2 Corinthians 4
4
Treasure in Clay Jars
1God has been kind enough to trust us with this work. This is why we never give up. 2We don't do shameful things that must be kept secret. And we don't try to fool anyone or twist God's message around. God is our witness that we speak only the truth, so others will be sure we can be trusted. 3If there is anything hidden about our message, it is hidden only to someone who is lost.
4The god who rules this world has blinded the minds of unbelievers. They cannot see the light, which is the good news about our glorious Christ, who shows what God is like. 5We are not preaching about ourselves. Our message is that Jesus Christ is Lord. He also sent us to be your servants. 6#Gn 1.3. The Scriptures say, “God commanded light to shine in the dark.” Now God is shining in our hearts to let you know that his glory is seen in Jesus Christ.
7We are like clay jars in which this treasure is stored. The real power comes from God and not from us. 8We often suffer, but we are never crushed. Even when we don't know what to do, we never give up. 9In times of trouble, God is with us, and when we are knocked down, we get up again. 10-11We face death every day because of Jesus. Our bodies show what his death was like, so his life can also be seen in us. 12This means that death is working in us, but life is working in you.
13In the Scriptures it says, “I spoke because I had faith.” We have this same kind of faith. So we speak 14because we know that God raised the Lord Jesus to life. And just as God raised Jesus, he will also raise us to life. Then he will bring us into his presence together with you. 15All of this has been done for you, so more and more people will know how kind God is and will praise and honor him.
Faith in the Lord
16We never give up. Our bodies are gradually dying, but we ourselves are being made stronger each day. 17These little troubles are getting us ready for an eternal glory that will make all our troubles seem like nothing. 18Things that are seen don't last forever, but things that are not seen are eternal. This is why we keep our minds on the things that cannot be seen.
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Contemporary English Version, Second Edition (CEV®)
© 2006 American Bible Society. All rights reserved.
2 Corinthians 4
4
Paul Is Never Discouraged
1We don’t become discouraged, since God has given us this ministry through his mercy. 2Instead, we have refused to use secret and shameful ways. We don’t use tricks, and we don’t distort God’s word. As God watches, we clearly reveal the truth to everyone. This is our ⌞letter of⌟ recommendation.
3So if the Good News that we tell others is covered with a veil, it is hidden from those who are dying. 4The god of this world has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. As a result, they don’t see the light of the Good News about Christ’s glory. It is Christ who is God’s image.
5Our message is not about ourselves. It is about Jesus Christ as the Lord. We are your servants for his sake. 6We are his servants because the same God who said that light should shine out of darkness has given us light. For that reason we bring to light the knowledge about God’s glory which shines from Christ’s face.
7Our bodies are made of clay, yet we have the treasure of the Good News in them. This shows that the superior power of this treasure belongs to God and doesn’t come from us. 8In every way we’re troubled, but we aren’t crushed by our troubles. We’re frustrated, but we don’t give up. 9We’re persecuted, but we’re not abandoned. We’re captured, but we’re not killed. 10We always carry around the death of Jesus in our bodies so that the life of Jesus is also shown in our bodies. 11While we are alive, we are constantly handed over to death for Jesus’ sake so that the life of Jesus is also shown in our mortal nature. 12Death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.
13The following is written, “I believed; therefore, I spoke.” We have that same spirit of faith. We also believe; therefore, we also speak. 14We know that the one who brought the Lord Jesus back to life will also bring us back to life through Jesus. He will present us to God together with you.
15All this is for your sake so that, as God’s kindness #4:15 Or “grace.” overflows in the lives of many people, it will produce even more thanksgiving to the glory of God. 16That is why we are not discouraged. Though outwardly we are wearing out, inwardly we are renewed day by day. 17Our suffering is light and temporary and is producing for us an eternal glory that is greater than anything we can imagine. 18We don’t look for things that can be seen but for things that can’t be seen. Things that can be seen are only temporary. But things that can’t be seen last forever.
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