And: some translators may feel that a different kind of transition word is required here. Note that Good News Translation has “then,” and Contemporary English Version begins with “so….” It is less likely that the contrastive “but” (Phillips) is appropriate in this case.

We is intended to include all Christians, not just the writers of 2 Corinthians or the apostles.

The participle beholding is from a relatively rare verb whose meaning is not certain. It is understood by some interpreters to mean “beholding as in a mirror” (so Anchor Bible and Knox). Revised Standard Version and New American Bible take the participle in the weakened meaning of “beholding.” Other interpreters understand this word to mean “reflecting as a mirror does” (so Good News Translation, New International Version). Perhaps the Anchor Bible translation is to be preferred, especially since the contrast seems to be between the Israelites, who could not gaze upon God’s glory, and the Christians, who now can. Where there is no specific verb meaning “reflect,” this idea may have to be translated “other people can see in us…” or “we show….”

The glory of the Lord in this context refers to brightness. See comments on this term in 2 Cor. 3.7 above.

Being changed into his likeness: his likeness is literally “the same likeness [or, image].” The passive being changed will have to be made active in many languages. One may consider “the Spirit of the Lord is changing us to become more and more like him” or “we are becoming more and more like him.”

From one degree of glory to another is literally “from glory to glory.” The sense is that Christians are being transformed into higher degrees of glory. Some translators may have to say something like “we are becoming brighter and brighter” or “our glory is constantly becoming greater.”

The words from the Lord who is the Spirit translate three Greek words which may also be translated “of the Spirit of the Lord” (Bible en français courant, New Jerusalem Bible footnote). If the interpretation of Bible en français courant is followed, the meaning is “this is the working of the Spirit of the Lord.”

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 .