'The Letter Killeth'

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charity

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'Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament;
not of the letter, but of the spirit:
for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.'

(2 Corinthians 3:6)

Hello there,

The words, highlighted above, are very often used to discredit the Scriptures: for it is believed by some that the Apostle Paul was made a minister, not of the letter (ie., the words), but of the spirit, of the gospel, for the letter of the gospel kills!! Yet the Apostle's own writings prove the falseness of this: and the words of the Lord Jesus Christ Himself is sufficient in itself to show that this is very wrong:-

'The words that I speak unto you are spirit and are life' (John 6:63) .​

* The contrast intended was not between the 'letter' and the 'spirit' of the gospel: but between the ministration of death in the law 'in letters engraven on stones', and the ministration of life - or as 2 Corinthians 3:8 expresses it, 'the ministration of the spirit!' in the gospel. He emphasises the fact that God had called him to the higher ministry of the life-giving gospel, and not of the death-dealing law. The words, 'letter' and 'spirit' representing 'law' and 'gospel' respectively.

Thank you.
In Christ Jesus
Chris
 
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Windmillcharge

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Actually it is Jesus who taught that the Spiritual understanding and application of the law was a vital part of understanding the gospel.

There are many who falsely teach it is possible to live a sinless life.
They do not apply Jesus s spiritual application of the law, if they did they would see that, that envious thought, that lecherously thought etc etc etc meant they had dinner deliberately.
 

amadeus

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'Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament;
not of the letter, but of the spirit:
for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.'

(2 Corinthians 3:6)

Hello there,

The words, highlighted above, are very often used to discredit the Scriptures: for it is believed by some that the Apostle Paul was made a minister, not of the letter (ie., the words), but of the spirit, of the gospel, for the letter of the gospel kills!! Yet the Apostle's own writings prove the falseness of this: and the words of the Lord Jesus Christ Himself is sufficient in itself to show that this is very wrong:-

'The words that I speak unto you are spirit and are life' (John 6:63) .​

* The contrast intended was not between the 'letter' and the 'spirit' of the gospel: but between the ministration of death in the law 'in letters engraven on stones', and the ministration of life - or as 2 Corinthians 3:8 expresses it, 'the ministration of the spirit!' in the gospel. He emphasises the fact that God had called him to the higher ministry of the life-giving gospel, and not of the death-dealing law. The words, 'letter' and 'spirit' representing 'law' and 'gospel' respectively.

Thank you.
In Christ Jesus
Chris
Yes, it does speak of the contrast between the law [without the Life giving Spirit] to Moses versus the Word spoken by Jesus. Jesus also spoke about those speaking false words, words not of God... and not only from the law given to Moses but any lifeless words:

"Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit." Matt 7:15-17


Many times these false prophets will teach or preach from the written scriptures, the Bible. When they do so without the anointing of the Holy Spirit it surely is a killing message. This is what we see when we reading of the devil tempting Jesus with the words of scripture. Jesus however replied with words of scripture that were Alive!

"Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple,
And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. [quoting Psalm 91:11-12]
Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God."[quoting Deut 6:16]
Matt 4:5-7


Apparently the devil's words quoted from scripture were dead while Jesus' word also quoted from scripture were Alive!
 
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charity

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'Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament;
not of the letter, but of the spirit:
for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.'

(2 Corinthians 3:6)

@Windmillcharge
@amadeus

Thank you both for your contributions.

I believe that the Word of God itself is quick and powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword: but that it is the Holy Spirit's sword, and it is when He wields it that it's power is evident. It is able to make us wise unto salvation.

However in regard to the verse which this thread is built on, and the use made of it by those who wish to discredit the Word of God: the context clearly identifies the contrast to be between the gospel and the law. The one bringing the good news of the grace of God, in Christ Jesus, and the gift of God which is life through His Name. The other being the ministration of death, for those who would seek to live by it.

In Christ Jesus
Chris
 
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amadeus

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'Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament;
not of the letter, but of the spirit:
for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.'

(2 Corinthians 3:6)

@Windmillcharge
@amadeus

Thank you both for your contributions.

I believe that the Word of God itself is quick and powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword: but that it is the Holy Spirit's sword, and it is when He wields it that it's power is evident. It is able to make us wise unto salvation.

However in regard to the verse which this thread is built on, and the use made of it by those who wish to discredit the Word of God: the context clearly identifies the contrast to be between the gospel and the law. The one bringing the good news of the grace of God, in Christ Jesus, and the gift of God which is life through His Name. The other being the ministration of death, for those who would seek to live by it.

In Christ Jesus
Chris
Please note that I was not disagreeing with you but adding what I saw within the same verse.
 
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FHII

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'Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament;
not of the letter, but of the spirit:
for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.'

(2 Corinthians 3:6)

Hello there,

The words, highlighted above, are very often used to discredit the Scriptures: for it is believed by some that the Apostle Paul was made a minister, not of the letter (ie., the words), but of the spirit, of the gospel, for the letter of the gospel kills!! Yet the Apostle's own writings prove the falseness of this: and the words of the Lord Jesus Christ Himself is sufficient in itself to show that this is very wrong:-

'The words that I speak unto you are spirit and are life' (John 6:63) .​

* The contrast intended was not between the 'letter' and the 'spirit' of the gospel: but between the ministration of death in the law 'in letters engraven on stones', and the ministration of life - or as 2 Corinthians 3:8 expresses it, 'the ministration of the spirit!' in the gospel. He emphasises the fact that God had called him to the higher ministry of the life-giving gospel, and not of the death-dealing law. The words, 'letter' and 'spirit' representing 'law' and 'gospel' respectively.

Thank you.
In Christ Jesus
Chris
This is one of my favorite chapters. 2 Corinthians as a book seems to me to be underappreciated. Not sure if that's true, but that's my perspective.

The "letter" (law) is supposed to kill. It's not a bad thing at all. In Romans 5 Paul said the law was given so there would be offense. Without it, how does Grace much more abound?

In other words, it was and is impossible to keep the law, but it had to be given. It's perfect and holy, but it won't make us perfect in the flesh. We needed something to be delivered from.

Paul was very much into the ancient Greek philosophers, and one of them (Socrates?) Said without death there could be no life.
 
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