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Are we beginning to praise ourselves again? Are we like others, who need to bring you letters of recommendation, or who ask you to write such letters on their behalf? Surely not! The only letter of recommendation we need is you yourselves. Your lives are a letter written in our[a] hearts; everyone can read it and recognize our good work among you. Clearly, you are a letter from Christ showing the result of our ministry among you. This “letter” is written not with pen and ink, but with the Spirit of the living God. It is carved not on tablets of stone, but on human hearts.

We are confident of all this because of our great trust in God through Christ. It is not that we think we are qualified to do anything on our own. Our qualification comes from God. He has enabled us to be ministers of his new covenant. This is a covenant not of written laws, but of the Spirit. The old written covenant ends in death; but under the new covenant, the Spirit gives life.

The Glory of the New Covenant

The old way,[b] with laws etched in stone, led to death, though it began with such glory that the people of Israel could not bear to look at Moses’ face. For his face shone with the glory of God, even though the brightness was already fading away. Shouldn’t we expect far greater glory under the new way, now that the Holy Spirit is giving life? If the old way, which brings condemnation, was glorious, how much more glorious is the new way, which makes us right with God! 10 In fact, that first glory was not glorious at all compared with the overwhelming glory of the new way. 11 So if the old way, which has been replaced, was glorious, how much more glorious is the new, which remains forever!

12 Since this new way gives us such confidence, we can be very bold. 13 We are not like Moses, who put a veil over his face so the people of Israel would not see the glory, even though it was destined to fade away. 14 But the people’s minds were hardened, and to this day whenever the old covenant is being read, the same veil covers their minds so they cannot understand the truth. And this veil can be removed only by believing in Christ. 15 Yes, even today when they read Moses’ writings, their hearts are covered with that veil, and they do not understand.

16 But whenever someone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 17 For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image.

Treasure in Fragile Clay Jars

Therefore, since God in his mercy has given us this new way,[c] we never give up. We reject all shameful deeds and underhanded methods. We don’t try to trick anyone or distort the word of God. We tell the truth before God, and all who are honest know this.

If the Good News we preach is hidden behind a veil, it is hidden only from people who are perishing. Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don’t understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God.

You see, we don’t go around preaching about ourselves. We preach that Jesus Christ is Lord, and we ourselves are your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who said, “Let there be light in the darkness,” has made this light shine in our hearts so we could know the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ.

We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure.[d] This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves.

We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed. 10 Through suffering, our bodies continue to share in the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be seen in our bodies.

11 Yes, we live under constant danger of death because we serve Jesus, so that the life of Jesus will be evident in our dying bodies. 12 So we live in the face of death, but this has resulted in eternal life for you.

13 But we continue to preach because we have the same kind of faith the psalmist had when he said, “I believed in God, so I spoke.”[e] 14 We know that God, who raised the Lord Jesus,[f] will also raise us with Jesus and present us to himself together with you. 15 All of this is for your benefit. And as God’s grace reaches more and more people, there will be great thanksgiving, and God will receive more and more glory.

16 That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are[g] being renewed every day. 17 For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! 18 So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.

New Bodies

For we know that when this earthly tent we live in is taken down (that is, when we die and leave this earthly body), we will have a house in heaven, an eternal body made for us by God himself and not by human hands. We grow weary in our present bodies, and we long to put on our heavenly bodies like new clothing. For we will put on heavenly bodies; we will not be spirits without bodies.[h] While we live in these earthly bodies, we groan and sigh, but it’s not that we want to die and get rid of these bodies that clothe us. Rather, we want to put on our new bodies so that these dying bodies will be swallowed up by life. God himself has prepared us for this, and as a guarantee he has given us his Holy Spirit.

So we are always confident, even though we know that as long as we live in these bodies we are not at home with the Lord. For we live by believing and not by seeing. Yes, we are fully confident, and we would rather be away from these earthly bodies, for then we will be at home with the Lord. So whether we are here in this body or away from this body, our goal is to please him. 10 For we must all stand before Christ to be judged. We will each receive whatever we deserve for the good or evil we have done in this earthly body.

We Are God’s Ambassadors

11 Because we understand our fearful responsibility to the Lord, we work hard to persuade others. God knows we are sincere, and I hope you know this, too. 12 Are we commending ourselves to you again? No, we are giving you a reason to be proud of us,[i] so you can answer those who brag about having a spectacular ministry rather than having a sincere heart. 13 If it seems we are crazy, it is to bring glory to God. And if we are in our right minds, it is for your benefit. 14 Either way, Christ’s love controls us.[j] Since we believe that Christ died for all, we also believe that we have all died to our old life.[k] 15 He died for everyone so that those who receive his new life will no longer live for themselves. Instead, they will live for Christ, who died and was raised for them.

