2Cor 3:14, 16, 4:5 | JFB | e4.org | 14-18. Parenthetical: Of Christians in general. He resumes the subject of the ministry, . minds — Greek, "mental perceptions"; "understandings." blinded —rather, "hardened." The opposite to "looking steadfastly at the end" of the law ( ). The veil on Moses' face is further typical of the veil that is on their hearts. untaken away . . . which veil —rather, "the same veil . . . remaineth untaken away [literally, not unveiled ], so that they do not see THAT it (not the veil as English Version, but 'THE OLD TESTAMENT ,' or covenant of legal ordinances) is done away ( ) in Christ" or, as BENGEL , "Because it is done away in Christ," that is, it is not done away save in Christ: the veil therefore remains untaken away from them, because they will not come to Christ, who does away, with the law as a mere letter. If they once saw that the law is done away in Him, the veil would be no longer on their hearts in reading it publicly in their synagogues (so "reading" means, ). I prefer the former.

‏ 2 Corinthians 3:14

14-18. Parenthetical: Of Christians in general. He resumes the subject of the ministry, 2Co 4:1.

minds—Greek, "mental perceptions"; "understandings."

blinded—rather, "hardened." The opposite to "looking steadfastly at the end" of the law (2Co 3:13). The veil on Moses' face is further typical of the veil that is on their hearts.

untaken away . . . which veil —rather, "the same veil . . . remaineth untaken away [literally, not unveiled], so that they do not see THAT it (not the veil as English Version, but 'THE OLD TESTAMENT,' or covenant of legal ordinances) is done away (2Co 3:7, 11, 13) in Christ" or, as BENGEL, "Because it is done away in Christ," that is, it is not done away save in Christ: the veil therefore remains untaken away from them, because they will not come to Christ, who does away, with the law as a mere letter. If they once saw that the law is done away in Him, the veil would be no longer on their hearts in reading it publicly in their synagogues (so "reading" means, Ac 15:21). I prefer the former.

‏ 2 Corinthians 3:16

16. Moses took off the veil on entering into the presence of the Lord. So as to the Israelites whom Moses represents, "whensoever their heart (it) turns (not as English Version, 'shall turn') to the Lord, the veil is (by the very fact; not as English Version, 'shall be') taken away." Ex 34:34 is the allusion; not Ex 34:30, 31, as ALFORD thinks. Whenever the Israelites turn to the Lord, who is the Spirit of the law, the veil is taken off their hearts in the presence of the Lord: as the literal veil was taken off by Moses in going before God: no longer resting on the dead letter, the veil, they by the Spirit commune with God and with the inner spirit of the Mosaic covenant (which answers to the glory of Moses' face unveiled in God's presence).

‏ 2 Corinthians 4:5

5. For—Their blindness is not our fault, as if we had self-seeking aims in our preaching.

preach . . . Christ . . . the Lord—rather, "Christ as Lord," and ourselves as your servants, &c. "Lord," or "Master," is the correlative term to "servants."