What does it mean that the “letter killeth”? The biblical reference is to 2 Corinthians 3:6, which reads, “Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life” (KJV). The NKJV reads similarly with “who also made us sufficient as ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.” Scripture in this context contrasts the Old Law of Judaism with the New Law of Christianity—the Gospel of Christ.
But if the ministry of death, written and engraved on stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of the glory of his countenance, which glory was passing away, how will the ministry of the Spirit not be more glorious? For if the ministry of condemnation had glory, the ministry of righteousness exceeds much more in glory. For even what was made glorious had no glory in this respect, because of the glory that excels. For if what is passing away was glorious, what remains is much more glorious. (2 Corinthians 3:7-11)
The New Testament or Gospel of Christ is superior to the Old Testament Law of Judaism, which has passed away (Romans 7:6-7; Ephesians 2:15; Colossians 2:14). Since the Old Testament Law had no provision for the complete forgiveness of sins, it could only condemn in as much as all persons responsible for their actions have committed sins (Romans 3:10, 23). The New Testament or Gospel of Christ contains within it the provision of the forgiveness of sins for those who obey it, that is all who obey Jesus Christ (Hebrews 5:9). All who do not obey the Gospel of Christ remain lost (2 Thessalonians 1:8; 1 Peter 4:17).
Therefore, it is in the sense of the contrast between the Old Testament and the New Testament, the former that cannot save and can only condemn contrasted with the New Testament that can save from sin, that the Old Testament kills spiritually whereas the New Testament makes alive spiritually. The 2 Corinthians 3 context represents the Old Testament by reference to “engraved on stone.” The context distinguishes the New Testament from the Old Testament as being “the ministry of the Spirit.”