16 So we have stopped evaluating others from a human point of view. At one time we thought of Christ merely from a human point of view. How differently we know him now! 17 This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!

18 And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him. 19 For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation. 20 So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!” 21 For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin,[l] so that we could be made right with God through Christ.

As God’s partners,[m] we beg you not to accept this marvelous gift of God’s kindness and then ignore it. For God says,

“At just the right time, I heard you.
    On the day of salvation, I helped you.”[n]

Indeed, the “right time” is now. Today is the day of salvation.

Paul’s Hardships

We live in such a way that no one will stumble because of us, and no one will find fault with our ministry. In everything we do, we show that we are true ministers of God. We patiently endure troubles and hardships and calamities of every kind. We have been beaten, been put in prison, faced angry mobs, worked to exhaustion, endured sleepless nights, and gone without food. We prove ourselves by our purity, our understanding, our patience, our kindness, by the Holy Spirit within us,[o] and by our sincere love. We faithfully preach the truth. God’s power is working in us. We use the weapons of righteousness in the right hand for attack and the left hand for defense. We serve God whether people honor us or despise us, whether they slander us or praise us. We are honest, but they call us impostors. We are ignored, even though we are well known. We live close to death, but we are still alive. We have been beaten, but we have not been killed. 10 Our hearts ache, but we always have joy. We are poor, but we give spiritual riches to others. We own nothing, and yet we have everything.

11 Oh, dear Corinthian friends! We have spoken honestly with you, and our hearts are open to you. 12 There is no lack of love on our part, but you have withheld your love from us. 13 I am asking you to respond as if you were my own children. Open your hearts to us!

The Temple of the Living God

14 Don’t team up with those who are unbelievers. How can righteousness be a partner with wickedness? How can light live with darkness? 15 What harmony can there be between Christ and the devil[p]? How can a believer be a partner with an unbeliever? 16 And what union can there be between God’s temple and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God said:

“I will live in them
    and walk among them.
I will be their God,
    and they will be my people.[q]
17 Therefore, come out from among unbelievers,
    and separate yourselves from them, says the Lord.
Don’t touch their filthy things,
    and I will welcome you.[r]
18 And I will be your Father,
    and you will be my sons and daughters,
    says the Lord Almighty.[s]

Footnotes

  1. 3:2 Some manuscripts read your.
  2. 3:7 Or ministry; also in 3:8, 9, 10, 11, 12.
  3. 4:1 Or ministry.
  4. 4:7 Greek We now have this treasure in clay jars.
  5. 4:13 Ps 116:10.
  6. 4:14 Some manuscripts read who raised Jesus.
  7. 4:16 Greek our inner being is.
  8. 5:3 Greek we will not be naked.
  9. 5:12 Some manuscripts read proud of yourselves.
  10. 5:14a Or urges us on.
  11. 5:14b Greek Since one died for all, then all died.
  12. 5:21 Or to become sin itself.
  13. 6:1 Or As we work together.
  14. 6:2 Isa 49:8 (Greek version).
  15. 6:6 Or by our holiness of spirit.
  16. 6:15 Greek Beliar; various other manuscripts render this proper name of the devil as Belian, Beliab, or Belial.
  17. 6:16 Lev 26:12; Ezek 37:27.
  18. 6:17 Isa 52:11; Ezek 20:34 (Greek version).
  19. 6:18 2 Sam 7:14.

Ministers of a New Covenant

Are we beginning to (A)commend ourselves again? Or do we need, as some, (B)letters of commendation to you or from you? (C)You are our letter, written in our hearts, known and read by all people, revealing yourselves, that you are a letter of Christ, [a](D)delivered by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of (E)the living God, not on (F)tablets of stone but on (G)tablets of [b](H)human hearts.

Such is the (I)confidence we have toward God through Christ. Not that we are adequate in ourselves so as to consider anything as having come from ourselves, but (J)our adequacy is from God, who also made us adequate as (K)servants of a (L)new covenant, not of (M)the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but (N)the Spirit gives life.

But if the (O)ministry of death, engraved (P)in letters on stones, came [c]with glory (Q)so that the sons of Israel could not look intently at the face of Moses because of the glory of his face, fading as it was, how will the ministry of the Spirit fail to be even more with glory? For if (R)the ministry of condemnation has glory, much more does the (S)ministry of righteousness excel in glory. 10 For indeed what had glory in this case has no glory, because of the glory that surpasses it. 11 For if that which fades away was [d]with glory, much more that which remains is in glory.

