2 Corinthians 4
4
1 For this reason, since we have this ministry, just as we have been shown mercy, we do not lose heart. 2 But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness, nor bastardising the word of God, but by the manifestation of truth commending ourselves to every man’s* conscience in the presence of God. 3 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. 4 In their* case the god of this world* has blinded the minds of the unbelieving, so that they would not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 5 For we do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ* as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for the sake of Jesus.* 6 For God, who said, “Light shall shine out of darkness,”* is the One who has shone in our hearts, granting us the light of* the knowledge of the glory* of God in the face of Jesus Christ.*
Divine Treasure in Earthen Vessels
7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power may be from God and not from us. 8 We are hard pressed in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; 10 always carrying around in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our body. 11 For we who live are always being delivered to death on account of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our mortal flesh. 12 So then, death works in us, but life in you.
The Spirit of Faith
13 But having the same Spirit of faith, in accordance with what is written: “I believed, therefore I spoke,”* we also believe, therefore we also speak, 14 knowing that the One who raised the Lord* Jesus will also raise us with Jesus, and will present us with you. 15 For all things are for your sake, so that the grace which is spreading to more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.
16 Therefore, we do not lose heart, but though our outward man is decaying, yet our inner man* is being renewed day by day. 17 For our momentary, light affliction is working for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all measure, 18 as we look not to the things which are seen, but to the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are transitory, but the things which are not seen are eternal.
Notes
2 Or every person’s, as the term is understood in a generic sense
4 Greek whose
4 Or age
5 Some ancient manuscripts transpose Jesus Christ to Christ Jesus
5 Two ancient Greek manuscripts read Christ ; one ancient Greek manuscript reads Jesus Christ ; and two ancient Greek manuscripts read Christ
6 Quoted from Gen. 1:3
6 Greek for the light of….
6 One ancient Greek manuscript omits the glory
6 Some ancient manuscripts read Christ Jesus , while three other Greek manuscripts read Jesus
13 Quoted from Ps. 116:10
14 Some ancient manuscripts omit Lord
16 The word man is contextually supplied for clarity
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Copyright © 2026 Michael Adeyemi Adegbola. This Scripture text is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License (CC BY-SA 4.0).
