Commentaries:
Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown
But we all—Christians, as contrasted with the Jews who have a veil on their hearts, answering to Moses' veil on his face. He does not resume reference to ministers till II Corinthians 4:1.
with open face—Translate, "with unveiled face" (the veil being removed at conversion): contrasted with "hid" (II Corinthians 4:3).
as in a glass—in a mirror, namely, the Gospel which reflects the glory of God and Christ (II Corinthians 4:4; I Corinthians 13:12; James 1:23, James 1:25).
are changed into the same image—namely, the image of Christ's glory, spiritually now (Romans 8:29; I John 3:3); an earnest of the bodily change hereafter (Philippians 3:21). However many they be, believers all reflect the same image of Christ more or less: a proof of the truth of Christianity.
from glory to glory—from one degree of glory to another. As Moses' face caught a reflection of God's glory from being in His presence, so believers are changed into His image by beholding Him.
even as, etc.—Just such a transformation "as" was to be expected from "the Lord the Spirit" (not as English Version, "the Spirit of the Lord") [ALFORD] (II Corinthians 3:17): "who receives of the things of Christ, and shows them to us" (John 16:14; Romans 8:10-11). (Compare as to hereafter, Psalms 17:15; Revelation 22:4).
Parenthetical: Of Christians in general. He resumes the subject of the ministry, II Corinthians 4:1.
minds—Greek, "mental perceptions"; "understandings."
blinded—rather, "hardened." The opposite to "looking steadfastly at the end" of the law (II Corinthians 3:13). The veil on Moses' face is further typical of the veil that is on their hearts.
untaken away . . . which veil—rather, "the same veil . . . remaineth untaken away [literally, not unveiled], so that they do not see THAT it (not the veil as English Version, but 'THE OLD TESTAMENT,' or covenant of legal ordinances) is done away (II Corinthians 3:7, II Corinthians 3:11, II Corinthians 3:13) in Christ" or, as BENGEL, "Because it is done away in Christ," that is, it is not done away save in Christ: the veil therefore remains untaken away from them, because they will not come to Christ, who does away, with the law as a mere letter. If they once saw that the law is done away in Him, the veil would be no longer on their hearts in reading it publicly in their synagogues (so "reading" means, Acts 15:21). I prefer the former.
Other Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown entries containing 2 Corinthians 3:18:
Exodus 34:29
Ecclesiastes 8:1
Song of Solomon 2:14
Song of Solomon 6:10
Matthew 6:9
Luke 9:29
John 1:14
Romans 12:2
1 Corinthians 13:12
2 Corinthians 3:4
2 Corinthians 4:1
2 Corinthians 4:3
2 Corinthians 4:4
2 Corinthians 6:6
Hebrews 1:3
Hebrews 9:24
Hebrews 10:1
1 John 3:2
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