12 (T)Therefore, having such a hope, (U)we use great boldness in our speech, 13 and we are not like Moses, (V)who used to put a veil over his face so that the sons of Israel would not stare at the end of what was fading away. 14 But their minds were (W)hardened; for until this very day at the (X)reading of (Y)the old covenant the same veil [e]remains unlifted, because it is removed in Christ. 15 But to this day whenever Moses is read, a veil lies over their hearts; 16 (Z)but whenever someone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where (AA)the Spirit of the Lord is, (AB)there is freedom. 18 But we all, with unveiled faces, (AC)looking as in a mirror at the (AD)glory of the Lord, are being (AE)transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from (AF)the Lord, the Spirit.

Paul’s Apostolic Ministry

Therefore, since we have this (AG)ministry, as we (AH)received mercy, we (AI)do not lose heart, but we have renounced the (AJ)things hidden because of shame, not walking in trickery nor (AK)distorting the word of God, but by the open proclamation of the truth (AL)commending ourselves to every person’s conscience in the sight of God. And even if our (AM)gospel is (AN)veiled, it is veiled [f]to (AO)those who are perishing, in whose case (AP)the god of (AQ)this [g]world has (AR)blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that [h]they will not see the (AS)light of the gospel of the (AT)glory of Christ, who is the (AU)image of God. For we (AV)do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your bond-servants [i]on account of Jesus. For God, who said, “(AW)Light shall shine out of darkness,” is the One who has (AX)shone in our hearts to give the (AY)Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.

But we have this treasure in [j](AZ)earthen containers, so that the extraordinary greatness of (BA)the power will be of God and not from ourselves; we are (BB)afflicted in every way, but not (BC)crushed; (BD)perplexed, but not despairing; (BE)persecuted, but not (BF)abandoned; (BG)struck down, but not destroyed; 10 (BH)always carrying around in the body the dying of Jesus, so that (BI)the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. 11 For we who live are constantly being handed over to death because of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our mortal flesh. 12 So death works in us, but life in you.

13 But having the same (BJ)spirit of faith, according to what is written: “(BK)I believed, therefore I spoke,” we also believe, therefore we also speak, 14 knowing that He who (BL)raised the Lord Jesus (BM)will also raise us with Jesus, and will (BN)present us with you. 15 For all things are (BO)for your sakes, so that grace, having [k](BP)spread to more and more people, will cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.

16 Therefore we (BQ)do not lose heart, but though our outer person is decaying, yet our (BR)inner person is (BS)being renewed day by day. 17 For our momentary, (BT)light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, 18 while we (BU)look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

The Temporal and Eternal

For we know that if our [l](BV)earthly (BW)tent which is our house is torn down, we have a building from God, a house (BX)not made by hands, eternal in the heavens. For indeed, in this tent we (BY)groan, longing to be (BZ)clothed with our [m]dwelling from heaven, since in fact after putting it on, we will not be found naked. For indeed, we who are in this tent (CA)groan, being burdened, because we do not want to be unclothed but to be (CB)clothed, so that what is (CC)mortal will be swallowed up by life. Now He who prepared us for this very purpose is God, who (CD)gave us the Spirit as a [n]pledge.

Therefore, being always of good courage, and knowing that (CE)while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord— for (CF)we walk by faith, not by [o]sight— but we are of good courage and (CG)prefer rather to be absent from the body and (CH)to be at home with the Lord. Therefore we also have as our ambition, whether at home or absent, to be (CI)pleasing to Him. 10 For we must all appear before (CJ)the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive compensation for [p]his deeds done through the body, in accordance with what he has done, whether good or bad.

11 Therefore, knowing the (CK)fear of the Lord, we persuade people, but we are well known to God; and I hope that we are also (CL)well known in your consciences. 12 We are not commending ourselves to you (CM)again, but are giving you an (CN)opportunity to be proud of us, so that you will have an answer for those who take pride in appearance and not in heart. 13 For if we have (CO)lost our minds, it is for God; if we are of sound mind, it is for you. 14 For the love of Christ (CP)controls us, having concluded this, that (CQ)one died for all, therefore all died; 15 and He died for all, so that those who live would no longer (CR)live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose on their behalf.

16 Therefore from now on we recognize no one [q](CS)by the flesh; even though we have known Christ by the flesh, yet now we know Him in this way no longer. 17 Therefore if anyone is (CT)in Christ, this person is (CU)a new [r]creation; (CV)the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. 18 Now (CW)all these things are from God, (CX)who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the (CY)ministry of reconciliation, 19 namely, that (CZ)God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, (DA)not counting their wrongdoings against them, and [s]He has [t]committed to us the word of reconciliation.

