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 99

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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to reflect as a mirror

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05_Tack_copiaaaaa_85-112 28/04/15 12:35 Pagina 99 A FACE REFLECTING GLORY 99 both open (avnakekalumme,nw| prosw,pw|) and inspired by the Spirit (avpo. kuri,ou pneu,matoj) just as the letter of recommendation is open to all and written by the Spirit. Moreover, equating h`mei/j pa,ntej with the Corinthian commu- nity that is Paul’s overt letter of recommendation explains, accord- ing to Wright, the mirror image in v. 18. [T]he ‘mirror’ in which Christians see reflected the glory of the Lord is not, in this passage at any rate, the gospel itself, nor even Jesus Christ. It is one another. [… T]hose who belong to the new covenant are being changed by the Spirit into the glory of the Lord: when they come face to face with one another they are beholding, as in a mirror, the glory itself 46. In his reading of 2 Cor 3,18 Wright seems to discern two move- ments. First, the adherents of the new covenant are being changed into do,xa, which is reflected on their countenance. Second, when encountering each other face-to-face, they behold the glory on each other’s unveiled faces. One could ask if katoptri,zomai really ex- presses both reflecting 47 and beholding. It is certainly true, as Wright indicates 48, that 2 Cor 3,1-3 as well as 2 Cor 3,18 express in their own way the idea that Paul’s ministry is driven by the Spirit and hence operates with boldness. The idea, however, that Chris- tians should look at each other to discover the true nature of this ministry is neither present in vv. 1-3 nor explicit in v. 18. The major problem with Wright’s argumentation is his construction of the connection between katoptrizo,menoi and metamorfou,meqa in v. 18. According to Wright, it is the work of the Spirit in the hearts of the believers that engenders the transformation into a glo- rious letter of recommendation. But then he introduces an addi- tional mediation: it is by looking at fellow Christians who are reflecting the Spirit as in a mirror that one changes into the same image that is made by the Spirit. Wright does not really explain the need for this extra mediation 49. One could ask, therefore, what this 46 WRIGHT, “Glory”, 145. 47 Wright himself gives credit to the possibility that the meaning “to reflect” is the adequate translation but does not deem it plausible. WRIGHT, “Reflected Glory”, 145. 48 WRIGHT, “Glory”, 143. 49 Ibid., 146-147.