2 Corinthians 4
1 Because of this, having this ministration, according as we did receive kindness, we do not faint,
Therefore, since it is by God’s mercy that we are engaged in this ministry, we do not lose heart.
2 but did renounce for ourselves the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness, nor deceitfully using the word of God, but by the manifestation of the truth recommending ourselves unto every conscience of men, before 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 every man’s conscience, in the sight of God, by our exhibition of the Truth.
3 and if also our good news is vailed, in those perishing it is vailed,
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 did blind the minds of the unbelieving, that there doth not shine forth to them the enlightening of the good news of the glory of the Christ, who is the image of God; (aiōn g165)
Men 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 very incarnation of God, should not shine for them. (aiōn g165)
5 for not ourselves do we preach, but Christ Jesus — Lord, and ourselves your servants because of Jesus;
(For it is not ourselves that we proclaim, but Christ Jesus, as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake.)
6 because [it is] God who said, Out of darkness light [is] to shine, who did shine in our hearts, for the enlightening of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
Indeed, the same God who said ‘Out of darkness light shall shine,’ has shone in upon 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 And we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us;
This treasure we have in these earthen vessels, that its all-prevailing power may be seen to come from God, and not to be our own.
8 on every side being in tribulation, but not straitened; perplexed, but not in despair;
Though hard pressed on every side, we are never hemmed in; through perplexed, never driven to despair;
9 persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;
though pursued, never abandoned; though struck down, never killed!
10 at all times the dying of the Lord Jesus bearing about in the body, that the life also of Jesus in our body may be manifested,
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 always are we who are living delivered up to death because of Jesus, that the life also of Jesus may be manifested in our dying 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, the death indeed in us doth work, and the life in you.
And so, while death is at work within us, Life is at work within you.
13 And having the same spirit of the faith, according to that which hath been written, 'I believed, therefore I did speak;' we also do believe, therefore also do 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 did raise up the Lord Jesus, us also through Jesus shall raise up, and shall present 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 the all things [are] because of you, that the grace having been multiplied, because of the thanksgiving of the more, may abound to the glory of God;
For all this is for your sakes, 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 if also our outward man doth decay, yet the inward is renewed 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 light matter of our tribulation, more and more exceedingly an age-during weight of glory doth work out for us — (aiōnios g166)
The light burden of our momentary trouble is preparing for us, in measure transcending thought, a weight of imperishable glory; (aiōnios g166)
18 we not looking to the things seen, but to the things not seen; for the things seen [are] temporary, but the things not seen [are] age-during. (aiōnios g166)
we, all the while, gazing not on what is seen, but on what is unseen; for what is seen is transient, but what is unseen is imperishable. (aiōnios g166)
