THE APOSTLE'S MISSION OF THE NEW COVENANT THE NEW COVENANT ACCORDING TO THE SECOND LETTERS TO THE CORINTHIANS 3:6.14

The article deals with the question of what is the theological content of the syntagm "new covenant" in 2 Cor 3:6 and its theological relation towards the syntagm "old covenant" which is cited in the same context (3:14). The reply to these questions depends on the understanding of the continuity of God's actions in Israel and the Church as well as determining an adequate theological relation between the two parts of the Christian Bible - the Old and New Testaments. Seeing that Paul in that context debates the Jew's relationship to the Old Testament and his Letters, connecting his understanding directly to his relationship towards Christ, all that has great significance for current day dialogue between Christians and Jews. It is important to notice that Paul does not speak directly about the "new covenant" but as part of his defence of his apostolic mission which his opponents in Corinthia bring into question. That is the reason that he brings Moses into his arguments comparing his and their apostolic mission. The theological complexity of this chapter has contributed even more to Paul's speech about "the letter that kills and the Spirit that revives". It seems by all reason that this is where in fact we need to look for the hermeneutical key to understand this complex and theologically charged text. For Paul the starting point of all experience is the "Spirit that revives" and this is possible through Christ. Even though Paul's apostolic mission is the mission of the Spirit glorified (delta O xi alpha) and by far surpasses Moses' mission he nevertheless does not denounce the glory of Moses' mission. In the same way, the Letter is not the "letter that kills" but if read in the light of the events of Jesus Christ it becomes a testimony for him. Here Paul is on the verge of comprehending the pre-Church. That is why the "new covenant" is not a reality that annuls the "old covenant" but immeasurably surpasses it.