Laura Tack, «A Face Reflecting Glory. 2 Cor 3,18 in its Literary Context (2 Cor 3,1 – 4,15).» biblica, Vol. 96 (2015) 85-112 page 105

Vol 96 (2015)

Laura Tack, «A Face Reflecting Glory. 2 Cor 3,18 in its Literary Context (2 Cor 3,1 – 4,15).», Vol. 96 (2015) 85-112

This contribution investigates the translation of the hapax legomenon katoptrizo/menoi in 2 Cor 3,18; in addition to philological and religionhistorical arguments, in particular the article takes into account the broader literary context (2 Corinthians 3–4). The main theme of that context, embodied proclamation, turns out to be an important justification of the translation “to reflect as a mirror”. Especially the link between 2 Cor 3,18 and the whole of 2 Corinthians 4, which describes Paul’s somatic identification with and manifestation of Christ, results in understanding 2 Cor 3,18 as describing the unveiled face that reflects the divine glory as a mirror.

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05_Tack_copiaaaaa_85-112 28/04/15 12:35 Pagina 105 A FACE REFLECTING GLORY 105 Central to 2 Cor 4,1-6 is Paul’s ministry, which is carried out in all honesty and openness (vv. 1-2; cf. 3,12-13 71), but the content of which remains imperceptible for the blinded unbelievers for whom the light of the gospel is veiled (vv. 3-4; cf. 3,14-15 72). Paul further clarifies that his ministry bears upon Jesus Christ, because of whom he is a servant of the Corinthian community (v. 5). The last verse of the unit emphasizes that God is the source of Paul’s enlightened knowledge that has brought Paul to understand that God’s glory is present in the face of Jesus Christ. It is this insight that Paul communicates to the Corinthians (v. 6; cf. 3,18 73). Especially verses 4 and 6 clarify our suggested reading of 2 Cor 3,18. Verse 4 discloses that God’s glory has become perceptible in Christ, who is God’s material image 74. According to R. Schwindt, the combination of do,xa with the noun eivkw,n in this verse is in keep- ing with the double meaning of the Old Testament dAbK' / do,xa “der sowohl die Epiphaniemächtigkeit Gottes als auch die Pracht und Gewichtigkeit des Menschen bezeichnete” 75. This implies that all human beings, who are made into God’s image (Gen 1,26), are not only enabled to perceive God’s glory in Christ but will eventually, as images of God, share in this glory 76. In our opinion 2 Cor 3,18 explicitly refers to this display of glory by all believers. Verse 6 fur- ther elaborates this idea by referring to Paul’s divine illumination of the heart that has made Paul into someone who can spread this en- lightening knowledge himself. “Gott erleuchtet das Herz des Apos- tels und bringt ihn damit selbst zum Leuchten” 77. According to J. Fitzmyer, this verse describes the motif of the illumination of the heart or the face with divine do,xa that was known in Qumranic sources 78. Although there is a lot of terminology present in 2 Cor 4,6 that refers to light (fw/j, la,mpw, fwtismo,j), these terms express the illumination of Paul by God (passive) rather than 71 GRUBER, Herrlichkeit, 287. 72 Ibid. 73 Ibid. 74 Ibid., 293. 75 SCHWINDT, Gesichte, 267. 76 Ibid. 77 SCHWINDT, Gesichte, 248. 78 FITZMYER, “Glory”, 74-78. The illumination of the heart is described in 1QS 2:3: “may he (God) illumine your heart […] with the insight of life”, 78.