2 Corinthians 4
1 Because of this, having this ministry, according as we received kindness, we do not faint,
Therefore, since God in His mercy has given us this ministry, we do not lose heart.
2 but renounced for ourselves the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness, nor deceitfully using the word of God, but by the manifestation of the truth recommending ourselves to every conscience of men, before God;
Instead, we have renounced secret and shameful ways. We do not practice deceit, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by open proclamation of the truth, we commend ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.
3 and if our good news is also veiled, it is veiled in those perishing,
And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing.
4 in whom the god of this age blinded the minds of the unbelieving, that there does not shine forth to them the enlightening of the good news of the glory of the Christ, who is the image of God; (aiōn g165)
The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers so they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. (aiōn g165)
5 for we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus—LORD, and [we are] ourselves your servants because of Jesus;
For we do not proclaim ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake.
6 because [it is] God who said, “Light will shine out of darkness,” who shined in our hearts, for the enlightening of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made His light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
7 And we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God, and not of us,
Now we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this surpassingly great power is from God and not from us.
8 being in tribulation in every [way], but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing;
We are hard pressed on all sides, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair;
9 persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;
persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed.
10 at all times carrying around in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body,
We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.
11 for we who are living are always delivered up to death because of Jesus, that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our dying flesh,
For we who are alive are always consigned to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our mortal body.
12 so that, death indeed works in us, and life in you.
So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.
13 And having the same spirit of faith, according to that which has been written: “I believed, therefore I spoke”; we also believe, therefore we also speak;
And in keeping with what is written: “I believed, therefore I have spoken,” we who have the same spirit of faith also believe and therefore speak,
14 knowing that He who raised up the Lord Jesus, will also raise us up through Jesus, and will present [us] with you,
knowing that the One who raised the Lord Jesus will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you in His presence.
15 for all things [are] because of you, that the grace having been multiplied, because of the thanksgiving of the more, may abound to the glory of God;
All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is extending to more and more people may overflow in thanksgiving, to the glory of God.
16 for this reason, we do not faint, but if our outward man also decays, yet the inward is renewed day by day;
Therefore we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, yet our inner self is being renewed day by day.
17 for the momentary light matter of our tribulation works out for us more and more an exceedingly continuous weight of glory— (aiōnios g166)
For our light and momentary affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory that is far beyond comparison. (aiōnios g166)
18 we [are] not looking to the things seen, but to the things not seen; for the things seen [are] temporary, but the things not seen [are] continuous. (aiōnios g166)
So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. (aiōnios g166)
