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2 Corinthians 4
New International Version
2 Corinthians 4
New International Version
Present Weakness and Resurrection Life
4 Therefore, since through God’s mercy(A) we have this ministry, we do not lose heart.(B) 2 Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways;(C) we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God.(D) On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience(E) in the sight of God. 3 And even if our gospel(F) is veiled,(G) it is veiled to those who are perishing.(H) 4 The god(I) of this age(J) has blinded(K) the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ,(L) who is the image of God.(M) 5 For what we preach is not ourselves,(N) but Jesus Christ as Lord,(O) and ourselves as your servants(P) for Jesus’ sake. 6 For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,”[a](Q) made his light shine in our hearts(R) to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.(S)
7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay(T) to show that this all-surpassing power is from God(U) and not from us. 8 We are hard pressed on every side,(V) but not crushed; perplexed,(W) but not in despair; 9 persecuted,(X) but not abandoned;(Y) struck down, but not destroyed.(Z) 10 We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus,(AA) so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.(AB) 11 For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake,(AC) so that his life may also be revealed in our mortal body. 12 So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.(AD)
13 It is written: “I believed; therefore I have spoken.”[b](AE) Since we have that same spirit of[c] faith,(AF) we also believe and therefore speak, 14 because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead(AG) will also raise us with Jesus(AH) and present us with you to himself.(AI) 15 All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving(AJ) to overflow to the glory of God.
16 Therefore we do not lose heart.(AK) Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly(AL) we are being renewed(AM) day by day. 17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.(AN) 18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen,(AO) since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
Footnotes
- 2 Corinthians 4:6 Gen. 1:3
- 2 Corinthians 4:13 Psalm 116:10 (see Septuagint)
- 2 Corinthians 4:13 Or Spirit-given
2 Corinthians 4
Amplified Bible
2 Corinthians 4
Amplified Bible
Paul’s Apostolic Ministry
4 Therefore, since we have this ministry, just as we received mercy [from God, granting us salvation, opportunities, and blessings], we do not get discouraged nor lose our motivation. 2 But we have renounced the disgraceful things hidden because of shame; not walking in trickery or adulterating the word of God, but by stating the truth [openly and plainly], we commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God. 3 But even if our gospel is [in some sense] hidden [behind a veil], it is hidden [only] to those who are perishing; 4 among them the god of this world [Satan] has blinded the minds of the unbelieving to prevent them from seeing the illuminating light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 5 For we do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves [merely] as your bond-servants for Jesus’ sake. 6 For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” is the One who has shone in our hearts to give us the Light of the knowledge of the glory and majesty of God [clearly revealed] in the face of Christ.(A)
7 But we have this precious treasure [the good news about salvation] in [unworthy] earthen vessels [of human frailty], so that the grandeur and surpassing greatness of the power will be [shown to be] from God [His sufficiency] and not from ourselves. 8 We are pressured in every way [hedged in], but not crushed; perplexed [unsure of finding a way out], but not driven to despair; 9 hunted down and persecuted, but not deserted [to stand alone]; struck down, but never destroyed; 10 always carrying around in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the [resurrection] life of Jesus also may be shown in our body. 11 For we who live are constantly [experiencing the threat of] being handed over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the [resurrection] life of Jesus also may be evidenced in our mortal body [which is subject to death]. 12 So physical death is [actively] at work in us, but [spiritual] life [is actively at work] in you.
13 Yet we have the same spirit of faith as he had, who wrote in Scripture, “I believed, therefore I spoke.” We also believe, therefore we also speak,(B) 14 knowing that He who raised the Lord Jesus will also raise us with Jesus and will present us [along] with you in His presence. 15 For all [these] things are for your sake, so that as [God’s remarkable, undeserved] grace reaches to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of [our great] God.
16 Therefore we do not become discouraged [spiritless, disappointed, or afraid]. Though our outer self is [progressively] wasting away, yet our inner self is being [progressively] renewed day by day. 17 For our momentary, light distress [this passing trouble] is producing for us an eternal weight of glory [a fullness] beyond all measure [surpassing all comparisons, a transcendent splendor and an endless blessedness]! 18 So we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are unseen; for the things which are visible are temporal [just brief and fleeting], but the things which are invisible are everlasting and imperishable.
2 Corinthians 4
The Message
2 Corinthians 4
The Message
Trial and Torture
4 1-2 Since God has so generously let us in on what he is doing, we’re not about to throw up our hands and walk off the job just because we run into occasional hard times. We refuse to wear masks and play games. We don’t maneuver and manipulate behind the scenes. And we don’t twist God’s Word to suit ourselves. Rather, we keep everything we do and say out in the open, the whole truth on display, so that those who want to can see and judge for themselves in the presence of God.
3-4 If our Message is obscure to anyone, it’s not because we’re holding back in any way. No, it’s because these other people are looking or going the wrong way and refuse to give it serious attention. All they have eyes for is the fashionable god of darkness. They think he can give them what they want, and that they won’t have to bother believing a Truth they can’t see. They’re stone-blind to the dayspring brightness of the Message that shines with Christ, who gives us the best picture of God we’ll ever get.
