Somos transformados de glória em glória (2Cor 3,18): Um capítulo de Teologia da Cruz, em Paulo

Abstract

The article purposes to interprete 2 Corinthians 3,18, considered by specialized literature one of the most difficult to comprehend Pauline writings. The objective of the undertaking is to verify whether and how the mentioned passage can be interpreted as an integral part of the "Theology of the Cross" ubiquous to Paul's correspondence to the community of Corinth. In this endeavour, the article enters the dialogue with what seems to be the most important literary contexts of 2 Corinthians 3,18: (1) the apostolic apology of 1 Corinthians 2,14-7,4; (2) 1-2 Corinthians in total; (3) Exodus 33-34 as a scriptural background and inspiration for the mirror metaphor used by Paul in 2 Corinthians 3,18. Regarding these contexts, it is possible to percieve the reference to the glory in 2 Corinthians 3,18 not as a kind of "point outside the curve", but as a legitimate illustration of the message of the Cross announced by Paul.