II Corinthians
3:7 - Stones & Administration
Law of Moses, Law of God, God's Law, Paul, New Covenant, Old Covenant,
Jesus, New Testament, Old Testament, Mt. Sinai,
tablets of stone, ark of the covenant, arc of the covenant
|
Major Threads |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Some may see, "written
and engraved in stones" in II Corinthians 3:7 and think this
refers to the Sinai Covenant. Although this seems to be referring to the
tablets of the covenant that Moses received in Exodus 34 that is not
likely the case. There is another set of stones mentioned in Deuteronomy
and Joshua on which law was written besides the stones on which the Ten
Commandments were written.
It should be noted that a number of the earlier Greek manuscripts contain
a variation from the standard King James Greek text. Instead of engraving in stones
they indicate the text was engraved on the stones. This includes five of eight early
texts that the Englishman's Greek New Testament considers significant plus the
Sinaiticus text. To think that Paul is specifically referring to writing etched in
stone with the Creator’s finger as opposed to writing in plaster is rather tenuous
to begin with. The stones which recorded the administration of Moses inherited by Levi
were etched into plaster. However, since the thought of engraving in stone is actually
missing from most early texts, assuming that it could only apply to the tables of
His covenant is significantly undermined.
It
should also be noted that 'was glorious' also leaves out a significant
thought in what Paul said. Alternative translations are, "was
produced with glory" (Englishman's Greek New Testament) and
"was brought into existence with glory" (Emphasized Bible). The
word 'was' in the NKJV is actually 'gennaw' which means 'to
engender'. So the service of Moses was brought into existence with glory
as evidenced by the brightness of his face. The law was not engendered or
made glorious by the brightness of Moses face. God made perfectly evident
who He would use to administer the covenant by the shining of Moses face.
In
any case Paul is saying that even Moses function written on stones was
instituted with glory. However, Moses function was not written on the
tablets of the covenant (Ex 34:28, Deu. 5:22). Only the words God spoke
from Sinai were written on them. The context is talking of Moses
function.
The
context is also contrasting the Old Covenant with the New Covenant (vs
6, 14). It does not really mention the covenant made at Sinai. However,
Moses was especially the chief administrator of the Sinai covenant. So
the concept seems to apply. However, Paul is not necessarily limiting
himself to that function during Moses lifetime. He is talking of the
institution or beginnings of Moses office. He indicates through the rest
of the chapter that Moses office continued until Jesus/Yeshua, Messiah, replaced
it. That office was of course 'Moses seat' that was occupied by the
priesthood of Aaron and those who inherited that office.
Moses
directed Israel write this law of Deuteronomy on this other set of stones.
This is recorded in Deuteronomy 27:2-8 (see also Josh 8:30-32). As such
these stones would have had the administration of Levi included in their
text (Deu. 17:9). The priests especially, but also Levi in general,
inherited the ‘seat of Moses’ once the Moab covenant was confirmed. The Levites served as
judges with the High Priest being chief. This text written on these stones was from the covenant of Moab.
Of course, that is now the Old Covenant. There is no connection between
these stones and the Sinai Covenant or Law of God.
The stones on which Moses function was recorded were the stones on which
the Law of Moses was written mentioned in Deuteronomy 27, not the tablets
that were kept in the Ark of the Covenant. In any case, it is Moses
function that has been replaced by the administration of Messiah. It is not
talking of a replacement of the Law.