2 Corinthians 4
1 Wherefore, having this ministry, even as we received mercy, we faint not;
Therefore, since it is by God’s mercy that we are engaged in this ministry, we do not lose heart.
2 But have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully, —but, by the manifestation of the truth, commending ourselves unto every conscience of men, in the sight of God.
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 And, even if our glad-message is veiled, in them who are perishing, it is veiled,
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 In whom, the god of this age, hath blinded the minds of the unbelieving, to the end they may not discern the radiance of the glad-message of the glory of the 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 For, not ourselves, do we proclaim, but Christ Jesus, as Lord, and, ourselves, as 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 Because, the God who said—Out of darkness, light shall shine! [is he] who hath shone in our hearts, in proportion to the radiance of the glorious knowledge of God, in the face of 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 Howbeit we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that, the surpassing greatness of the power, may be of 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 On every side, pressed hard, but not hemmed in, without a way, but not without a by-way,
Though hard pressed on every side, we are never hemmed in; though perplexed, never driven to despair;
9 Pursued, but not abandoned, thrown down, but not destroyed; —
though pursued, never abandoned; though struck down, never killed!
10 At all times, the putting to death of Jesus, in our body, bearing about, in order that, the life also of Jesus, in our body, may be made manifest;
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 For, evermore, we, the living, unto death are being delivered, for Jesus’ sake, in order that, the life also of Jesus, may be made manifest in our mortal flesh:
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 So that, his death, in us, doth energise, but, his life, in you.
And so, while death is at work within us, life is at work within you.
13 Howbeit, seeing that we have the same spirit of faith, according to that which is written—I believed, therefore I spake, we, also believe, therefore also we speak:
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 Knowing that, he who raised up [the Lord] Jesus, will raise up, us also, together with Jesus, and will present [us] together 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 For, all things, are for your sakes, in order that, the favour abounding, may, through means of the greater number, cause, the thanksgiving, to superabound unto the glory of God.
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 Wherefore we faint not, but, even if, our outer man, is decaying, nevertheless, our inner [man], is renewing day by day.
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 For, the momentary lightness of the tribulation, in a manner yet more and more excelling, is working out for us, an age-abiding weight 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 So long as we are not looking out for the visible things, but for the invisible; for, the visible things, are temporary, whereas, the invisible, are age-abiding. (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)
