2 Corinthians 4
1 Therefore, since God in His mercy has given us this ministry, we do not lose heart.
Therefore, since it is by God’s mercy that we are engaged in this ministry, we do not lose heart.
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.
No, we have renounced the secrecy prompted by shame, refusing to adopt crafty ways, or to tamper with God’s message, and commending ourselves to everyone’s conscience, in the sight of God, by our exhibition of the truth.
3 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing.
And, even if the good news that we bring is veiled, it is veiled only in the case of those who are on the path to ruin –
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 g165)
people whose minds have been blinded by the God of this age, unbelievers as they are, so that the light from the good news of the glory of the Christ, who is the incarnation of God, should not shine for them. (aiōn g165)
5 For we do not proclaim ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake.
(For it is not ourselves that we proclaim, but Christ Jesus, as Lord, and ourselves as 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.
Indeed, the same God who said ‘Out of darkness light will shine,’ has shone in on our hearts, so that we should bring out into the light the knowledge of the glory of God, seen in the face of 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.
This treasure we have in these earthen vessels, so that its all-prevailing power may be seen to come from God, and not to be our own.
8 We are hard pressed on all sides, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair;
Though hard pressed on every side, we are never hemmed in; though perplexed, never driven to despair;
9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed.
though pursued, never abandoned; though struck down, never killed!
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.
We always bear on our bodies the marks of the death that Jesus died, so that the life also of Jesus may be exhibited in our bodies.
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.
Indeed, we who still live are continually being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life also of Jesus may be exhibited in our mortal nature.
12 So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.
And so, while death is at work within us, life is at work within 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,
But, in the same spirit of faith as that expressed in the words – ‘I believed, and therefore I spoke,’ 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.
For we know that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with him, and will bring us, with you, into his presence.
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 this is for your sakes, so that the loving kindness of God, spreading from heart to heart, may cause yet more hearts to overflow with thanksgiving, to his glory.
16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, yet our inner self is being renewed day by day.
Therefore, as I said, we do not lose heart. No, even though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.
