Do we begin{G756}{(G5731)} again{G3825} to commend{G4921}{(G5721)} ourselves{G1438}? or{G1508} need we{G5535}{(G5719)}, as{G5613} some{G5100} others, epistles{G1992} of commendation{G4956} to{G4314} you{G5209}, or{G2228} letters of commendation{G4956} from{G1537} you{G5216}?

Ye{G5210} are{G2075}{(G5748)} our{G2257} epistle{G1992} written{G1449}{(G5772)} in{G1722} our{G2257} hearts{G2588}, known{G1097}{(G5746)} and{G2532} read{G314}{(G5746)} of{G5259} all{G3956} men{G444}:

Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared{G5319}{(G5746)} to{G3754} be{G2075}{(G5748)} the epistle{G1992} of Christ{G5547} ministered{G1247}{(G5685)} by{G5259} us{G2257}, written{G1449}{(G5772)} not{G3756} with ink{G3188}, but{G235} with the Spirit{G4151} of the living{G2198}{(G5723)} God{G2316}; not{G3756} in{G1722} tables{G4109} of stone{G3035}, but{G235} in{G1722} fleshy{G4560} tables{G4109} of the heart{G2588}.

And{G1161} such{G5108} trust{G4006} have we{G2192}{(G5719)} through{G1223} Christ{G5547} to{G4314} God-ward{G2316}:

Not{G3756} that{G3754} we are{G2070}{(G5748)} sufficient{G2425} of{G575} ourselves{G1438} to think{G3049}{(G5664)} any thing{G5100} as{G5613} of{G1537} ourselves{G1438}; but{G235} our{G2257} sufficiency{G2426} is of{G1537} God{G2316};

Who{G3739} also{G2532} hath made{G2427} us{G2248} able{G2427}{(G5656)} ministers{G1249} of the new{G2537} testament{G1242}; not{G3756} of the letter{G1121}, but{G235} of the spirit{G4151}: for{G1063} the letter{G1121} killeth{G615}{(G5719)}, but{G1161} the spirit{G4151} giveth life{G2227}{(G5719)}.

But{G1161} if{G1487} the ministration{G1248} of death{G2288}, written{G1722}{G1121} and engraven{G1795}{(G5772)} in{G1722} stones{G3037}, was{G1096}{(G5675)} glorious{G1722}{G1391}, so{G5620} that the children{G5207} of Israel{G2474} could{G1410}{(G5738)} not{G3361} stedfastly behold{G816}{(G5658)} the face{G1519}{G4383} of Moses{G3475} for{G1223} the glory{G1391} of his{G846} countenance{G4383}; which{G3588} glory was to be done away{G2673}{(G5746)}:

How{G4459} shall{G1248} not{G3780} the ministration{G1248} of the spirit{G4151} be{G2071}{(G5704)} rather{G3123}{G1722} glorious{G1391}?

For{G1063} if{G1487} the ministration{G1248} of condemnation{G2633} be glory{G1391}, much{G4183} more{G3123} doth the ministration{G1248} of righteousness{G1343} exceed{G4052}{(G5719)} in{G1722} glory{G1391}.

For{G1063} even{G2532} that which was made glorious{G1392}{(G5769)} had no{G3761} glory{G1392}{(G5772)} in{G1722} this{G5129} respect{G3313}, by reason{G1752} of the glory{G1391} that excelleth{G5235}{(G5723)}.

For{G1063} if{G1487} that which is done away{G2673}{(G5746)} was glorious{G1223}{G1391}, much{G4183} more{G3123} that which remaineth{G3306}{(G5723)} is glorious{G1722}{G1391}.

Seeing then{G3767} that we have{G2192}{(G5723)} such{G5108} hope{G1680}, we use{G5530}{(G5736)} great{G4183} plainness of speech{G3954}:

And{G2532} not{G3756} as{G2509} Moses{G3475}, which put{G5087}{(G5707)} a vail{G2571} over{G1909} his{G1438} face{G4383}, that{G4314} the children{G5207} of Israel{G2474} could{G816} not{G3361} stedfastly look{G816}{(G5658)} to{G1519} the end{G5056} of that which is abolished{G2673}{(G5746)}:

But{G235} their{G846} minds{G3540} were blinded{G4456}{(G5681)}: for{G1063} until{G891} this day{G4594} remaineth{G3306}{(G5719)} the same{G846} vail{G2571} untaken{G3361} away{G343}{(G5746)} in{G1909} the reading{G320} of the old{G3820} testament{G1242}; which{G3748} vail is done away{G2673}{(G5743)} in{G1722} Christ{G5547}.

But{G235} even{G2193} unto this day{G4594}, when{G2259} Moses{G3475} is read{G314}{(G5743)}, the vail{G2571} is upon{G2749}{(G5736)}{G1909} their{G846} heart{G2588}.

Nevertheless{G1161} when{G2259} it{G302} shall turn{G1994}{(G5661)} to{G4314} the Lord{G2962}, the vail{G2571} shall be taken away{G4014}{(G5743)}.

Now{G1161} the Lord{G2962} is{G2076}{(G5748)} that Spirit{G4151}: and{G1161} where{G3757} the Spirit{G4151} of the Lord{G2962} is, there{G1563} is liberty{G1657}.

But{G1161} we{G2249} all{G3956}, with open{G343}{(G5772)} face{G4383} beholding as in a glass{G2734}{(G5734)} the glory{G1391} of the Lord{G2962}, are changed{G3339}{(G5743)} into the same{G846} image{G1504} from{G575} glory{G1391} to{G1519} glory{G1391}, even as{G2509} by{G575} the Spirit{G4151} of the Lord{G2962}.