In 2 Corinthians 3:5-6, the Expanded Bible says: "We are not saying that we ·can do this work ourselves [are able/competent/adequate to consider anything as from ourselves]. It is God who makes us able to do all that we do [But our ability/competence/adequacy is from God]. He made us able [adequate; competent] to be servants of a new ·agreement from himself to his people [covenant; Jer. 31:31–34; Luke 22:20]. This new agreement [covenant] is not a written law [of the letter], but it is of the Spirit. The ·written law [letter] brings death, but the Spirit gives life."