2 Corinthians 3:14
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Even when reading the Old Testament, a spiritual "veil" keeps people from fully grasping its message about God's covenant. This isn't about a lack of intellect, but a deeper blindness that only looking to Jesus can truly heal. The true unveiling, Paul insists, happens when we see the Old Testament through the lens of Christ.
But their minds were hardened. For to this day, when they read the old covenant, that same veil remains unlifted, because only through Christ is it taken away.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Paul is contrasting the ministry of the Old Covenant with the glorious ministry of the New Covenant in Christ. He’s explaining why many Jewish people still struggle to fully grasp the liberating truth of the Gospel, even when reading their own Scriptures, because a spiritual blindness still conceals its ultimate meaning for them. This veil, Paul insists, can only be removed when someone turns to Jesus.
Why did so many people miss Jesus when He was right in front of them? Paul points to a spiritual blindness that affects how we read Scripture.
Paul uses the powerful image of a 'veil' to describe a spiritual condition where people are unable to fully grasp the truth. This wasn't just a lack of understanding; it was a hardening of their minds and hearts. When they encountered the Old Testament, which pointed to Christ, they couldn't see Him. Their focus was so fixed on the letter of the law that the spirit and ultimate fulfillment – Jesus Himself – remained hidden.
The verse offers a stunning solution to this spiritual blindness. What is it, and why is it so exclusive?
Paul’s diagnosis of hardened minds and an unlifted veil leads to a powerful, singular conclusion: 'only through Christ is it taken away.' This isn't a suggestion; it's the absolute key. Jesus is the fulfillment of the Old Covenant. Without Him, the Old Testament remains a set of laws and stories that don't fully reveal God's redemptive plan. But when viewed through the lens of Christ's life, death, and resurrection, the entire Old Testament begins to shine with His glory and point to His saving work.
Understand the original words
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pōroō · Greek Verb
To make dull, obtuse, or insensitive. It refers to a state of spiritual stubbornness or the inability to perceive and respond to divine truth.
diathēkē · Greek Noun
The formal agreement or relationship established by God with His people, specifically referring here to the Mosaic law and the Sinai covenant.
Christos · Greek Noun
The Anointed One, the Messiah. He is the fulfillment of the Old Testament promises and the sole mediator through whom spiritual blindness is removed and access to God is granted.
Paul uses the powerful image of a 'veil' to describe how many Jewish people, even when reading their own Scriptures (the Old Covenant), could not grasp the full truth of God's plan, which was only revealed through Jesus Christ. This blindness persisted even after the Temple's destruction, highlighting Paul's urgent message about the transformative power of the new life in Christ.
c. 1500 BC
The Old Covenant Established
God establishes His covenant with Israel through Moses at Mount Sinai, giving them the Law.
c. 450 BC
Ezra's Reforms
Ezra leads a religious reform among the returned exiles, emphasizing adherence to the Law.
c. 200 BC - AD 70
Second Temple Period
The Second Temple stands in Jerusalem, a focal point for Jewish worship and national identity. Diverse Jewish sects emerge.
c. AD 30-33
Crucifixion and Resurrection of Jesus
Jesus Christ is crucified and resurrected, marking the pivotal event for the New Covenant.
c. AD 35— this verse
Saul's Conversion on the Road to Damascus
Saul, a zealous Pharisee persecuting Christians, has a transformative encounter with the risen Christ.
c. AD 40s-60s
Paul's Missionary Journeys
The Apostle Paul travels extensively, spreading the gospel and establishing churches among both Jews and Gentiles.
AD 70
Destruction of the Second Temple
Roman forces destroy Jerusalem and the Second Temple, ending a significant era of Jewish history and worship.
This passage describes Moses' face shining after speaking with God, but wearing a veil when he communicated God's commands, paralleling the idea of a veil obscuring understanding.
Isaiah 6:9-10Isaiah prophesies that the people will hear but not understand, and see but not perceive, a spiritual blindness that resonates with the hardening of minds mentioned in 2 Corinthians.
Romans 11:7-10Paul explains that Israel, in seeking righteousness by law, failed to attain it, and their spiritual eyes were closed, directly linking the concept of a hardened mind to their rejection of Christ.
John 12:39-40Jesus quotes Isaiah, explaining that though He performed miracles, the people did not believe because their eyes were blinded and their hearts hardened, showing the deep spiritual resistance to truth.
Even when reading the Old Testament, a spiritual "veil" keeps people from fully grasping its message about God's covenant. This isn't about a lack of intellect, but a deeper blindness that only looking to Jesus can truly heal. The true unveiling, Paul insists, happens when we see the Old Testament through the lens of Christ.
Paul is contrasting the ministry of the Old Covenant with the glorious ministry of the New Covenant in Christ. He’s explaining why many Jewish people still struggle to fully grasp the liberating truth of the Gospel, even when reading their own Scriptures, because a spiritual blindness still conceals its ultimate meaning for them. This veil, Paul insists, can only be removed when someone turns to Jesus.
Paul is contrasting the ministry of the Old Covenant with the glorious ministry of the New Covenant in Christ. He’s explaining why many Jewish people still struggle to fully grasp the liberating truth of the Gospel, even when reading their own Scriptures, because a spiritual blindness still conceals its ultimate meaning for them. This veil, Paul insists, can only be removed when someone turns to Jesus.
"But their minds were hardened. For to this day, when they read the old covenant, that same veil remains unlifted, because only through Christ is it taken away." — Even when reading the Old Testament, a spiritual "veil" keeps people from fully grasping its message about God's covenant. This isn't about a lack of intellect, but a deeper blindness that only looki…
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Last reviewed October 2026
