Grace vs. Law

Before we look at biblical perfection and then at Christian maturity, there is a passage in Corinthians we will examine. We need to interpret verses in Corinthians by the overall context of the Corinthian problem. We need to read the whole chapter (2nd Corinthians 3) to appreciate the context.

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. (2 Cor 3:18).

This glass is the gospel shining upon of hearts. This verse is not speaking of a progressive maturity based upon what we do in spiritual disciplines. In this passage Paul is contrasting the personal spirituality of the Corinthians through works, with the new birth that comes through the free grace of Jesus Christ.

He speaks of the letter, referring to the works/legalism/self-spirituality of the Judaizers and Gnostics. His point is, “Not that we are sufficient of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God.” (vs. 5). He repeats this, “For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus Christ.” (4:5; see also 5:12). Rather than being spiritual elitists, we are servants in the free grace of Christ.

Paul speaks of the glory of the Old Covenant on Moses’ face and the glory of the New Covenant in Jesus’ face. The fading glory of the Old points to the greater glory of Jesus. This may be the meaning of “from glory to glory” (vs. 18). John Gill points this out as an option in understanding the phrase. We are changed, not by the fading glory of the Old, but by the glory of Christ working in the gospel by His Spirit.
Paul’s point is that the gospel is the power of God, in opposition to our spiritual disciplines. This contrast is the subject and purpose of the passage. Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty from sin. Legalism does not give this liberty from sin or self, or transform our nature.

Paul continued, “For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, has shinned in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” (2 Cor 4:6). This is past tense, when we were born again. He is not speaking of a progressive work here.

Paul is contending against the Corinthian’s false spirituality, their false path to enlightenment and for the free grace of Christ that transforms us through new birth.
Gill gave four options for understanding the phrase from glory to glory:

1. From the glory of the law to the glory of the gospel. In the context, this is the one we prefer, though we do not have the knowledge of the Hebrew thought and Greek language constructions used in verse 18 to further look into this.

2. From the glory that is in Christ, to a glory derived in believers from Him. Hodge claims Greek fathers preferred this view. This could also be the meaning of from faith to faith (Rom 1:17), from His faith to the gospel making it our faith.

3. From one level of glory (grace) in Christ to the next. This is the option that Gill and many others prefer. If so, then it is still by grace and not by law. It is by the Spirit of liberty and God’s commandment that the glory shines in us and continues to more and more.

4. From the glory begun at new birth, to the glory completed in the resurrection. This is true, but does not appear to relate to the context of this particular passage.