2 Corinthians 3:18

2 Corinthians 3:18

But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

a. NLT: So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image.

b. NIV: And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

c. YLT: And we all, with unvailed face, the glory of the Lord beholding in a mirror, to the same image are being transformed, from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

d. Amplified Bible Classic: And all of us, as with unveiled face, [because we] continued to behold [in the Word of God] as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are constantly being transfigured into His very own image in ever increasing splendor and from one degree of glory to another; [for this comes] from the Lord [Who is] the Spirit.

e. Worrell Translation: But we all, with unveiled face, reflecting as in a mirrorthe glory of the Lord, are transfigured into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

f. Wuest Translation: Now, as for us, we all, with uncovered face, reflecting as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are having our outward expressions changed into the same image from one degree of glory to another according as this change of expression proceeds from the Lord, the Spirit, this outward expression coming from and being truly representative of our Lord.

1. “But we all, with open face…”

a. But [Strong: 1161. de deh a primary particle (adversative or continuative); but, and, etc.:--also, and, but, moreover, now (often unexpressed in English).]

b. we [Strong: 2249. hemeis hay-mice' nominative plural of 1473; we (only used when emphatic):--us, we (ourselves).]

c. all [Strong: 3956. pas pas including all the forms of declension; apparently a primary word; all, any, every, the whole:--all (manner of, means), alway(-s), any (one), X daily, + ever, every (one, way), as many as, + no(-thing), X thoroughly, whatsoever, whole, whosoever.]

d. with open [Strong: 343. anakalupto an-ak-al-oop'-to from 303 (in the sense of reversal) and 2572; to unveil:--open, (un-)taken away.] [Zodhiates: to unveil, to remove a veil or covering.]

e. face [Strong: 4383. prosopon pros'-o-pon from 4314 and ops (the visage, from 3700); the front (as being towards view), i.e. the countenance, aspect, appearance, surface; by implication, presence, person:--(outward) appearance, X before, countenance, face, fashion, (men's) person, presence.] [Zodhiates: the face.]

1). This is in reference to Moses putting a veil on his face in Exodus 34:29-35 and referred to in 2 Corinthians 3:13. In the Exodus 34 passage, Moses put a vail upon his face because Israel was afraid to come near him because his face shone with the glory of God by being in His presence. The glory was visible to their eyes. In this Covenant the veil is gone because the Lord desires for all of humanity to see the glory, though the glory is not visible to the physical eyes. It is revealed to the human spirit/heart by the Spirit of God.

2. “…beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord…”

a. beholding as in a glass [Strong: 2734. katoptrizomai kat-op-trid'-zom-ahee middle voice from a compound of 2596 and a derivative of 3700 (compare 2072); to mirror oneself, i.e. to see reflected (figuratively):--behold as in a glass.] [Zodhiates: to look or behold in a mirror. kata-down; ops-an eye or sight.]

b. the [Strong: 3588. ho ho, including the feminine he hay, and the neuter to to in all their inflections; the definite article; the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom):--the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc.]

c. glory [Strong: 1391. doxa dox'-ah from the base of 1380; glory (as very apparent), in a wide application (literal or figurative, objective or subjective):--dignity, glory(-ious), honour, praise, worship.] [Vine: the character and ways of God exhibited through Christ.]

d. of the Lord [Strong: 2962. kurios koo'-ree-os from kuros (supremacy); supreme in authority, i.e. (as noun) controller; by implication, Master (as a respectful title):-- God, Lord, master, Sir.]

1). Born again believers are beholding or seeing the glory of God, not on a mountain as Moses did, but in the Scriptures, in the word. The glass referred to here is the word of God.

a). James 1:22, 23 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.

1:23 For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass.

2). We as New Covenant believers are to see the glory of God, character and ways of Christ in the word. We are to read, meditate and speak the word of God into our lives.

3. “…are changed into the same image from glory to glory…”

a. are changed [Strong: 3339. metamorphoo met-am-or-fo'-o from 3326 and 3445; to transform (literally or figuratively, "metamorphose"):--change, transfigure, transform.]

b. [into] the [Strong: 3588. ho ho, including the feminine he hay, and the neuter to to in all their inflections; the definite article; the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom):--the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc.]

c. same [Strong: 846. autos ow-tos' from the particle au (perhaps akin to the base of 109 through the idea of a baffling wind) (backward); the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative 1438) of the third person , and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons:--her, it(-self), one, the other, (mine) own, said, (self-), the) same, ((him-, my-, thy- )self, (your-)selves, she, that, their(-s), them(-selves), there(-at, - by, -in, -into, -of, -on, -with), they, (these) things, this (man), those, together, very, which.]

d. image [Strong: 1504. eikon i-kone' from 1503; a likeness, i.e. (literally) statue, profile, or (figuratively) representation, resemblance:--image.]

