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 109

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 109 A FACE REFLECTING GLORY 109 for the understanding of the apology as a whole (2,14 – 7,4) 97. Its subject matter moreover supports our exegesis of 2 Cor 3,18. In v. 16 the distinction between life and death (4,7-15) is paralleled with the difference between the inside and the outside, which in itself is based on the image of the treasure inside clay jars (v. 7) 98. The in- ward renewal (v. 16) corresponds to the transformation that is de- scribed in 3,18 99 and to Rom 12,2 which describes the metamorphosis (metamorfo,w, cf. 2 Cor 3,18) of the nou/j as an avnakai,nwsij (cf. avnakaino,w in 2 Cor 4,16) 100. The inner self in v. 16 moreover does not refer to just anybody, but refers instead to the inner state of mind of the believing Christians in whose inner being God’s power is at work 101, since h`mw/n in v. 16 refers to all Christians 102. In v. 17 the distinction between life and death is paralleled with the contrast between the light, momentary suffering and the heavy, eternal glory. The glory which is mentioned here is not only the same as in 3,18 103 but is parallel to Jesus’ life that is manifested in the body (vv. 10-12). The materiality of this do,xa is moreover stressed in v. 17 by its reference to ba,roj, which in turn ties in with the semantic nuance of weight associated with the Hebrew dAbK' 104. V. 18 completes the argumentation of 2 Corinthians 3–4 by ex- plaining how the inward renewal can be perceived. In the present, the presence of life and the growth of glory in the inner person can only be experienced by contemplating the invisible 105. Kuschnerus connects this new way of perceiving with the coming to belief with the help of the Spirit of the new covenant 106. In this instance a 97 GRUBER, Herrlichkeit, 325-326; MATERA, “Apostolic Suffering”, 399. 98 LAMBRECHT, Second Corinthians, 81; KUSCHNERUS, Gemeinde, 269. 99 LAMBRECHT, Second Corinthians, 81; THRALL, Second Epistle, 351; J.M. HARRIS, The Second Epistle to the Corinthians (Grand Rapids, MI 2005) 360. 100 Cf. KUSCHNERUS, Gemeinde, 278. 101 LAMBRECHT, “Anthropological Reflections”, 222. 102 LAMBRECHT, “The Eschatological Outlook in 2 Corinthians 4,7-15”, Studies in Second Corinthians (eds. R. BIERINGER – J. LAMBRECHT) (BETL 112; Leuven 1994) 335-349, 349. 103 LAMBRECHT, Second Corinthians, 81. 104 J. LAMBRECHT, “The Paul Who Wants to Die. A Close Reading of 2 Corinthians 4,16 – 5,10”, Understanding What One Reads II (ANL 64; Leuven 2011) 240-256, 252. 105 MATERA, “Apostolic Suffering”, 400; GRUBER, Herrlichkeit, 325-326. 106 KUSCHNERUS, Gemeinde, 279-281.