Question 1

In v. 14, what two realities does Paul hold together about the veil during the reading of the old covenant?

Accepted Answer

Paul describes (1) persistence and (2) removal. On the one hand, he says that “until this very day” the same veil “remains” when the old covenant is read aloud, and he connects that with “hardened” minds. On the other hand, he adds that “in Christ it passes away,” implying the veil is not the last word. The verse holds a continuing present experience (“to this day … remains”) together with a Christ-centered resolution (“passes away in Christ”), without yet spelling out the exact steps of how that change is experienced.

Question 2

How does v. 15 clarify where Paul thinks the veil is located?

Accepted Answer

Verse 15 shifts the image from something covering a text to something affecting the hearers: “a veil lies on their heart.” This clarifies that the problem is not that Moses is unreadable or that the words are missing. The reading happens (“when Moses is read”), but the reception is blocked at the level of the inner person. Joined to v. 14’s “minds were hardened,” Paul’s language points to an inward impediment—how people are disposed and what they are able or willing to perceive while listening to Moses.

Question 3

What is the relationship between “when Moses is read” (v. 15) and “whenever one turns to the Lord” (v. 16)?

Accepted Answer

Paul juxtaposes two recurring situations. First, there is an ongoing setting: Moses is being read, and in that setting the veil is present “to this day.” Second, there is a contrasting condition that can occur at any time: “whenever one turns to the Lord,” the veil is removed. The passage does not say the reading stops; rather, the same activity (hearing Moses) is now experienced differently because the veil is taken away. The contrast highlights that the change is tied to “turning,” not to changing Moses or the act of reading.

Question 4

What does the repeated phrase “to this day” contribute to Paul’s point in vv. 14–15?

Accepted Answer

“To this day” emphasizes continuity: Paul treats the veiled reading as an ongoing, current reality, not merely a past event in Israel’s story. By repeating it (v. 14 and v. 15), he underlines that the issue persists in present practice—people are still hearing “the old covenant” and “Moses” read, and the veil still lies over their reception. At the same time, the repetition sets up the significance of v. 16: despite the long-standing pattern, there is a clear stated condition under which the veil is taken away.

Question 5

What does Paul explicitly say causes the veil to be removed, and what does he not explicitly say?

Accepted Answer

Explicitly, Paul links removal to Christ and to turning: “in Christ it passes away” (v. 14), and “whenever one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away” (v. 16). He does not explicitly describe the mechanics—how the hardening happens, how long the process takes, or what specific practices accompany “turning.” He also does not say the text of Moses is replaced or invalidated here; his focus is on the change in perception and reception. The passage is clear about the condition and result, but brief about steps in between.

Question 6

How do “mind” (v. 14) and “heart” (v. 15) function together in Paul’s description?

Accepted Answer

Paul uses both “mind” and “heart” to describe the same blocked reception from two angles. “Minds were hardened” highlights a cognitive or perceptual inability—something about understanding or recognizing what is being read. “A veil lies on their heart” highlights the inner orientation of the person—what they are open to, resistant to, or shaped by at the deepest level. Taken together, Paul’s point is broader than mere lack of information: the veil involves an inward condition affecting how Scripture is heard. The removal, then, would entail a change in that inward condition.

2 Corinthians 3:14-16

Scripture