瓦器中的寶貝

我們既蒙憐憫,接受了這傳福音的職分,就決不氣餒。 我們棄絕了見不得人的可恥行為,不用狡詐的手段,不曲解上帝的道,而是把真理講解明白,好讓大家的良心在上帝面前為我們作證。

然而,即使我們所傳的福音被遮蔽,也是在那些滅亡的人當中被遮蔽。 那些不信的人是被這世界的神弄瞎了心眼,以致看不見基督榮耀的福音之光。基督是上帝的本像。 我們並非傳揚自己,而是傳揚耶穌基督是主,並且為耶穌的緣故而作你們的奴僕。 因為那吩咐光從黑暗中照射出來的上帝光照了我們的心,為要讓我們認識上帝在耶穌基督的面容上所彰顯的榮耀。

我們不過是瓦器,裡面卻有這寶貝,要顯明這莫大的能力是上帝的,而不是我們自己的。 我們壓力重重,卻沒有崩潰;心裡困惑,卻不絕望; 遭受迫害,卻沒有被遺棄;被打倒了,卻沒有死亡。 10 我們身上常常帶著耶穌的死,好使耶穌的生命也彰顯在我們身上。 11 因為我們這些活著的人常常為耶穌的緣故而面臨死亡的威脅,好使耶穌的生命在我們這終有一死的肉身上彰顯出來。 12 因此,死亡籠罩著我們,而生命卻運行在你們身上。

13 聖經上說:「我相信,所以才說。」我們有同樣的信心,我們也相信,所以才這樣說。 14 我們知道,使主耶穌復活的上帝必使我們與耶穌一同復活,並且使我們和你們一起站在祂面前。 15 其實一切都是為了你們,好叫恩典臨到更多的人,有更多人向上帝感恩,使上帝得榮耀。

16 所以,我們不氣餒。身體雖然日漸衰殘,內在的生命卻日日更新。 17 我們這短暫輕微的苦難正在為我們成就極大無比、永遠的榮耀。 18 我們注重的,並非看得見的事物,而是看不見的事物,因為看得見的事物都是暫時的,看不見的事物才是永恆的。

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

The Light of the Gospel

Therefore, having (A)this ministry (B)by the mercy of God,[a] we do not lose heart. But we have renounced (C)disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice[b] cunning or (D)to tamper with God's word, but (E)by the open statement of the truth (F)we would commend ourselves to everyone's conscience in the sight of God. And even (G)if our gospel is veiled, (H)it is veiled to (I)those who are perishing. In their case (J)the god of this world (K)has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing (L)the light of (M)the gospel of the glory of Christ, (N)who is the image of God. For what (O)we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with (P)ourselves as your servants[c] for Jesus' sake. For God, who said, (Q)“Let light shine out of darkness,” (R)has shone in our hearts to give (S)the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

Treasure in Jars of Clay

But we have this treasure in (T)jars of clay, (U)to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. We are (V)afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but (W)not forsaken; (X)struck down, but not destroyed; 10 (Y)always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, (Z)so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our bodies. 11 For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. 12 So (AA)death is at work in us, but life in you.

13 Since we have (AB)the same spirit of faith according to what has been written, (AC)“I believed, and so I spoke,” we also believe, and so we also speak, 14 knowing that (AD)he who raised the Lord Jesus (AE)will raise us also with Jesus and (AF)bring us with you into his presence. 15 For (AG)it is all for your sake, so that as (AH)grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, (AI)to the glory of God.

16 So we do not lose heart. (AJ)Though our outer self[d] is wasting away, (AK)our inner self (AL)is being renewed day by day. 17 For (AM)this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, 18 (AN)as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.

Footnotes

  1. 2 Corinthians 4:1 Greek having this ministry as we have received mercy
  2. 2 Corinthians 4:2 Greek to walk in
  3. 2 Corinthians 4:5 Or slaves (for the contextual rendering of the Greek word doulos, see Preface)
  4. 2 Corinthians 4:16 Greek man