< 2 Corinthians 4 >
1 Therefore, since God in His mercy has given us this ministry, we do not lose heart.
Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not;
2 Instead, we have renounced secret and shameful ways. We do not practice deceit, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by open proclamation of the truth, we commend ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.
But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.
3 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing.
But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:
4 The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers so they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. (aiōn )
In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. (aiōn )
5 For we do not proclaim ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake.
For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake.
6 For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made His light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
7 Now we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this surpassingly great power is from God and not from us.
But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.
8 We are hard pressed on all sides, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair;
We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;
9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed.
Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;
10 We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.
Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.
11 For we who are alive are always consigned to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our mortal body.
For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus’ sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.
12 So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.
So then death worketh in us, but life in you.
13 And in keeping with what is written: “I believed, therefore I have spoken,” we who have the same spirit of faith also believe and therefore speak,
We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak;
14 knowing that the One who raised the Lord Jesus will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you in His presence.
Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you.
15 All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is extending to more and more people may overflow in thanksgiving, to the glory of God.
For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God.
16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, yet our inner self is being renewed day by day.
For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.
17 For our light and momentary affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory that is far beyond comparison. (aiōnios )
For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; (aiōnios )
18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. (aiōnios )
While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal. (aiōnios )