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, since it is by God’s mercy that we are engaged in this ministry, we do not lose heart.
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.
No, we have renounced the secrecy prompted by shame, refusing to adopt crafty ways, or to tamper with God’s message, and commending ourselves to everyone’s conscience, in the sight of God, by our exhibition of the truth.
3 Even if the good news we share is veiled, it is veiled to those who are dying.
And, even if the good news that we bring is veiled, it is veiled only in the case of those who are on the path to ruin –
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)
people whose minds have been blinded by the God of this age, unbelievers as they are, so that the light from the good news of the glory of the Christ, who is the incarnation of God, should not shine for them. (aiōn g165)
5 We are not promoting ourselves, but Christ Jesus as Lord. In fact we are your servants for Jesus' sake.
(For it is not ourselves that we proclaim, but Christ Jesus, as Lord, and ourselves as 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.
Indeed, the same God who said ‘Out of darkness light will shine,’ has shone in on our hearts, so that we should bring out into the light the knowledge of the glory of God, seen in the face of Christ.
7 But we have this treasure in clay jars, to show that this supreme power comes from God and not from ourselves.
This treasure we have in these earthen vessels, so that its all-prevailing power may be seen to come from God, and not to be our own.
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.
Though hard pressed on every side, we are never hemmed in; though perplexed, never driven to despair;
9 We are persecuted, but never abandoned by God. We are knocked down, but not dead yet!
though pursued, never abandoned; though struck down, never killed!
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.
We always bear on our bodies the marks of the death that Jesus died, so that the life also of Jesus may be exhibited in our bodies.
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.
Indeed, we who still live are continually being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life also of Jesus may be exhibited in our mortal nature.
12 As a result, we are facing death so that you may have life!
And so, while death is at work within us, life is at work within 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, in the same spirit of faith as that expressed in the words – ‘I believed, and therefore I spoke,’ 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.
For we know that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with him, and will bring us, with you, into his presence.
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 this is for your sakes, so that the loving kindness of God, spreading from heart to heart, may cause yet more hearts to overflow with thanksgiving, to his glory.
16 So we don't give up. Even though our physical bodies are falling apart, our inner selves are being renewed daily.
Therefore, as I said, we do not lose heart. No, even though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being 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)
The light burden of our momentary trouble is preparing for us a weight of imperishable glory, beyond all measure. (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)
We, all the while, gaze not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is transient, but what is unseen is imperishable. (aiōnios g166)
