This is a rhetorical question. For languages in which Paul’s words may be misunderstood to indicate doubt in his own mind, it may be better to change the question to a statement (so Good News Translation, Revised English Bible).

Verse 8 completes the comparison begun in verse 7. If the Law of Moses came with such splendor, how much greater is the splendor of the ministry of the Spirit.

Dispensation translates the same Greek word translated as “dispensation” in verse 7. Revised English Bible says “the ministry of the Spirit.” Other versions seek to show the parallel with the previous verse: “the administration of the Spirit” (Moffatt), and An American Translation has “the religion of the Spirit.” But Knox is unable to maintain the resemblance, translating simply “the spiritual law.”

Revised Standard Version slavishly maintains the future tense of the Greek verb will … be. When the Law of Moses was given, the new covenant was an event in the future. But the future tense in English suggests that the new covenant is not a present reality for Paul. For that reason Good News Translation uses the present tense: “how much greater is the glory.”

Verses 7 and 8 have been restructured as follows in one African language:
• 7 The old Laws were written on stones, and the glory of God was seen at that time. The people of Israel could not look [long] at the face of Moses, because it was shining strongly, even though this glory did not last. Therefore, if the Laws whose job is to bring death had glory like that, 8 then the work of the Spirit of God will have greater glory than the Laws. Is this not true?

The final question assumes the answer “Of course” and reflects the rhetorical character of the two verses, but only after having made the affirmation clearly.

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellingworth, Paul. A Handbook on Paul’s Second Letter to the Corinthians. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1993. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .