Meaning of 2 Corinthians 3:15

This verse from 2 Corinthians 3:15 describes a spiritual blindness that prevents some individuals from fully understanding the Old Testament, particularly the Law of Moses, when it is read. Paul is addressing the persistent difficulty some Jewish people had in accepting Jesus as the Messiah, even when confronted with the prophecies and commandments that pointed to him. The "veil" is a metaphor for a spiritual impediment, a lack of comprehension that is not due to intellectual deficiency but rather to a hardened heart or an unwillingness to see the truth as revealed in Christ. This spiritual veil, Paul suggests, remains over their hearts until they turn to the Lord, at which point it is removed.

Context and Background

The Apostle Paul wrote 2 Corinthians to the church in Corinth, a city with a significant Jewish population and a complex mix of Gentile believers. In chapter 3, Paul contrasts the "ministry of death" associated with the Old Covenant (represented by the Law written on stone) with the "ministry of righteousness" of the New Covenant, brought about through the Holy Spirit and embodied in Christ. He references the account in Exodus 34 where Moses' face shone after encountering God, and he had to wear a veil to shield the Israelites from its brilliance. Paul reinterprets this event, suggesting that the veil Moses wore prophetically symbolized the veil that still covers the hearts of many Jews when they read the Old Testament, preventing them from seeing its ultimate fulfillment in Jesus.

Key Themes and Messages

• Spiritual Blindness: The primary theme is the inability to perceive spiritual truth, not due to lack of information but due to a spiritual obstruction.
• The Old Covenant vs. The New Covenant: Paul highlights the superiority of the New Covenant, which brings true understanding and freedom, over the Old Covenant, which, when read without Christ, can lead to condemnation and obscurity.
• The Role of the Heart: The verse emphasizes that understanding is not merely intellectual; it requires a receptive and open heart.
• Christ as the Key to Understanding: The passage implies that Jesus Christ is the interpretive key to the Old Testament. Without him, its true meaning remains hidden.

Spiritual Significance and Application

For believers, this verse serves as a reminder of the transformative power of the Holy Spirit in illuminating Scripture. It underscores the importance of approaching the Bible with a prayerful and humble heart, seeking God's guidance to understand His Word. For those who do not yet believe in Christ, it points to the spiritual barrier that needs to be removed through faith and repentance. The "turning to the Lord" mentioned in the broader context of 2 Corinthians 3 signifies the act of embracing Christ, which then removes the veil and allows for genuine understanding of God's Word and His plan of salvation.

Relation to the Broader Biblical Narrative

This verse fits within the overarching biblical narrative of God's progressive revelation. The Old Testament, while divinely inspired, served as a preparatory stage, pointing forward to the coming of the Messiah. Jesus himself stated in Luke 24:44-45 that all things written about him in the Law of Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms had to be fulfilled, and then "he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures." Paul's argument is that the Old Testament scriptures, when read through the lens of Christ, reveal his identity and work, but without that lens, their deepest meaning remains veiled to many.

Analogies

• A Locked Book: Imagine a book written in a language you don't understand. The words are there, but their meaning is inaccessible until you have the key to decipher them. In this analogy, the Old Testament is the book, and Christ is the key.
• Foggy Glasses: Reading a text through foggy glasses makes it difficult to discern the words clearly. The veil is like this fog, obscuring the true meaning until it is cleared away by turning to the Lord.
• A Map Without a Legend: A map can show roads and landmarks, but without a legend explaining what the symbols mean, its utility is greatly diminished. The Old Testament shows the path of God's dealings with humanity, but the "legend" that explains its ultimate purpose and destination is found in Christ.

Relation to Other Verses

• Exodus 34:33-35: This is the direct Old Testament passage Paul is alluding to, describing Moses' veiled face.
• John 5:39-40: Jesus tells the Jewish leaders, "You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me. Yet you refuse to come to me to get life." This echoes Paul's point about the veil.
• 2 Corinthians 3:14: This verse immediately precedes the one in question and states, "But their minds were hardened. For to this day, when they read the old covenant, the same veil remains, unlifted, because it is taken away in Christ."
• Hebrews 10:19-22: This passage speaks of believers having confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, emphasizing the access and clarity brought by the New Covenant.