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.
Therefore, having this ministry, as we have had mercy shewn us, we faint not.
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.
But we have rejected the hidden things of shame, not walking in deceit, nor falsifying the word of God, but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every conscience of men before God.
3 Even if the good news we share is veiled, it is veiled to those who are dying.
But if also our gospel is veiled, it is veiled in those that are lost;
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)
in whom the god of this world has blinded the thoughts of the unbelieving, so that the radiancy of the glad tidings of the glory of the Christ, who is [the] image of God, should not shine forth [for them]. (aiōn g165)
5 We are not promoting ourselves, but Christ Jesus as Lord. In fact we are your servants for Jesus' sake.
For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus Lord, and ourselves your bondmen for Jesus' sake.
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.
Because [it is] the God who spoke that out of darkness light should shine who has shone in our hearts for the shining forth 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 treasure in earthen vessels, that the surpassingness of the power may be of God, and not from us:
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.
every way afflicted, but not straitened; seeing no apparent issue, but our way not entirely shut up;
9 We are persecuted, but never abandoned by God. We are knocked down, but not dead yet!
persecuted, but not abandoned; cast down, but not destroyed;
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.
always bearing about in the body the dying of Jesus, that the life also of Jesus may be manifested in our body;
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 we who live are always delivered unto death on account of Jesus, that the life also of Jesus may be manifested in our mortal flesh;
12 As a result, we are facing death so that you may have life!
so that death works 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.
And having the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, I have believed, therefore have I spoken; we also believe, therefore also we speak;
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.
knowing that he who has raised the Lord Jesus shall raise us also with Jesus, and shall present [us] 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 all things [are] for your sakes, that the grace abounding through the many may cause thanksgiving to abound 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.
Wherefore we faint not; but if indeed our outward man is consumed, yet the inward is renewed 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 momentary [and] light affliction works for us in surpassing measure an eternal 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 we look not at the things that are seen, but at the things that are not seen; for the things that are seen [are] for a time, but those that are not seen eternal. (aiōnios g166)
