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].
Portanto, vendo que temos este ministério, mesmo quando obtemos misericórdia, não desmaiamos.
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].
Mas renunciamos às coisas ocultas da vergonha, não andando com astúcia nem manipulando a palavra de Deus de forma enganosa, mas pela manifestação da verdade, recomendando-nos à consciência de cada homem aos olhos de Deus.
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.
Mesmo que nossa Boa Nova seja velada, ela é velada naqueles que estão morrendo,
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)
nos quais o deus deste mundo cegou a mente dos incrédulos, para que a luz da Boa Nova da glória de Cristo, que é a imagem de Deus, não amanheça sobre eles. (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.
Pois nós não pregamos a nós mesmos, mas a Cristo Jesus como Senhor, e a nós mesmos como seus servos por causa de Jesus,
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.
seeing foi Deus quem disse: “A luz brilhará das trevas”, que brilhou em nossos corações para dar a luz do conhecimento da glória de Deus no rosto de Jesus Cristo.
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.
Mas temos este tesouro em vasos de barro, para que a grandeza excessiva do poder possa ser de Deus e não de nós mesmos.
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.”
We são pressionados de todos os lados, mas não esmagados; perplexos, mas não 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}.
pursued, mas não abandonados; abatidos, mas não destruídos;
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].
sempre carregando no corpo a morte do Senhor Jesus, para que a vida de Jesus também seja revelada em nosso corpo.
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.
Pois nós que vivemos somos sempre entregues à morte por Jesus, para que também a vida de Jesus possa ser revelada em nossa 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.
Portanto, a morte trabalha em nós, mas a vida em você.
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].
Mas tendo o mesmo espírito de fé, de acordo com o que está escrito: “Eu acreditei, e por isso falei”. Nós também cremos, e por isso também falamos,
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.
sabendo que aquele que levantou o Senhor Jesus nos levantará também com Jesus, e nos apresentará com vocês.
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].
Pois tudo é para o seu bem, para que a graça, sendo multiplicada por muitos, possa fazer com que a ação de graças abunde para a glória de Deus.
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.
Portanto, não desmaiamos, mas embora nossa pessoa exterior esteja em decadência, nossa pessoa interior é renovada dia após dia.
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)
Para nossa leve aflição, que é por enquanto, trabalha para nós cada vez mais um peso eterno de glória, (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)
enquanto não olhamos para as coisas que são vistas, mas para as coisas que não são vistas. Pois as coisas que são vistas são temporais, mas as coisas que não são vistas são eternas. (aiōnios g166)