1). We are being changed into the same image of Christ Jesus.

e. from [Strong: 575. apo apo' a primary particle; "off," i.e. away (from something near), in various senses (of place, time, or relation; literal or figurative):--(X here-)after, ago, at, because of, before, by (the space of), for(-th), from, in, (out) of, off, (up-)on(-ce), since, with. In composition (as a prefix) it usually denotes separation, departure, cessation, completion, reversal, etc.]

f. glory [Strong: 1391. doxa dox'-ah from the base of 1380; glory (as very apparent), in a wide application (literal or figurative, objective or subjective):--dignity, glory(-ious), honour, praise, worship.] [Vine: the character and ways of God exhibited through Christ.]

g. to [Strong: 1519. eis ice a primary preposition; to or into (indicating the point reached or entered), of place, time, or (figuratively) purpose (result, etc.); also in adverbial phrases:--(abundant-)ly, against, among, as, at, (back-)ward, before, by, concerning, + continual, + far more exceeding, for (intent, purpose), fore, + forth, in (among, at, unto, -so much that, -to), to the intent that, + of one mind, + never, of, (up-)on, + perish, + set at one again, (so) that, therefore(-unto), throughout, til, to (be, the end, -ward), (here-)until(-to), ...ward, (where-)fore, with. Often used in composition with the same general import, but only with verbs (etc.) expressing motion (literally or figuratively).]

h. glory [Strong: 1391. doxa dox'-ah from the base of 1380; glory (as very apparent), in a wide application (literal or figurative, objective or subjective):--dignity, glory(-ious), honour, praise, worship.] [Vine: the character and ways of God exhibited through Christ.]

1). The image of the glorious Christ that we are seeing in the glass, the mirror, in the the Scriptures, is the image we are being transformed into by the Holy Ghost as we obey Him with our whole being, spirit, soul, and body. I love how the Amplified puts it. We “…are constantly being transfigured into His very own image in ever increasing splendor and from one degree of glory to another.”

2). In studying out this truth we can see the wonderful New Covenant truth of us as believers co-laboring together with God in our spiritual growth and development. In 2 Corinthians 3:18 we see the Spirit of God transforming us, but this is not the whole picture. We must comply and co-labor with Him by our obedience.

a). 1 Peter 1:14-16 As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance:

1:15 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;

1:16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.

b). In our obedience or in our disobedience we are fashioning ourselves. In our obedience to the word we are fashioning ourselves to the image of Christ. In our disobedience, yielding to our lusts, we are fashioning ourselves to the ungodly.

4. “…even as by the Spirit of the Lord.”

a. even as [Strong: 2509. kathaper kath-ap'-er from 2505 and 4007; exactly as:--(even, as well) as.]

b. by [Strong: 575. apo apo' a primary particle; "off," i.e. away (from something near), in various senses (of place, time, or relation; literal or figurative):--(X here-)after, ago, at, because of, before, by (the space of), for(-th), from, in, (out) of, off, (up-)on(-ce), since, with. In composition (as a prefix) it usually denotes separation, departure, cessation, completion, reversal, etc.]

c. [the] Spirit [Strong: 4151. pneuma pnyoo'-mah from 4154; a current of air, i.e. breath (blast) or a breeze; by analogy or figuratively, a spirit, i.e. (human) the rational soul, (by implication) vital principle, mental disposition, etc., or (superhuman) an angel, demon, or (divine) God, Christ's spirit, the Holy Spirit:--ghost, life, spirit(-ual, -ually), mind.]

d. [of the] Lord [Strong: 2962. kurios koo'-ree-os from kuros (supremacy); supreme in authority, i.e. (as noun) controller; by implication, Master (as a respectful title):-- God, Lord, master, Sir.]

1). In 2 Corinthians 3:18 it is the Spirit of God transforming us, but in 1 Peter 1:14 we in obedience to the Scriptures are fashioning ourselves. The co-laboring is again referred to in Romans 12.

a). Romans 12:1, 2 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God.

b). The Greek word translated “transformed” in Romans 12:2 is the same Greek word translated “changed” in 2 Corinthians 3:18. Not only that, but it is the same Greek word translated “transfigured” used in the gospels when describing the transfiguration of Christ. Glory to God.

(1) Matthew 17:1, 2 And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart,

17:2 And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.

(2) Mark 9:2, 3 And after six days Jesus taketh with him Peter, and James, and John, and leadeth them up into an high mountain apart by themselves: and he was transfigured before them.

9:3 And his raiment became shining, exceeding white as snow; so as no fuller on earth can white them.

2). As we grow and develop as a Christian, we grow from “glory to glory”, into the image of Christ, but we also grow up in faith.

a). Romans 1:17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.