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新约的仆役

所以,我们既然蒙了怜悯,得着这职分,就不沮丧, 却把暗昧可耻的事弃绝了;不行诡诈,不掺混 神的道,反而借着显扬真理,在 神面前把自己推荐给众人的良心。 如果我们的福音被蒙蔽了,那是对灭亡的人才蒙蔽的。 这些不信的人被这世代的神弄瞎了他们的心眼,使他们看不见基督荣耀的福音的光;基督就是 神的形象。 我们并不是传扬自己,而是传扬耶稣基督是主,并且为了耶稣的缘故成了你们的仆人。 因为那说“要有光从黑暗里照出来”的 神,已经照在我们的心里,要我们把 神的荣光照出去,就是使人可以认识那在基督脸上的荣光。

我们有这宝贝在瓦器里,是要显明这极大的能力是属于 神,不是出于我们。 我们虽然四面受压,却没有压碎;心里作难,却不至绝望, 受到迫害,却没有被丢弃;打倒了,却不至死亡。 10 我们身上常常带着耶稣的死,好让耶稣的生也在我们的身上显明出来。 11 我们这些活着的人,为耶稣的缘故常常被人置于死地,好让耶稣的生也在我们必死的身上显明出来。 12 这样看来,死在我们身上运行,生却在你们的身上运行。 13 经上记着说:“我信,所以我说话。”我们既然有同样的信心(“信心”原文作“信心的灵”),也就信,所以也说话, 14 因为知道那使主耶稣复活的,也必定使我们与耶稣一同复活,并且把我们和你们呈献在他的面前。 15 这一切都是为了你们,好使恩惠既然因着许多人而增多,感恩的心也更加增多了,使荣耀归给 神。

日日更新

16 所以,我们并不沮丧,我们外面的人虽然渐渐朽坏,但里面的人却日日更新, 17 因为我们短暂轻微的患难,是要为我们成就极大无比、永远的荣耀。 18 我们所顾念的,不是看得见的,而是看不见的;因为看得见的是暂时的,看不见的是永远的。

瓦器中的宝贝

我们既蒙怜悯,接受了这传福音的职分,就决不气馁。 我们弃绝了见不得人的可耻行为,不用狡诈的手段,不曲解上帝的道,而是把真理讲解明白,好让大家的良心在上帝面前为我们作证。

然而,即使我们所传的福音被遮蔽,也是在那些灭亡的人当中被遮蔽。 那些不信的人是被这世界的神弄瞎了心眼,以致看不见基督荣耀的福音之光。基督是上帝的本像。 我们并非传扬自己,而是传扬耶稣基督是主,并且为耶稣的缘故而做你们的奴仆。 因为那吩咐光从黑暗中照射出来的上帝光照了我们的心,为要让我们认识上帝在耶稣基督的面容上所彰显的荣耀。

我们不过是瓦器,里面却有这宝贝,要显明这莫大的能力是上帝的,而不是我们自己的。 我们压力重重,却没有崩溃;心里困惑,却不绝望; 遭受迫害,却没有被遗弃;被打倒了,却没有死亡。 10 我们身上常常带着耶稣的死,好使耶稣的生命也彰显在我们身上。 11 因为我们这些活着的人常常为耶稣的缘故而面临死亡的威胁,好使耶稣的生命在我们这终有一死的肉身上彰显出来。 12 因此,死亡笼罩着我们,而生命却运行在你们身上。

13 圣经上说:“我相信,所以才说。”我们有同样的信心,我们也相信,所以才这样说。 14 我们知道,使主耶稣复活的上帝必使我们与耶稣一同复活,并且使我们和你们一起站在祂面前。 15 其实一切都是为了你们,好叫恩典临到更多的人,有更多人向上帝感恩,使上帝得荣耀。

16 所以,我们不气馁。身体虽然日渐衰残,内在的生命却日日更新。 17 我们这短暂轻微的苦难正在为我们成就极大无比、永远的荣耀。 18 我们注重的,并非看得见的事物,而是看不见的事物,因为看得见的事物都是暂时的,看不见的事物才是永恒的。

Present Weakness and Resurrection Life

Therefore, since through God’s mercy(A) we have this ministry, we do not lose heart.(B) 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. And even if our gospel(F) is veiled,(G) it is veiled to those who are perishing.(H) 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) For what we preach is not ourselves,(N) but Jesus Christ as Lord,(O) and ourselves as your servants(P) for Jesus’ sake. 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)

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. We are hard pressed on every side,(V) but not crushed; perplexed,(W) but not in despair; 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

  1. 2 Corinthians 4:6 Gen. 1:3
  2. 2 Corinthians 4:13 Psalm 116:10 (see Septuagint)
  3. 2 Corinthians 4:13 Or Spirit-given

Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not;

But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God.

But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:

In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake.

For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.

We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;

Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;

10 Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.

11 For we which live are always delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.

12 So then death worketh in us, but life in you.

13 We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak;

14 Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you.

15 For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God.

16 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.

17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;

18 While we 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 Light of Christ’s Gospel

Therefore, since we have this ministry, (A)as we have received mercy, we (B)do not lose heart. But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness nor [a]handling the word of God deceitfully, but by manifestation of the truth (C)commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God. But even if our gospel is veiled, (D)it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds (E)the god of this age (F)has blinded, who do not believe, lest (G)the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, (H)who is the image of God, should shine on them. (I)For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and (J)ourselves your bondservants for Jesus’ sake. For it is the God (K)who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has (L)shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

Cast Down but Unconquered

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, (M)that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. We are (N)hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not (O)forsaken; (P)struck down, but not destroyed— 10 (Q)always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, (R)that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. 11 For we who live (S)are always delivered to death for Jesus’ sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. 12 So then death is working in us, but life in you.

13 And since we have (T)the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, (U)“I believed and therefore I spoke,” we also believe and therefore speak, 14 knowing that (V)He who raised up the Lord Jesus will also raise us up with Jesus, and will present us with you. 15 For (W)all things are for your sakes, that (X)grace, having spread through the many, may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God.

Seeing the Invisible

16 Therefore we (Y)do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is (Z)being renewed day by day. 17 For (AA)our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, 18 (AB)while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

Footnotes

  1. 2 Corinthians 4:2 adulterating the word of God