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2 Corinthians 4:7-18
New International Version
2 Corinthians 4:7-18
New International Version
7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay(A) to show that this all-surpassing power is from God(B) and not from us. 8 We are hard pressed on every side,(C) but not crushed; perplexed,(D) but not in despair; 9 persecuted,(E) but not abandoned;(F) struck down, but not destroyed.(G) 10 We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus,(H) so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.(I) 11 For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake,(J) 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.(K)
13 It is written: “I believed; therefore I have spoken.”[a](L) Since we have that same spirit of[b] faith,(M) we also believe and therefore speak, 14 because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead(N) will also raise us with Jesus(O) and present us with you to himself.(P) 15 All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving(Q) to overflow to the glory of God.
16 Therefore we do not lose heart.(R) Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly(S) we are being renewed(T) day by day. 17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.(U) 18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen,(V) since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
Footnotes
- 2 Corinthians 4:13 Psalm 116:10 (see Septuagint)
- 2 Corinthians 4:13 Or Spirit-given
2 Corinthians 4:7-18
New English Translation
2 Corinthians 4:7-18
New English Translation
An Eternal Weight of Glory
7 But we have this treasure in clay jars, so that the extraordinary power[a] belongs to God and does not come from us. 8 We are experiencing trouble on every side,[b] but are not crushed; we are perplexed,[c] but not driven to despair; 9 we are persecuted, but not abandoned;[d] we are knocked down,[e] but not destroyed, 10 always carrying around in our body the death of Jesus,[f] so that the life of Jesus may also be made visible[g] in our body. 11 For we who are alive are constantly being handed over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus may also be made visible[h] in our mortal body.[i] 12 As a result,[j] death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.[k] 13 But since we have the same spirit of faith as that shown in[l] what has been written, “I believed; therefore I spoke,”[m] we also believe, therefore we also speak. 14 We do so[n] because we know that the one who raised up Jesus[o] will also raise us up with Jesus and will bring us with you into his presence. 15 For all these things are for your sake, so that the grace that is including[p] more and more people may cause thanksgiving to increase[q] to the glory of God. 16 Therefore we do not despair,[r] but even if our physical body[s] is wearing away, our inner person[t] is being renewed day by day. 17 For our momentary, light suffering[u] is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison 18 because we are not looking at what can be seen but at what cannot be seen. For what can be seen is temporary, but what cannot be seen is eternal.
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- 2 Corinthians 4:7 tn Grk “the surpassingness of the power”; δυνάμεως (dunameōs) has been translated as an attributed genitive (“extraordinary power”).
- 2 Corinthians 4:8 tn Grk “we are hard pressed [by crowds] on every side.”
- 2 Corinthians 4:8 tn Or “at a loss.”
- 2 Corinthians 4:9 tn Or “forsaken.”
- 2 Corinthians 4:9 tn Or “badly hurt.” It is possible to interpret καταβαλλόμενοι (kataballomenoi) here as “badly hurt”: “[we are] badly hurt, but not destroyed” (L&N 20.21).
- 2 Corinthians 4:10 tn The first clause of 2 Cor 4:10 is elliptical and apparently refers to the fact that Paul was constantly in danger of dying in the same way Jesus died (by violence at least). According to L&N 23.99 it could be translated, “at all times we live in the constant threat of being killed as Jesus was.”
- 2 Corinthians 4:10 tn Or “may also be revealed.”
- 2 Corinthians 4:11 tn Or “may also be revealed.”
- 2 Corinthians 4:11 tn Grk “mortal flesh.”
- 2 Corinthians 4:12 tn Or “So then.”
- 2 Corinthians 4:12 tn Grk “death is at work in us, but life in you”; the phrase “is at work in” is repeated in the translation for clarity.
- 2 Corinthians 4:13 tn Grk “spirit of faith according to.”
- 2 Corinthians 4:13 sn A quotation from Ps 116:10.
- 2 Corinthians 4:14 tn Grk “speak, because.” A new sentence was started here in the translation, with the words “We do so” supplied to preserve the connection with the preceding statement.
- 2 Corinthians 4:14 tc ‡ Several significant witnesses (א C D F G Ψ 1881), as well as the Byzantine text, add κύριον (kurion) here, changing the reading to “the Lord Jesus.” Although the external evidence in favor of the shorter reading is slim, the witnesses are significant, early, and diverse (P46 B [0243 33] 629 [630] 1175* [1739] r sa). Very likely scribes with pietistic motives added the word κύριον, as they were prone to do, thus compounding this title for the Lord.
- 2 Corinthians 4:15 tn Or “that is abounding to.”
- 2 Corinthians 4:15 tn Or “to abound.”
- 2 Corinthians 4:16 tn Or “do not lose heart.”
- 2 Corinthians 4:16 tn Grk “our outer man.”
- 2 Corinthians 4:16 tn Grk “our inner [man].”
- 2 Corinthians 4:17 tn Grk “momentary lightness of affliction.”
2 Corinthians 4:7-18
King James Version
2 Corinthians 4:7-18
King James Version
7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.
8 We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;
9 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.
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