the sun shining at its brightest.
- Acts 22:6
About noon as I was approaching Damascus, suddenly a bright light from heaven flashed around me.
- Revelation 21:23
Where this verse is studied
On this page
About 2 Corinthians
This page draws on 14 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Ambrosiaster, COMMENTARY ON PAUL'S EPISTLES; Charles Hodge, An Exposition of the Second Epistle to the Corinthians; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; Jerome, Against the Pelagians 1.15; John Chrysostom, Homilies on Second Corinthians; John Chrysostom, Homily 7 on 2 Corinthians; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Theodoret of Cyrus, COMMENTARY ON THE SECOND EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS 304; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on 2 Corinthians and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on 2 Corinthians.