2 Corinthians (2 Co) 4
4
1God has shown us such mercy that we do not lose courage as we do the work he has given us. 2Indeed, we refuse to make use of shameful underhanded methods, employing deception or distorting God’s message. On the contrary, by making very clear what the truth is, we commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God. 3So if indeed our Good News is veiled, it is veiled only to those in the process of being lost. 4They do not come to trust because the god of the ‘olam hazeh has blinded their minds, in order to prevent them from seeing the light shining from the Good News about the glory of the Messiah, who is the image of God. 5For what we are proclaiming is not ourselves, but the Messiah Yeshua as Lord, with ourselves as slaves for you because of Yeshua. 6For it is the God who once said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” who has made his light shine in our hearts, the light of the knowledge of God’s glory shining in the face of the Messiah Yeshua.
7But we have this treasure in clay jars, so that it will be evident that such overwhelming power comes from God and not from us. 8We have all kinds of troubles, but we are not crushed; we are perplexed, yet not in despair; 9persecuted, yet not abandoned; knocked down, yet not destroyed. 10We always carry in our bodies the dying of Yeshua, so that the life of Yeshua may be manifested in our bodies too. 11For we who are alive are always being handed over to death for Yeshua’s sake, so that Yeshua’s life also might be manifested in our mortal bodies. 12Thus death is at work in us but life in you.
13The Tanakh says, “I trusted, therefore I spoke.” Since we have that same Spirit who enables us to trust, we also trust and therefore speak; 14because we know that he who raised the Lord Yeshua will also raise us with Yeshua and bring us along with you into his presence. 15All this is for your sakes, so that as grace flows out to more and more people, it may cause thanksgiving to overflow and bring glory to God.
16This is why we do not lose courage. Though our outer self is heading for decay, our inner self is being renewed daily. 17For our light and transient troubles are achieving for us an everlasting glory whose weight is beyond description. 18We concentrate not on what is seen but on what is not seen, since things seen are temporary, but things not seen are eternal.
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2 Corinthians (2 Co) 4: CJB
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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. [Gen 1:3]
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, [Ps 116:10] 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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