2 Corinthians 4
1 So, because God has acted so kindly [toward me], enabling [me to teach] this great [message to people], I never get [so] discouraged [that I stop teaching it].
Por tanto, teniendo este ministerio, así como obtuvimos misericordia, no desmayamos.
2 And I have determined that we [(exc)] will be honest [LIT] in everything that we do. We will not [do anything that would cause] us to be ashamed [if people found out about it]. We never try to deceive [you with clever arguments, as some other people do]. We never [try to deceive you] by changing God’s message, [as those same people do]. Instead, we always teach [people only] the truth [about Christ], and we teach it clearly. Knowing that God is watching what we do, we [teach his message in an honest way, with the result that] no one can [accuse] us [(exc) of being deceitful].
Pero hemos renunciado a las cosas ocultas de la vergüenza, no andando con astucia ni manejando la palabra de Dios con engaño, sino con la manifestación de la verdad recomendándonos a la conciencia de todo hombre ante Dios.
3 And if, [as some of you say, some people are] not able to understand the message [that we teach about Christ, it is not because we do not teach it clearly]. It is because those people [do not want to believe it]. They are going to perish eternally.
Aunque nuestra Buena Noticia esté velada, lo está en los moribundos,
4 [Satan, who is] the one [who rules] this world, controls the thoughts of those unbelievers. He prevents them from understanding the message about how wonderful Christ is. [They are not able to understand that] Jesus is like God [in every way]. (aiōn g165)
en quienes el dios de este mundo ha cegado el entendimiento de los incrédulos, para que no les llegue la luz de la Buena Noticia de la gloria de Cristo, que es imagen de Dios. (aiōn g165)
5 That is why, [when we(exc) teach people], we do not boast about ourselves, [as some people say that we do]. Instead, [we teach you] that Jesus Christ is our Lord. We ourselves are [only] your servants. [We want to honor and obey] Jesus.
Porque no nos predicamos a nosotros mismos, sino a Cristo Jesús como Señor, y a nosotros como sus siervos por causa de Jesús,
6 When God [created the world], he commanded the light to shine [where there was nothing but] darkness. He is the one who has [made his message about Jesus to be like] [MET] a light shining into our [(inc)] minds. [God] has done that [for all of us who believe in Jesus. He has done that so that we will understand that when people saw] Christ, they saw how awesome God himself was.
ya que es Dios quien dijo: “De las tinieblas resplandecerá la luz”, quien ha brillado en nuestros corazones para dar la luz del conocimiento de la gloria de Dios en el rostro de Jesucristo.
7 [This work that God has given to] us [(exc)] is [MET] [like] a very valuable treasure. But we who have that treasure [are as weak as fragile] [MET] clay pots. [God has planned it like that] in order that [people] will know that the power [that changes lives] is God’s power, and not any power of our own.
Pero tenemos este tesoro en vasos de barro, para que la extraordinaria grandeza del poder sea de Dios y no de nosotros mismos.
8 We are continually oppressed {[People] continually oppress us} in many ways, but [we have] not been prevented {[God has] not [allowed them to] prevent us} [from teaching the message about Jesus Christ]. We often do not know what to do [in difficult situations], but we never say, “God has abandoned us.”
Estamos presionados por todas partes, pero no aplastados; perplejos, pero no desesperados;
9 [We are frequently] persecuted {[People frequently] cause us to suffer}, but [God] never abandons us. [Sometimes we are] badly wounded {[people] badly wound us}, but [God does] not [allow] us [to] be killed {[them to] kill us}.
perseguidos, pero no abandonados; derribados, pero no destruidos;
10 [Wherever we(exc) go], we continually [realize that because people killed] Jesus, [people may] kill us [for teaching his message. But we are willing to go on living this way] in order that [people] will know that Jesus is alive and [that he is directing] us [SYN].
llevando siempre en el cuerpo la muerte del Señor Jesús, para que la vida de Jesús se manifieste también en nuestro cuerpo.
11 [So, although] we are [still] alive, we always realize that we may be killed {that [people some day] may kill us} because [we teach about] Jesus. [God allows us to suffer] in order that [people] will see that Jesus is alive and that he is [strengthening] our bodies that are some day going to die.
Porque los que vivimos estamos siempre entregados a la muerte por causa de Jesús, para que también la vida de Jesús se manifieste en nuestra carne mortal.
12 So [I conclude that although] we [apostles] are constantly [suffering and may soon] die, [the result of that is that all of] you [have now received eternal] life.
Así pues, la muerte actúa en nosotros, pero la vida en vosotros.
13 We are not discouraged. We are like [the person who] wrote [in the Scriptures], “[God], I trusted [in you] and so I continue speaking [your message].” We [(exc)] also trust [in God], so we continue speaking [his message].
Pero teniendo el mismo espíritu de fe, según lo que está escrito: “Creí, y por eso hablé”. Nosotros también creemos, y por eso también hablamos,
14 [We do this] because we [(exc)] know that [although people might kill us, God], who caused the Lord Jesus to live again after he died, will also cause us [(exc)] to live again [after we die. God will do this because we belong to] Jesus. [And then God] will bring us [(exc)], together with you, to be with him.
sabiendo que el que resucitó al Señor Jesús nos resucitará también a nosotros con Jesús, y nos presentará con vosotros.
15 [So I say that] all these things [that we(exc) suffer] happen in order to help you. [We have suffered all this] in order that more and more people, [as a result of hearing that God will] kindly/freely [forgive their sins], will thank [him and praise him. Then] they will greatly honor him [and worship him].
Porque todo es por vosotros, para que la gracia, multiplicada por los muchos, haga que abunde la acción de gracias para gloria de Dios.
16 So, [because we know that as a result of our suffering many people will honor God], we [(exc)] never get so discouraged [that we stop teaching his message]. Although our bodies are getting weaker, [God] encourages us every day and strengthens us spiritually.
Por lo tanto, no desmayamos, sino que, aunque nuestro ser exterior se deteriora, nuestro ser interior se renueva de día en día.
17 [I know that] all these troubles that [happen to us in this life are] not significant and will not last forever. [When we think of] the glorious things [that God is preparing] for us [to enjoy] forever [in heaven], all [our suffering now] is not important. (aiōnios g166)
Porque nuestra ligera aflicción, que es momentánea, nos produce cada vez más un eterno peso de gloria, (aiōnios g166)
18 That is why we say, “We will not continue thinking about [all the suffering that we] are experiencing now. Even though [we] cannot see [all the things that God has prepared for us in heaven], those are what we should be thinking about.” [That is how we should think], because [all these troubles] that [we(exc)] have [now] will last only a short time. But what [we will have in heaven], what [we] cannot see [now], will last forever. (aiōnios g166)
mientras no miramos las cosas que se ven, sino las que no se ven. Porque las cosas que se ven son temporales, pero las que no se ven son eternas. (aiōnios g166)
