2 Corinthians 4
4
The Light of the Gospel
1Therefore, since we have this ministry because we were shown mercy,#Mt 5:7; Mk 5:19; Lk 1:50 we do not give up.#2Th 3:13 2Instead, we have renounced secret and shameful things, not acting#2Jn 6 deceitfully or distorting the word of God,#2Co 2:17; 2Tm 2:15; Heb 4:12 but commending ourselves before God to everyone’s conscience by an open display of the truth.#2Co 5:11–12; 6:7; 7:14 3But if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. 4In their case, the god of this age#Lk 16:8 has blinded the minds of the unbelievers to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ,#4:4 Or the gospel of the glorious Christ, or the glorious gospel of Christ#Mk 10:37 who is the image of God.#Gn 1:27 5For we are not proclaiming ourselves but Jesus Christ as Lord,#Php 2:11 and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’s sake. 6For God who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,”#Gn 1:3; Mt 6:23 has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge#Php 3:8; 1Jn 4:8 of God’s glory#Mk 10:37; Lk 9:32; Jn 17:24; 2Co 3:18; 2Pt 3:18 in the face of Jesus Christ.
Treasure in Clay Jars
7Now we have this treasure in clay jars, so that this extraordinary power#Mk 5:30; Lk 1:35; 6:19; Ac 19:11; 2Co 13:4; Rv 11:17 may be from God and not from us. 8We are afflicted in every way but not crushed; we are perplexed but not in despair; 9we are persecuted but not abandoned; we are struck down but not destroyed. 10We always carry the death of Jesus#Lk 9:23; Rm 5:6–8; 6:5–8; 8:34–36; Gl 6:17 in our body, so that the life of Jesus may also be displayed in our body. 11For we who live are always being given over to death#Mt 10:21; Jn 8:51; Php 3:10 for Jesus’s sake, so that Jesus’s life may also be displayed in our mortal flesh. 12So then, death is at work in us, but life in you. 13And since we have the same spirit of faith in keeping with what is written, I believed, therefore I spoke,#4:13Ps 116:10 LXX#Ps 116:10 LXX we also believe, and therefore speak. 14For we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus will also raise us with Jesus#1Th 4:14 and present us with you. 15Indeed, everything is for your benefit so that, as grace extends through more and more people, it may cause thanksgiving#2Co 9:11 to increase to the glory of God.
16Therefore we do not give up.#2Th 3:13 Even though our outer person is being destroyed, our inner person#Rm 7:22 is being renewed day by day. 17For our momentary light affliction#Gl 6:2 is producing for us an absolutely incomparable eternal weight of glory.#Lk 24:26; 1Pt 5:1,4 18So we do not focus on what is seen,#Rm 8:24 but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
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© 2017 Holman Bible Publishers
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. [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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