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 97

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 97 A FACE REFLECTING GLORY 97 the heart appears to be the locus of conversion; the heart is either hindered by the veil (3,15) or is enlightened (4,6). (3) Paul’s assistance with the delivery of the letter is expressed by the verb diakone,w (3,3), which is rarely used by Paul specifically to indicate his ministry 43. In this context, however, the verb ex- presses Paul’s role of “go-between” in the communication between God and humans and, as such, ties in with the idea of his diakoni,a as expressed in 3,6.7.8.9 and 4,1. Paul’s deliberate use of the noun dia,konoj in 3,6 also matches the expression of Paul being a deliv- erer of the divine message 44. (4) Finally, the letter is “to be known and read by all” (3,2). This idea of openness is repeated in 3,12 (parrhsi,a), 3,17 (evleuqeri,a), 3,18 (avnakekalumme,nw| prosw,pw|) and 4,2. In order to visualize these interconnections, the above mentioned resonances are schematically presented in the chart below. 2 Cor 3,1-3 2 Cor 3,6 – 4,6 2 Cor 3,1 2 Cor 4,2 […] avlla. th/| fanerw,sei th/j VArco,meqa pa,lin e`autou.j sunista,nein avlhqei,aj sunista,nontej h' mh. crh,z| omen w[j tinej sustatikw/n e`autou.j pro.j pa/san sunei,dhsin evpistolw/n avnqrw,pwn evnw,pion tou/ qeou/ pro.j u`ma/j h' evx u`mw/n 2 Cor 3,2 2 Cor 3,15 […] ka,lumma evpi. th.n h` evpistolh. h`mw/n u`mei/j evste( kardi,an auvtw/n kei/tai\ evggegramme,nh evn tai/j kardi,aij h`mw/n( 2 Cor 4,6 o[ti o` qeo.j o` eivpw,n\ evk sko,touj fw/j la,myei( o]j e;lamyen evn tai/j kardi,aij h`mw/n […] ginwskome,nh kai. avnaginwskome,nh 2 Cor 3,12: :Econtej ou=n toiau,thn u`po. pa,ntwn avnqrw,pwn evlpi,da pollh/| parrhsi,a| crw,meqa 2 Cor 3:17 […] ou- de. to. pneu/ma kuri,ou( evleuqeri,a 2 Cor 3:18 […] h`mei/j de. pa,ntej avnake- kalumme,nw| prosw,pw| 2 Cor 4:2 […] avlla. th/| fanerw,sei th/j avlhqei,aj sunista,nontej e`autou.j pro.j pa/san sunei,dhsin avnqrw,pwn evnw,pion tou/ qeou/ 43 W. BAIRD, “Letters of Recommendation. A Study of II Cor 3,1-3”, JBL 80 (1961) 166-172,169. 44 J.N. COLLINS, Diakonia. Re-interpreting the Ancient Sources (New York 1990) 197-198, 204.