Προς Κορινθιους Β΄ 3
1 αρχομεθα παλιν εαυτους συνιστανειν {VAR1: ει } {VAR2: η } μη χρηζομεν ως τινες συστατικων επιστολων προς υμας η εξ υμων συστατικων
Must we begin again to commend ourselves? Or are we in need (as some are) of epistles of commendation for you, or from you?
2 η επιστολη ημων υμεις εστε εγγεγραμμενη εν ταις καρδιαις ημων γινωσκομενη και αναγινωσκομενη υπο παντων ανθρωπων
You are our Epistle, written in our hearts, which is known and read by all men.
3 φανερουμενοι οτι εστε επιστολη χριστου διακονηθεισα υφ ημων εγγεγραμμενη ου μελανι αλλα πνευματι θεου ζωντος ουκ εν πλαξιν λιθιναις αλλ εν πλαξιν καρδιας σαρκιναις
It has been made manifest that you are the Epistle of Christ, ministered by us, and written down, not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God, and not on tablets of stone, but on the fleshly tablets of the heart.
4 πεποιθησιν δε τοιαυτην εχομεν δια του χριστου προς τον θεον
And we have such faith, through Christ, toward God.
5 ουχ οτι ικανοι εσμεν αφ εαυτων λογισασθαι τι ως εξ εαυτων αλλ η ικανοτης ημων εκ του θεου
It is not that we are adequate to think anything of ourselves, as if anything was from us. But our adequacy is from God.
6 ος και ικανωσεν ημας διακονους καινης διαθηκης ου γραμματος αλλα πνευματος το γαρ γραμμα αποκτεινει το δε πνευμα ζωοποιει
And he has made us suitable ministers of the New Testament, not in the letter, but in the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.
7 ει δε η διακονια του θανατου εν γραμμασιν εντετυπωμενη εν λιθοις εγενηθη εν δοξη ωστε μη δυνασθαι ατενισαι τους υιους ισραηλ εις το προσωπον μωσεως δια την δοξαν του προσωπου αυτου την καταργουμενην
But if the ministration of death, engraved with letters upon stones, was in glory, (so much so that the sons of Israel were not able to gaze intently upon the face of Moses, because of the glory of his countenance) even though this ministration was ineffective,
8 πως ουχι μαλλον η διακονια του πνευματος εσται εν δοξη
how could the ministration of the Spirit not be in greater glory?
9 ει γαρ η διακονια της κατακρισεως δοξα πολλω μαλλον περισσευει η διακονια της δικαιοσυνης εν δοξη
For if the ministration of condemnation is with glory, so much more is the ministration of justice abundant in glory.
10 και γαρ ουδε δεδοξασται το δεδοξασμενον εν τουτω τω μερει ενεκεν της υπερβαλλουσης δοξης
And neither was it glorified by means of an excellent glory, though it was made illustrious in its own way.
11 ει γαρ το καταργουμενον δια δοξης πολλω μαλλον το μενον εν δοξη
For if even what was temporary has its glory, then what is lasting has an even greater glory.
12 εχοντες ουν τοιαυτην ελπιδα πολλη παρρησια χρωμεθα
Therefore, having such a hope, we act with much confidence,
13 και ου καθαπερ μωσης ετιθει καλυμμα επι το προσωπον εαυτου προς το μη ατενισαι τους υιους ισραηλ εις το τελος του καταργουμενου
and not as Moses did, in placing a veil over his face, so that the sons of Israel would not gaze intently at his face. This was ineffective,
14 αλλ επωρωθη τα νοηματα αυτων αχρι γαρ της σημερον το αυτο καλυμμα επι τη αναγνωσει της παλαιας διαθηκης μενει μη ανακαλυπτομενον ο τι εν χριστω καταργειται
for their minds were obtuse. And, even until this present day, the very same veil, in the readings from the Old Testament, remains not taken away (though, in Christ, it is taken away).
15 αλλ εως σημερον ηνικα αναγινωσκεται μωσης καλυμμα επι την καρδιαν αυτων κειται
But even until today, when Moses is read, a veil is still set over their hearts.
16 ηνικα δ αν επιστρεψη προς κυριον περιαιρειται το καλυμμα
But when they will have been converted to the Lord, then the veil shall be taken away.
17 ο δε κυριος το πνευμα εστιν ου δε το πνευμα κυριου εκει ελευθερια
Now the Spirit is Lord. And wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.
18 ημεις δε παντες ανακεκαλυμμενω προσωπω την δοξαν κυριου κατοπτριζομενοι την αυτην εικονα μεταμορφουμεθα απο δοξης εις δοξαν καθαπερ απο κυριου πνευματος
Yet truly, all of us, as we gaze upon the unveiled glory of the face of the Lord, are transfigured into the same image, from one glory to another. And this is done by the Spirit of the Lord.
