Letter - Kills, Spirit - Life?

2 Corinthians 3:6b – “for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.”

In the Classical Pentecostal context that I grew up, this verse has been used in such a way that lessened the importance of Scripture (not every preacher though😊). It was inferred that primary importance should be given to fresh and direct revelations by Holy Spirit than the Word of God. As per them, Scripture takes a backseat when we have visions and revelations. But is that what the verse means? Not at all unfortunately. It would seem to be a contradiction if we say that the words in the Scripture kill but the Spirit gives life as the letters in the Bible were written under the inspiration of Holy Spirit. So then what could have Paul meant when he wrote this?

First let us look at the complete verse instead of just plucking out the second part. v6 says - He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant—not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. If we look at the context of this verse, we can see that Paul here talks about God who made him and the other apostles competent as ministers of New Covenant – which is the message of salvation through faith in Christ v/s salvation of Israel through obedience of the Law of Moses. Paul compares the Old Covenant and New Covenant very clear by stating its most important characteristic (Death vs Life)

As we know, Old Covenant was the binding contract God had with Israel where their obedience was based on the law God gave them. But by the works of the law, no one could be saved (Galatians 2:16). We were held captive under the law and the law was just a guardian until Christ came (Gal 3:23-24). The law never justified anyone but led people to condemnation as violating the law became so often. It made nothing perfect (Hebrews 7:19) but was just a shadow of the best thing that was yet to come (Christ).

But in New Covenant, the gentiles have been grafted into the tree of Israel by faith in Jesus, the King and Messiah of Israel (Romans 11:11-24). No one was righteous and could obey the law in its entirety so God sent his only begotten Son, Christ into the world to fulfill the law. Everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life (John 6:40) The Holy Spirit gives life (John 6:63) and when we believe, we are sealed by the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory (Eph 1:14).

The Holy Spirit saves us, seals us, lives in us and sanctifies us. The eternal life given by the Holy Spirit enables us to be transformed into the glorious image of Christ (2 Cor 3:18) and till we are glorified, Spirit intercedes on behalf of us with God promising the forgiveness for our sins. There is no condemnation for us who are in Christ Jesus as we have been set free from law of sin and death through Christ Jesus, the law of the Spirit (Romans 8:1-2). We who have been saved and sealed by the Holy Spirit are ought to lead a life characterized by the fruit of the Spirit which is “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control” (Galatians 5:22–23). As we are released from the law, having died to that which held us captive, may the Holy Spirit help us to serve in the new and not in the old way of the written code (Romans 7:6)