2 Corinthians 4
1 Therefore, since we have received mercy along with 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 Rather, we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in deception nor falsifying the Word of God, but by the open proclamation of the Truth commending 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 every man’s conscience, in the sight of God, by our exhibition of the Truth.
3 So where our Gospel has actually been concealed, it has been hidden from those who are being wasted,
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 among whom the god of this age has blinded the minds of the unbelieving, so that the light of the Gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should not dawn on them. (aiōn g165)
Men 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 very incarnation of God, should not shine for them. (aiōn g165)
5 Now we do not proclaim ourselves, but Christ Jesus as Sovereign, 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 because the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness is He who shined in our hearts to give the light that comes from the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
Indeed, the same God who said ‘Out of darkness light shall shine,’ has shone in upon 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 Further, we have this treasure in jars of clay, so that this all-surpassing power may be of God and not from ourselves
This treasure we have in these earthen vessels, that its all-prevailing power may be seen to come from God, and not to be our own.
8 —we are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair;
Though hard pressed on every side, we are never hemmed in; through perplexed, never driven to despair;
9 persecuted, yet not abandoned; knocked down, but not out;
though pursued, never abandoned; though struck down, never killed!
10 always carrying about in the body the putting to death of the Lord Jesus, so that also the life of Jesus may be manifested 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, the living, are always being handed over to death for Jesus' sake, so that also the life of Jesus may be manifested in our mortal flesh.
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 in you.
And so, while death is at work within us, Life is at work within you.
13 Now since we have the same spirit of faith, just like it is written, “I believed; therefore I spoke,” we 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 He who raised the Lord Jesus will also raise us through Jesus and present us together with you.
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 So all this is for your benefit, so that the grace that has spread through the many may cause the thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God.
For all this is for your sakes, 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—even though our outer man is wasting away, yet our inner man 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.
