2 Corinthians 4
1 So then, since God in his mercy has given us this new way of relating to him, we don't give up.
For this reason, because we have been made servants of this new order, through the mercy given to us, we are strong:
2 But we have given up secret, shameful acts. We don't behave in deceitful ways and we don't distort the word of God. We demonstrate who we are by revealing the truth before God so everybody can decide in their own minds.
And we have given up the secret things of shame, not walking in false ways, and not making use of the word of God with deceit; but by the revelation of what is true, as before God, we have the approval of every man's sense of right and wrong.
3 Even if the good news we share is veiled, it is veiled to those who are dying.
But if our good news is veiled, it is veiled from those who are on the way to destruction:
4 The god of this world has blinded the minds of those who don't trust in God. They can't see the light of the good news of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. (aiōn g165)
Because the god of this world has made blind the minds of those who have not faith, so that the light of the good news of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, might not be shining on them. (aiōn g165)
5 We are not promoting ourselves, but Christ Jesus as Lord. In fact we are your servants for Jesus' sake.
For our preaching is not about ourselves, but about Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your servants through Jesus.
6 For God who said, “Let light shine out of the darkness,” shone in our minds to illuminate the knowledge of God's glory in the face of Jesus Christ.
Seeing that it is God who said, Let light be shining out of the dark, who has put in our hearts the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
7 But we have this treasure in clay jars, to show that this supreme power comes from God and not from ourselves.
But we have this wealth in vessels of earth, so that it may be seen that the power comes not from us but from God;
8 We are attacked from every direction, but we are not crushed. We are at a loss as to what to do, but never in despair.
Troubles are round us on every side, but we are not shut in; things are hard for us, but we see a way out of them;
9 We are persecuted, but never abandoned by God. We are knocked down, but not dead yet!
We are cruelly attacked, but not without hope; we are made low, but we are not without help;
10 In our bodies we always share in the death of Jesus, so that we can also demonstrate the life of Jesus in our bodies.
In our bodies there is ever the mark of the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may be seen in our bodies.
11 While we live we are always under the threat of death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus may be revealed in our mortal bodies.
For, while living, we are still being given up to death because of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may be seen in our flesh, though it is under the power of death.
12 As a result, we are facing death so that you may have life!
So then, death is working in us, but life in you.
13 Since we have the same spirit of trust in God that Scripture refers to when it says, “I trusted in God, and so I spoke out,” we also trust in God and speak out for him.
But having the same spirit of faith, as it is said in the Writings, The words of my mouth came from the faith in my heart; in the same way, our words are the outcome of our faith;
14 We know that God who raised the Lord Jesus will also raise us with Jesus, and will bring us into his presence with you.
Because we are certain that he who made the Lord Jesus come back from the dead, will do the same for us, and will give us a place in his glory with you.
15 It's all for you! As God's grace reaches many more, thankfulness to God will be even greater, to his glory.
For we go through all things on account of you, because the greater the number to whom the grace is given, the greater is the praise to the glory of God.
16 So we don't give up. Even though our physical bodies are falling apart, our inner selves are being renewed daily.
For which cause we do not give way to weariness; but though our outer man is getting feebler, our inner man is made new day by day.
17 These trivial troubles we have only last for a little while, but they produce for us an ever-increasing degree of glory. (aiōnios g166)
For our present trouble, which is only for a short time, is working out for us a much greater weight of glory; (aiōnios g166)
18 We don't concern ourselves with what can be seen, for we look forward to what can't be seen. What we see is temporary, but what we can't see is eternal. (aiōnios g166)
While our minds are not on the things which are seen, but on the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are for a time; but the things which are not seen are eternal. (aiōnios g166)
