What does 2 Corinthians 3:14 mean?

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But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in Christ. 2 Corinthians 3:14

Explanation

2 Corinthians 3:14 refers to a spiritual blindness or hardening that Paul attributes to the Jewish people of his time, which prevents them from seeing the full meaning and fulfillment of the Scriptures in the life and work of Jesus Christ. The “vail” or veil mentioned in the verse symbolizes this inability to recognize the Messiah, which, according to Paul, persists when the Old Testament is read. However, he asserts that this veil is removed or “done away” in Christ, suggesting that through Christ, the deeper, spiritual understanding of the Scriptures is made clear.

Historical Context

This verse is written by the Apostle Paul in his second letter to the Corinthians, a church he founded in the Greco-Roman city of Corinth. The letter is believed to have been written in the mid-50s AD. During this time, there was tension between the newly formed Christian communities and the established Jewish communities, as Christians claimed that Jesus was the promised Messiah—a belief that was not accepted by most Jews. The “vail” metaphor likely refers to the reading of the Torah and the Jewish religious practices that, according to Paul, fail to reveal the truth of Christ.

Theological Insights

Different theological viewpoints consider the significance of the veil:

Covenant Theology: From this perspective, the veil represents the Old Covenant, which is fulfilled and therefore made obsolete by the New Covenant in Christ.
Dispensationalism: This view might hold that God has distinct plans for Israel and the church, and the veil signifies a temporary spiritual condition for Israel that will be lifted in the future.
Replacement Theology: This theology suggests that the church has replaced Israel as God’s chosen people, interpreting the veil as indicative of Israel’s rejection and the inclusion of Gentiles in salvation.

Practical Applications

The teachings of this verse can encourage believers to strive for a deeper understanding of Scripture that recognizes the person and work of Jesus Christ. It can also encourage those who are sharing their faith to be patient and compassionate with those who do not yet recognize Christ, as it acknowledges a spiritual condition that blinds people to truth.

Cross-References

Matthew 13:13: “Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.”
Isaiah 25:7: “And he will destroy in this mountain the face of the covering cast over all people, and the vail that is spread over all nations.”
Luke 24:45: “Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures.”

Language Study

In the original Greek text, the word for “vail” or veil is “κάλυμμα” (kalymma), which signifies something that covers or hides, typically used for a veil or curtain. “Blinded” translates from “πωρόω” (poroo), meaning to harden, dull, or make insensitive, which in this context implies a spiritual insensitivity to the truth.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

The imagery of veils and blindness is common in ancient religions and mythologies to represent the separation between the divine and human understanding. For example, in ancient Greek religion, the concept of truth (“Aletheia”) being hidden or veiled was explored in philosophy and mythology.

Scientific Perspectives

The concept of blindness in this context is metaphorical for cognitive or perceptual biases, which recent cognitive science recognizes; the human brain can have blind spots and biases that prevent people from perceiving things outside their current belief systems.

Commentaries

Commentaries on this verse provide various expert opinions. Some emphasize the continuity of the Old and New Testaments, proposing that Paul is not dismissing the Old Testament but rather showing its completion in Christ. Others focus on the role this passage plays in Paul’s broader argument about the superiority of the New Covenant and the ministry of the Spirit over the Old Covenant and the letter of the law.