20 Therefore, we are (DB)ambassadors for Christ, (DC)as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be (DD)reconciled to God. 21 He made Him who (DE)knew no sin to be [u](DF)sin in our behalf, so that we might become the (DG)righteousness of God in Him.

Their Ministry Commended

And (DH)working together with Him, (DI)we also urge you not to receive (DJ)the grace of God in vain— for He says,

(DK)At a favorable time I listened to you,
And on a day of salvation I helped you.”

Behold, now is “a favorable time,” behold, now is “a day of salvation”— (DL)giving no reason for taking offense in anything, so that the ministry will not be discredited, but in everything (DM)commending ourselves as [v](DN)servants of God, (DO)in much endurance, in afflictions, in hardships, in difficulties, in (DP)beatings, in imprisonments, in (DQ)[w]mob attacks, in labors, in sleeplessness, in (DR)hunger, in purity, in (DS)knowledge, in (DT)patience, in kindness, in the (DU)Holy Spirit, in (DV)genuine love, in (DW)the word of truth, and in (DX)the power of God; by (DY)the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and the left, by glory and (DZ)dishonor, by (EA)evil report and good report; regarded as (EB)deceivers and yet (EC)true; as unknown and yet well known, as (ED)dying and yet behold, (EE)we are alive; as [x]punished and yet not put to death, 10 as (EF)sorrowful yet always (EG)rejoicing, as (EH)poor yet making many rich, as (EI)having nothing and yet possessing (EJ)all things.

11 (EK)Our mouth [y]has spoken freely to you, you Corinthians, our (EL)heart is opened wide. 12 You are not restrained [z]by us, but (EM)you are restrained in your own [aa]affections. 13 Now in the same way in (EN)exchange—I am speaking as to (EO)children—open wide your hearts to us, you as well.

14 (EP)Do not be [ab]mismatched with (EQ)unbelievers; for what do righteousness and lawlessness (ER)share together, or what does light have in common with darkness? 15 Or what (ES)harmony does Christ have with [ac]Belial, or [ad]what does a (ET)believer share with an (EU)unbeliever? 16 Or (EV)what agreement does [ae]the temple of God have with idols? For we are [af](EW)the temple of (EX)the living God; just as God said,

(EY)I will (EZ)dwell among them and (FA)walk among them;
And I will be their God, and they shall be My people.
17 (FB)Therefore, (FC)come out from their midst and be separate,” says the Lord.
And do not touch what is unclean;
And I will welcome you.
18 (FD)And I will be a father to you,
And you shall be (FE)sons and daughters to Me,”
Says the Lord Almighty.

Footnotes

  1. 2 Corinthians 3:3 Lit served
  2. 2 Corinthians 3:3 Lit hearts of flesh
  3. 2 Corinthians 3:7 Or in glory
  4. 2 Corinthians 3:11 Lit through
  5. 2 Corinthians 3:14 Or remains, it not being revealed that it is done away in Christ
  6. 2 Corinthians 4:3 Lit among
  7. 2 Corinthians 4:4 Lit age
  8. 2 Corinthians 4:4 Or the light...image of God, will not shine upon them
  9. 2 Corinthians 4:5 Two early mss through Jesus
  10. 2 Corinthians 4:7 Or earthenware containers
  11. 2 Corinthians 4:15 Lit multiplied through the many
  12. 2 Corinthians 5:1 Lit earthly house of the tent
  13. 2 Corinthians 5:2 I.e., the resurrected body
  14. 2 Corinthians 5:5 Or first installment
  15. 2 Corinthians 5:7 Or appearance
  16. 2 Corinthians 5:10 Lit the things
  17. 2 Corinthians 5:16 I.e., by what one is in the flesh
  18. 2 Corinthians 5:17 Or creature
  19. 2 Corinthians 5:19 Lit having
  20. 2 Corinthians 5:19 Lit placed in us
  21. 2 Corinthians 5:21 Or a sin offering
  22. 2 Corinthians 6:4 Or ministers
  23. 2 Corinthians 6:5 Lit tumults
  24. 2 Corinthians 6:9 Or disciplined
  25. 2 Corinthians 6:11 Lit is open to you
  26. 2 Corinthians 6:12 Or in us
  27. 2 Corinthians 6:12 Lit inward parts
  28. 2 Corinthians 6:14 Lit unevenly yoked
  29. 2 Corinthians 6:15 Gr Beliar; a name of the devil and the antichrist
  30. 2 Corinthians 6:15 Lit what part has a believer with an unbeliever
  31. 2 Corinthians 6:16 Or a temple
  32. 2 Corinthians 6:16 Or a temple