5-6 Remember, our Message is not about ourselves; we’re proclaiming Jesus Christ, the Master. All we are is messengers, errand runners from Jesus for you. It started when God said, “Light up the darkness!” and our lives filled up with light as we saw and understood God in the face of Christ, all bright and beautiful.
7-12 If you only look at us, you might well miss the brightness. We carry this precious Message around in the unadorned clay pots of our ordinary lives. That’s to prevent anyone from confusing God’s incomparable power with us. As it is, there’s not much chance of that. You know for yourselves that we’re not much to look at. We’ve been surrounded and battered by troubles, but we’re not demoralized; we’re not sure what to do, but we know that God knows what to do; we’ve been spiritually terrorized, but God hasn’t left our side; we’ve been thrown down, but we haven’t broken. What they did to Jesus, they do to us—trial and torture, mockery and murder; what Jesus did among them, he does in us—he lives! Our lives are at constant risk for Jesus’ sake, which makes Jesus’ life all the more evident in us. While we’re going through the worst, you’re getting in on the best!
13-15 We’re not keeping this quiet, not on your life. Just like the psalmist who wrote, “I believed it, so I said it,” we say what we believe. And what we believe is that the One who raised up the Master Jesus will just as certainly raise us up with you, alive. Every detail works to your advantage and to God’s glory: more and more grace, more and more people, more and more praise!
16-18 So we’re not giving up. How could we! Even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without his unfolding grace. These hard times are small potatoes compared to the coming good times, the lavish celebration prepared for us. There’s far more here than meets the eye. The things we see now are here today, gone tomorrow. But the things we can’t see now will last forever.
2 Corintios 4
Nueva Biblia de las Américas
2 Corintios 4
Nueva Biblia de las Américas
Ministros de Cristo
4 Por tanto, puesto que tenemos este ministerio(A), según hemos recibido misericordia(B), no desfallecemos(C). 2 Más bien hemos renunciado a lo oculto y vergonzoso[a](D), no andando con astucia, ni adulterando la palabra de Dios(E), sino que, mediante la manifestación de la verdad, nos recomendamos(F) a la conciencia de todo hombre en la presencia de Dios.
3 Y si todavía nuestro evangelio(G) está velado(H), para[b] los que se pierden(I) está velado, 4 en los cuales el dios de este mundo(J) ha cegado el entendimiento[c](K) de los incrédulos, para que no vean el resplandor del evangelio de la gloria de Cristo(L), que es la imagen de Dios[d](M). 5 Porque no nos predicamos a nosotros mismos(N), sino a Cristo Jesús como Señor, y a nosotros como siervos de ustedes por amor[e] de Jesús. 6 Pues Dios, que dijo: «De las tinieblas resplandecerá la luz(O)», es el que ha resplandecido en nuestros corazones(P), para iluminación del conocimiento de la gloria de Dios en el rostro de Cristo(Q).
7 Pero tenemos este tesoro en vasos de barro(R), para que la extraordinaria grandeza del poder sea de Dios y no de nosotros(S). 8 Afligidos en todo(T), pero no agobiados(U); perplejos(V), pero no desesperados; 9 perseguidos(W), pero no abandonados(X); derribados, pero no destruidos(Y).
10 Llevamos siempre en el cuerpo por todas partes la muerte[f] de Jesús(Z), para que también la vida de Jesús se manifieste en nuestro cuerpo(AA). 11 Porque nosotros que vivimos, constantemente estamos siendo entregados a muerte por causa de Jesús, para que también la vida de Jesús se manifieste en nuestro cuerpo[g] mortal. 12 Así que en nosotros obra la muerte, pero en ustedes, la vida.
13 Pero teniendo el mismo espíritu de fe(AB), según lo que está escrito: «Creí, por tanto hablé(AC)», nosotros también creemos, por lo cual también hablamos, 14 sabiendo que Aquel que resucitó al Señor Jesús(AD), a nosotros también nos resucitará con Jesús(AE), y nos presentará junto con ustedes(AF). 15 Porque todo esto es por amor a ustedes[h](AG), para que la gracia que se está extendiendo por medio de muchos, haga que las acciones de gracias abunden para la gloria de Dios(AH).
Lo temporal y lo eterno
16 Por tanto no desfallecemos(AI), antes bien, aunque nuestro hombre exterior va decayendo, sin embargo nuestro hombre interior(AJ) se renueva(AK) de día en día. 17 Pues esta aflicción leve y pasajera nos produce un eterno peso de gloria que sobrepasa toda comparación(AL),
18 al no poner nuestra vista en las cosas que se ven, sino en las que no se ven(AM). Porque las cosas que se ven son temporales, pero las que no se ven son eternas.
Footnotes
- 2 Corintios 4:2 Lit. de la vergüenza.
- 2 Corintios 4:3 Lit. en.
- 2 Corintios 4:4 Lit. la mente.
- 2 Corintios 4:4 O para que la luz...que es la imagen de Dios, no les amanezca.
- 2 Corintios 4:5 O por medio.
- 2 Corintios 4:10 Lit. el morir.
- 2 Corintios 4:11 Lit. nuestra carne.
- 2 Corintios 4:15 O para bien de ustedes.
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The Message (MSG)
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Nueva Biblia de las Américas (NBLA)
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