2 Corinthians 4
4
Present Weakness and Resurrection Life
1Therefore, since through God’s mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart. 2Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God. 3And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. 4The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 5For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. 6For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,”#4:6 Gen. 1:3 made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.
7But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. 8We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; 9persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. 10We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. 11For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may also be revealed in our mortal body. 12So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.
13It is written: “I believed; therefore I have spoken.”#4:13 Psalm 116:10 (see Septuagint) Since we have that same spirit of#4:13 Or Spirit-given faith, we also believe and therefore speak, 14because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you to himself. 15All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.
16Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 17For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
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The Holy Bible, New International Version® NIV®
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2 Corinthians 4
4
Treasure in Earthen Vessels
1#1Co 7:25; 2Co 3:6Therefore, since we have this ministry through the mercy we have received, we do not lose heart. 2#2Co 2:17; 5:11But we have renounced the secret things of shame, not walking in craftiness nor handling the word of God deceitfully, but by expressing the truth and commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God. 3#1Co 1:18; 2Co 3:14But if our gospel is hidden, it is hidden to those who are lost. 4#2Co 4:6; Jn 12:31; Heb 1:3The god of this world has blinded the minds of those who do not believe, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them. 5#1Co 1:23; 2Co 1:24For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake. 6#Ge 1:3; 2Pe 1:19For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
7#2Co 5:1; La 4:2But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, the excellency of the power being from God and not from ourselves. 8#2Co 7:5We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; 9#Heb 13:5persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; 10#Ro 6:5; 2Co 1:5and always carrying around in the body the death of the Lord Jesus, that also the life of Jesus might be expressed in our bodies. 11#Ro 8:36For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus’ sake, that also the life of Jesus might be manifested in our mortal flesh. 12#2Co 13:9So then, death works in us, but life in you.
13#Ps 116:10; 1Co 12:9We have the same spirit of faith. As it is written, “I believed, and therefore I have spoken.”#Ps 116:10, LXX (Septuagint). So we also believe and therefore speak, 14#1Th 4:14; Eph 5:27knowing that He who raised the Lord Jesus will also raise us through Jesus and will present us with you. 15#2Co 1:11; Ro 8:28All these things are for your sakes, so that the abundant grace through the thanksgiving of many might overflow to the glory of God.
Living by Faith
16#Ro 7:22; Isa 40:31For this reason we do not lose heart: Even though our outward man is perishing, yet our inward man is being renewed day by day. 17#Ro 8:18; 1Pe 5:10Our light affliction, which lasts but for a moment, works for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, 18#Heb 11:1; 2Co 5:7while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.
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