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 received this ministry, as we have obtained mercy, we are not disheartened:
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 have rejected shameful disguises, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by the manifestation of the truth, recommending ourselves to every man's conscience, in the sight of God.
3 Even if the good news we share is veiled, it is veiled to those who are dying.
And if our gospel also be veiled, it is to those that perish;
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)
among whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of the unbelieving, so that the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, doth not shine unto 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 preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your servants for the sake of 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.
For God, who commanded light to shine out of darkness, hath shined into our hearts, to reflect 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 treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power might be evidently of God, and not of 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.
being afflicted on every side, but not oppressed; perplexed, but not in despair;
9 We are persecuted, but never abandoned by God. We are knocked down, but not dead yet!
persecuted, but not forsaken;
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.
cast down, but not destroyed; always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might 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 are yet living, are always exposed to death for the sake 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 is wrought 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, according to what is written, "I believed, and therefore have I spoken," we also believe, and therefore 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 raised up the Lord Jesus, will raise up us also by Jesus, and 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 these things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the gratitude of many redound 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 are not disheartened: but though our outward man decayeth, yet the inward man is renewed daily.
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 short and light affliction is working out for us an infinite and eternal weight of glory, as we aim not at the things which are visible, but invisible: (aiōnios g166)
