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 shameful secret things, not walking # 2Jn 6 in deceit or distorting God’s message, # 2Co 2:17; 2Tm 2:15; Heb 4:12 but commending ourselves to every person’s conscience in God’s sight 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 so they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, # 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 slaves because of Jesus. 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 pressured 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 revealed in our body. 11For we who live are always given over to death # Mt 10:21; Jn 8:51; Php 3:10 because of Jesus, so that Jesus’ life may also be revealed in our mortal flesh. 12So death works 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, # Ps 116:10 LXX # Ps 116:10 LXX we also believe, and therefore speak. 14We know that the One who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus # 1Th 4:14 and present us with you. 15Indeed, everything is for your benefit, so that grace, extended through more and more people, may cause thanksgiving # 2Co 9:11 to increase to God’s glory.
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 # See note at 2Co 1:4. # 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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© 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville, Tennessee. All rights reserved.
2 Corinthians 4
4
Treasure in clay jars
1God has been kind enough to trust us with this work. That's 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 that 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. 6The 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.#Gn 1.3.
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 that 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 that same kind of faith. So we speak#Ps 116.10 (LXX). 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 this has been done for you, so that more and more people will know how kind God is and will praise and honour 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 for ever, but things that are not seen are eternal. That's why we keep our minds on the things that cannot be seen.
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