What is the meaning of " For the letter killeth but the spirit giveth life" (2 Corinthians 3:6)

What is the meaning of ” For the letter killeth but the spirit giveth life” (2 Corinthians 3:6)

Answer: Let’s read

2 Corinthians 3:6 “Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.

To revive means to “Give life” Only God who can give out life to us. So when it says the letter killeth but the spirit giveth life means scripture without revelation of the Holy Spirit it can lose or kills person’s spirit ( Either a person to die physically or spiritually).

But if the scriptures used with the guidance of the Holy Spirit it gives life to a person even if the person was dead can be alive again.

Let’s see how the scripture kills a person physical and later in spiritual death.

How scripture can physically kill a person:

Leviticus 24:19 “And if a man cause a blemish in his neighbour; as he hath done, so shall it be done to him;

20 Breach for breach, eye for eye, tooth for tooth: as he hath caused a blemish in a man, so shall it be done to him again”.

Deuteronomy 19:21 “And thine eye shall not pity; but life shall go for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot”.

When he says LIFE FOR LIFE, means a man who gave up the life of another for purpose must his life also to be taken away from him, or breaking someone’s tooth and his tooth must taken away from him too, and if he beat or eye piercing and his eye must be pierced.

This scripture and other scriptures taken as it is they must kill a person, many people were dying because of this scriptures, at past when a women found committing adultery her judgement was to be stoned untill to death.

But when the Holy Spirit came, he put it right through the mouth of our Lord Jesus Christ and say..

In Matthew 5:38 “Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth:

39 But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.

40 And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloke also.

41 And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain.

42 Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.

43 Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.

44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;

45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.

Let’s see how scripture can kills someone spiritually

Lets see this scripture

1 Timothy 5:23 “Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach’s sake and thine often infirmities.

This scripture has killed many people spiritually, and made them and up in alcoholics and careless life and the devil has nailed, his goal is to make people die without repentance so as people to go to hell of fire.

Let’s see other related scripture

Ecclesiastes 9:5 “For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten”.

This scripture has kill many people spiritually, and end up believing that there is no other life after death, no hell of fire. So according to this scripture made many people to live the life that please them in this world and careless life with this conception that there is nothing going on after death, even after committing adultery no one to judge.

Jesus Christ, the Giver of life said in..

Luke 16:19 “There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day”

20 And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores,

21 And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.

22 And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;

23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.

24 And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.

25 But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.

26 And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.

27 Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father’s house:

28 For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.

29 Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.

30 And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent.

31 And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.

Here the Holy Spirit says there is judgement after death.

So it’s important to have the Holy Spirit as the helper or a teacher when reading scriptures for the better understanding, without the Holy Spirit it is very hard to understand the scriptures because you will end up giving yourself your own interpretations.

If you have not yet received Jesus , you will never understand scriptures, but once you decide to receive Jesus as your saviour and repent your sins and commit yourself never repeat them again and be baptized with the perfect baptism with many water as it is on this scripture (Yohane 3:23)and in the name of Jesus Christ , as the same day you receive Jesus the same day the Holy Spirit will begin to work in you and creat something new.

God bless you.

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