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 seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, 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 have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending 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.
But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them 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 hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should 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 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.
For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to [give] 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 excellency of the power may be 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.
[We are] troubled on every side, yet not distressed; [we are] 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; 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 the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest 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 which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus’ sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.
12 As a result, we are facing death so that you may have life!
So then death worketh 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.
We having the same spirit of faith, according as it 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 which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by 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 abundant grace might through the thanksgiving 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 faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward [man] 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 light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding [and] 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 which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen [are] temporal; but the things which are not seen [are] eternal. (aiōnios g166)
