2 Corinthians 3:15

Context of 2 Corinthians 3:15

This verse is part of a larger discourse in which the Apostle Paul contrasts the Old Covenant (the Law given through Moses) with the New Covenant (the Spirit given through Christ). Paul has just described how Moses, after encountering God on Mount Sinai, had to put a literal veil over his face because the glory of God reflected there was too intense for the Israelites to look upon directly, and that glory was fading (2 Corinthians 3:13). In the verses immediately preceding 2 Corinthians 3:15, Paul explains that this literal veil symbolized a spiritual veil over the minds of the Israelites, preventing them from understanding the true, temporary nature of the Old Covenant and its ultimate fulfillment in Christ (2 Corinthians 3:14).

Key Themes and Messages

• Spiritual Blindness: The central theme is the spiritual inability to grasp the true meaning of God's Word, particularly the Old Testament. The phrase "the vail is upon their heart" signifies a profound spiritual dullness, preventing them from seeing Christ as the culmination of the Law.
• The Enduring Nature of the Veil: "Even unto this day" emphasizes that this spiritual blindness was not limited to Moses' time but persisted among many of Paul's contemporaries who continued to read the Law without recognizing its prophetic fulfillment in Jesus.
• The Role of the Old Testament: When "Moses is read" (referring to the Torah or Pentateuch), without the Spirit of Christ, the Law remains a closed book, its deeper meaning obscured. The Old Covenant, while holy and good, was never intended to be an end in itself but a guide pointing to a greater reality found in the New Covenant.

Linguistic Insights

The word "vail" here comes from the Greek kalymma (κάλυμμα), meaning a covering or a veil. It directly links to the physical veil Moses wore, but Paul uses it metaphorically to describe a spiritual covering over the understanding. The "heart" (Greek: kardia, καρδία) in biblical thought is not just the seat of emotions but also the center of intellect, will, and spiritual perception. Therefore, a veil upon the heart means a fundamental inability to comprehend spiritual truth, a lack of inner clarity and understanding.

Reflection and Practical Application

This verse holds profound relevance for understanding how we approach scripture today. It teaches that merely reading the Bible, even the very words of Moses, is insufficient for true spiritual understanding if one's heart is not open to the revelation of Christ. The "veil" can represent any barrier—prejudice, self-righteousness, reliance on human tradition, or simply a lack of spiritual receptivity—that prevents individuals from seeing Jesus as the key to interpreting all of God's Word.

For believers, this verse underscores the necessity of the Holy Spirit in illuminating the Scriptures. When one turns to the Lord, Paul explains, "the vail shall be taken away" (2 Corinthians 3:16). This highlights the transformative power of a relationship with Christ, which opens the eyes of the heart to discern spiritual truths and understand how the entire Bible points to Him. Just as Jesus opened the understanding of His disciples to comprehend the Scriptures, He continues to do so for those who seek Him today.