How does Paul’s assertion in 2 Corinthians 3:10 that the old covenant’s glory “has no glory now” reconcile with the Old Testament’s constant emphasis on the law’s importance and enduring potency?

I. Overview of 2 Corinthians 3:10 and the Nature of the Old Covenant

2 Corinthians 3:10 states, “Indeed, what was once glorious has no glory now in comparison to the glory that surpasses it.” This verse highlights the surpassing glory of the new covenant established through Christ. When Paul references the old covenant as having “no glory now,” he does not deny the Old Testament’s continual emphasis on the law’s importance. Rather, he underscores how the radiance of the new covenant, which is characterized by the transformative work of the Holy Spirit, far exceeds that of the old covenant.

II. Old Testament Emphasis on the Law’s Potency

The Old Testament consistently emphasizes the centrality and significance of God’s law. For example, Psalm 19:7 says, “The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul.” Passages like Deuteronomy 11:1–2 and Psalm 119 also celebrate the law’s enduring worth, instructing God’s people to hold it in high esteem. These affirmations reveal how the law was an essential guide to righteous living and a covenant marker of Israel’s identity.

It is crucial to recognize that, in the Old Testament, the law was seen as the means by which God’s people expressed their obedience and devotion. Alongside the sacrificial system, the law shaped communal life by correcting moral failings, preserving justice, and reflecting the holiness of the God who gave it.

III. The Surpassing Glory of the New Covenant

Although the law held deep significance, Paul’s statement that the old covenant “has no glory now” must be interpreted in light of what Christ accomplished. The immediate context of 2 Corinthians 3:7–11 sets up a comparison between the ministry of the letter—engraved on stone tablets—and the ministry of the Holy Spirit. Paul contrasts the “ministry of death” (referring to how the law, when broken, could only condemn) with the “ministry of the Spirit” (referring to the transformative power of grace).

In 2 Corinthians 3:8, Paul names this new ministry as one “of the Spirit,” signifying life and empowerment rather than mere condemnation. The new covenant surpasses the old in that believers are now indwelled and guided internally by the Holy Spirit, rather than relying on external observances alone.

IV. Fulfillment, Not Abrogation

Christ declared in Matthew 5:17, “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.” Jesus taught that the moral essence of the law remains central, but He Himself is the ultimate revelation and embodiment of what the law foreshadowed.

The law points forward to Christ as the perfect sacrifice, sufficient to accomplish redemption once and for all (Hebrews 10:10–14). Rather than discarding the law, the new covenant reveals its ultimate purpose and, in doing so, causes the glory of the old system—rooted in temporary sacrifices and a written code—to fade in comparison to the immediate relationship now made possible through the indwelling Spirit.

V. The “Enduring Potency” and Guidance of the Law

Despite the surpassing glory of the new covenant, the law’s moral and instructional value remains:

1. Moral Guidance for Believers: Many of the law’s commandments reflect God’s eternal moral character. Though believers are not under the old covenant’s ceremonial requirements (Galatians 3:23–25), the moral principles continue to guide righteous living.

2. Revelation of Sin and Need for a Savior: Romans 3:20 teaches that “through the law we become conscious of sin.” While the law could not grant spiritual life, it highlighted humanity’s need for redemption, pointing toward the Messiah.

3. Teacher Leading to Christ: Galatians 3:24 explains, “So the law became our guardian to lead us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith.” Far from being nullified, the law’s overall function in salvation history is to guide people to recognize their dependence on God’s grace.

VI. Unity of Scripture and Consistency of Paul’s Teaching

Paul’s assertion about the old covenant’s glory fading holds together with the Old Testament’s emphasis on the law by emphasizing its culmination in Christ. Textual studies of the Pauline epistles—supported by the breadth of manuscript evidence—confirm that 2 Corinthians is genuinely Pauline and that his theology throughout his letters remains consistent in describing the law’s role and necessity, while also celebrating its fulfillment in Christ.

VII. Balancing Old Testament Reverence with New Covenant Realities

The tension many perceive—between the Old Testament’s veneration of the law and Paul’s declaration of the old covenant’s fading glory—dissolves when seen in terms of God’s unfolding redemptive plan. The law remains integral for understanding the holiness of God, sin’s severity, and the perfection of the atoning work of Christ. Yet, its glory is overshadowed by the new covenant, which brings about lasting forgiveness and hearts transformed by the Holy Spirit (Jeremiah 31:31–34; Ezekiel 36:26–27).

VIII. Conclusion

Paul’s phrase that the former covenant “has no glory now” is not a denial of the law’s value, but a recognition that the old covenant has been eclipsed by a greater revelation—Jesus Christ, who perfectly fulfilled the law and established an unbreakable new covenant through His sacrifice and resurrection. The Old Testament emphasis on the law’s significance finds its consummation in Christ, and the law remains historically and morally potent as a guide, a revealer of sin, and a tutor pointing to the Savior.

Through this lens, the believer can esteem the law for the crucial role it played and continues to play in testifying to God’s holiness and humankind’s need for redemption, while rejoicing in the surpassing glory and eternal life available through the new covenant in Christ.