2 Corinthians 2 & 3

Paul's instructions about restoring the disciplined church member show how forgiveness should follow repentance to prevent Satan from gaining advantage through excessive grief or bitterness. His description of apostolic ministry as a triumphal procession spreading the fragrance of Christ creates both life and death responses depending on people's spiritual condition. The contrast between the old covenant's fading glory written on stone tablets and the new covenant's surpassing glory written on hearts by the Spirit demonstrates Christianity's superiority over Judaism while explaining Israel's spiritual blindness.