05_Tack_copiaaaaa_85-112 28/04/15 12:35 Pagina 100 100 LAURA TACK enhancement of the transformation by mirror vision contributes to the transformation of all Christians that is already caused by the Spirit. This would moreover mean that katoptri,zomai indicates both an implicit moment of reflection and an explicit moment of beholding, which from a semantic point of view is not really con- vincing. We propose, therefore, to tip the scale in the direction of the translation “to reflect”. The influence of the general theme of the letter of recommendation on 2 Cor 3,18 is an important reason to do this. F. Long claims that this key notion of commendation is reflected in the rhetoric Paul is using in 2 Corinthians. It is an incarnational rhetoric. Long’s interpretation is of particular interest for our own understanding of 2 Cor 3,18. Paul’s rhetoric fundamentally is incarnational rhetoric. […] Christ is incarnated through Paul in his speech (13.3; cf. 2.17; 12.19). Paul is the aroma of Christ (2.15). Paul embodies simultaneously the sufferings (1.5-6; 4.10) and life (4.10-11) of Christ. Paul re- flects the new covenant glory (3.12-13) and reminds the Corinthi- ans that all in Christ are being transformed into this glory more and more, whereby they reflect the very face of Christ (3.18) 50. As is evident from this quote, Long favours the translation “to reflect as a mirror”. His particular choice for this translation is rooted in his reading of 2 Cor 3,18 in line with the concept of an incarnational rhetoric. Indeed, as shown above, the idea of recom- mendation is firmly rooted in the immediate literary context (2 Cor 3,1-18). This ties in with the whole of 2 Corinthians, in which Paul seems to be particularly preoccupied with the way in which he pro- claims his message, rather than with giving the Corinthians specific guidelines on the knowledge of God. It is because Paul authenti- cally embodies Christ by reflecting His glory that the Corinthians also get a chance to become imitators of Christ while being trans- formed into glory, and thus are able to become one of the “Christ- centered communities” 51. 50 F.J. LONG, Ancient Rhetoric and Paul’s Apology. The Compositional Unity of 2 Corinthians (SNTS MS 131; Cambridge 2004) 240-241. The em- phasis is his. 51 LONG, Rhetoric, 241.