2 Corinthians 4
1 Therefore, since we have this ministry, and in as much as we have obtained mercy for ourselves, we are not inadequate.
So then, since God in his mercy has given us this new way of relating to him, we don't give up.
2 For we renounce dishonorable and hidden acts, not walking by craftiness, nor by adulterating the Word of God. Instead, by the manifestation of truth, we commend ourselves to the conscience of each man before God.
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.
3 But if our Gospel is in some way hidden, it is hidden to those who are perishing.
Even if the good news we share is veiled, it is veiled to those who are dying.
4 As for them, the god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that the light of the Gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, would not shine in them. (aiōn g165)
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)
5 For we are not preaching about ourselves, but about Jesus Christ our Lord. We are merely your servants through Jesus.
We are not promoting ourselves, but Christ Jesus as Lord. In fact we are your servants for Jesus' sake.
6 For God, who told the light to shine out of darkness, has shined a light into our hearts, to illuminate the knowledge of the splendor of God, in the person of Christ Jesus.
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.
7 But we hold this treasure in earthen vessels, so that what is sublime may be of the power of God, and not of us.
But we have this treasure in clay jars, to show that this supreme power comes from God and not from ourselves.
8 In all things, we endure tribulation, yet we are not in anguish. We are constrained, yet we are not destitute.
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.
9 We suffer persecution, yet we have not been abandoned. We are thrown down, yet we do not perish.
We are persecuted, but never abandoned by God. We are knocked down, but not dead yet!
10 We ever carry around the mortification of Jesus in our bodies, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies.
In our bodies we always share in the death of Jesus, so that we can also demonstrate the life of Jesus in our bodies.
11 For we who live are ever handed over unto death for the sake of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our mortal flesh.
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.
12 Therefore, death is at work in us, and life is at work in you.
As a result, we are facing death so that you may have life!
13 But we have the same Spirit of faith. And just as it is written, “I believed, and for that reason I spoke,” so we also believe, and for that reason, we also speak.
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.
14 For we know that the One who raised up Jesus will raise us up also with Jesus and will place us with you.
We know that God who raised the Lord Jesus will also raise us with Jesus, and will bring us into his presence with you.
15 Thus, all is for you, so that grace, abounding through many in thanksgiving, may abound to the glory of God.
It's all for you! As God's grace reaches many more, thankfulness to God will be even greater, to his glory.
16 For this reason, we are not insufficient. But it is as though our outer man is corrupted, while our inner man is renewed from day to day.
So we don't give up. Even though our physical bodies are falling apart, our inner selves are being renewed daily.
17 For though our tribulation is, at the present time, brief and light, it accomplishes in us the weight of a sublime eternal glory, beyond measure. (aiōnios g166)
These trivial troubles we have only last for a little while, but they produce for us an ever-increasing degree of glory. (aiōnios g166)
18 And we are contemplating, not the things that are seen, but the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are temporal, whereas the things that are not seen are eternal. (aiōnios g166)
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)
