2 Corinthians 4
1 Therefore, since we have this ministry, and in as much as we have obtained mercy for ourselves, we are not inadequate.
THEREFORE having this ministry, as we have obtained mercy, we faint not;
2 For we renounce dishonorable and hidden acts, not walking by craftiness, nor by adulterating the Word of God. Instead, by the manifestation of truth, we commend ourselves to the conscience of each man before God.
but have renounced all shameful secret practices, not conducting ourselves with artifice, nor deceitfully disguising the word of God, but by clear manifestation of the truth, commending ourselves to every man’s conscience as in the presence of God.
3 But if our Gospel is in some way hidden, it is hidden to those who are perishing.
And if now our gospel be hid, it is hid from those who are lost:
4 As for them, the god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that the light of the Gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, would not shine in them. (aiōn g165)
among whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of the unbelievers, that the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should not dart its bright beams upon them. (aiōn g165)
5 For we are not preaching about ourselves, but about Jesus Christ our Lord. We are merely your servants through Jesus.
For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake.
6 For God, who told the light to shine out of darkness, has shined a light into our hearts, to illuminate the knowledge of the splendor of God, in the person of Christ Jesus.
For the God who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, he hath shined into our hearts, to give illumination of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
7 But we hold this treasure in earthen vessels, so that what is sublime may be of the power of God, and not of us.
But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the transcendent excellence of the power might be of God, and not of us.
8 In all things, we endure tribulation, yet we are not in anguish. We are constrained, yet we are not destitute.
We are afflicted on every side, yet not reduced to extremities; under difficulties, yet not in despair;
9 We suffer persecution, yet we have not been abandoned. We are thrown down, yet we do not perish.
persecuted, yet not abandoned; cast down, but not destroyed;
10 We ever carry around the mortification of Jesus in our bodies, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies.
always bearing about in the body the death pangs of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus may be manifested in our body.
11 For we who live are ever handed over unto death for the sake of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our mortal flesh.
For we who are yet alive are continually delivered up to death for Jesus’ sake, that the life also of Jesus may be made manifest in our mortal flesh.
12 Therefore, death is at work in us, and life is at work in you.
Wherefore death indeed is working in us, but life in you.
13 But we have the same Spirit of faith. And just as it is written, “I believed, and for that reason I spoke,” so we also believe, and for that reason, we also speak.
Having then the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore I have spoken, we also believe, and therefore speak;
14 For we know that the One who raised up Jesus will raise us up also with Jesus and will place us with you.
knowing that he who raised up our Lord Jesus Christ, will raise up us also through Jesus, and present us together with you.
15 Thus, all is for you, so that grace, abounding through many in thanksgiving, may abound to the glory of God.
For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace, through the thanksgiving of more persons, may more abound to the glory of God.
16 For this reason, we are not insufficient. But it is as though our outer man is corrupted, while our inner man is renewed from day to day.
Therefore we never faint; for though our outward man decay, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.
17 For though our tribulation is, at the present time, brief and light, it accomplishes in us the weight of a sublime eternal glory, beyond measure. (aiōnios g166)
For our momentary light affliction worketh for us a transcendently far more exceeding eternal weight of glory; (aiōnios g166)
18 And we are contemplating, not the things that are seen, but the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are temporal, whereas the things that are not seen are eternal. (aiōnios g166)
whilst we direct our aim not to the things which are seen, but to the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporary, but the things that are not seen are eternal. (aiōnios g166)
