1. Do we begin again to commend ourselves? or need we, as some others, epistles of commendation to you, or letters of commendation from you?
2. You are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men:
3. Since you are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshly tables of the heart.
4. And such trust have we through Christ toward God:
5. Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think anything as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God;
6. Who also has made us able ministers of the new covenant; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter kills, but the spirit gives life.
7. But if the ministry of death, written and engraved in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not steadfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away:
8. How shall not the ministry of the Spirit be more glorious?
9. For if the ministry of condemnation be glory, much more does the ministry of righteousness exceed in glory.