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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Military Bible Association
2 Corinthians 4
4
Paul’s Apostolic Ministry
1Therefore, since we have this ministry, just as we received mercy [from God, granting us salvation, opportunities, and blessings], we do not get discouraged nor lose our motivation. 2But we have renounced the disgraceful things hidden because of shame; not walking in trickery or adulterating the word of God, but by stating the truth [openly and plainly], we commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God. 3But even if our gospel is [in some sense] hidden [behind a veil], it is hidden [only] to those who are perishing; 4among them the god of this world [Satan] has blinded the minds of the unbelieving to prevent them from seeing the illuminating light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 5For we do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves [merely] as your bond-servants for Jesus’ sake. 6For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” is the One who has shone in our hearts to give us the Light of the knowledge of the glory and majesty of God [clearly revealed] in the face of Christ.
7But we have this precious treasure [the good news about salvation] in [unworthy] earthen vessels [of human frailty], so that the grandeur and surpassing greatness of the power will be [shown to be] from God [His sufficiency] and not from ourselves. 8We are pressured in every way [hedged in], but not crushed; perplexed [unsure of finding a way out], but not driven to despair; 9hunted down and persecuted, but not deserted [to stand alone]; struck down, but never destroyed; 10always carrying around in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the [resurrection] life of Jesus also may be shown in our body. 11For we who live are constantly [experiencing the threat of] being handed over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the [resurrection] life of Jesus also may be evidenced in our mortal body [which is subject to death]. 12So physical death is [actively] at work in us, but [spiritual] life [is actively at work] in you.
13Yet we have the same spirit of faith as he had, who wrote in Scripture, “I believed, therefore I spoke.” We also believe, therefore we also speak, 14knowing that He who raised the Lord Jesus will also raise us with Jesus and will present us [along] with you in His presence. 15For all [these] things are for your sake, so that as [God’s remarkable, undeserved] grace reaches to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of [our great] God.
16Therefore we do not become discouraged [spiritless, disappointed, or afraid]. Though our outer self is [progressively] wasting away, yet our inner self is being [progressively] renewed day by day. 17For our momentary, light distress [this passing trouble] is producing for us an eternal weight of glory [a fullness] beyond all measure [surpassing all comparisons, a transcendent splendor and an endless blessedness]! 18So we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are unseen; for the things which are visible are temporal [just brief and fleeting], but the things which are invisible are everlasting and imperishable.
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