The Light of the Gospel

4 Therefore, since we have this ministry because we were shown mercy,^(A) we do not give up.^{(B) 2} Instead, we have renounced secret and shameful things, not acting^(C) deceitfully or distorting the word of God,^(D) but commending ourselves before God to everyone’s conscience by an open display of the truth.^{(E) 3} But if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. ⁴ In their case, the god of this age^(F) has blinded the minds of the unbelievers to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ,^[a](G) who is the image of God.^{(H) 5} For we are not proclaiming ourselves but Jesus Christ as Lord,^(I) and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’s sake. ⁶ For God who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,”^(J) has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge^(K) of God’s glory^(L) in the face of Jesus Christ.

Treasure in Clay Jars

⁷ Now we have this treasure in clay jars, so that this extraordinary power^(M) may be from God and not from us. ⁸ We are afflicted in every way but not crushed; we are perplexed but not in despair; ⁹ we are persecuted but not abandoned; we are struck down but not destroyed. ¹⁰ We always carry the death of Jesus^(N) in our body, so that the life of Jesus may also be displayed in our body. ¹¹ For we who live are always being given over to death^(O) for Jesus’s sake, so that Jesus’s life may also be displayed in our mortal flesh. ¹² So then, death is at work in us, but life in you. ¹³ And since we have the same spirit of faith in keeping with what is written, I believed, therefore I spoke,^[b](P) we also believe, and therefore speak. ¹⁴ For we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus will also raise us with Jesus^(Q) and present us with you. ¹⁵ Indeed, everything is for your benefit so that, as grace extends through more and more people, it may cause thanksgiving^(R) to increase to the glory of God.

¹⁶ Therefore we do not give up.^(S) Even though our outer person is being destroyed, our inner person^(T) is being renewed day by day. ¹⁷ For our momentary light affliction^(U) is producing for us an absolutely incomparable eternal weight of glory.^{(V) 18} So we do not focus on what is seen,^(W) but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

¹⁷ Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation;^(A) the old has passed away, and see,^(B) the new has^[a] come!^{(C) 18} Everything is from God, who has reconciled us to himself through Christ and has given us the ministry of reconciliation.^{(D) 19} That is, in Christ, God was reconciling the world^(E) to himself,^(F) not counting their trespasses against them, and he has committed the message of reconciliation to us.

²⁰ Therefore, we are ambassadors^(G) for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us. We plead on Christ’s behalf,^(H) “Be reconciled to God.” ²¹ He made the one who did not know sin^(I) to be sin^[b] for us,^(J) so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.