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(A) The Scriptures say, “God commanded light to shine in the dark.” Now God is shining in our hearts to let you know that his glory is seen in Jesus Christ.

We are like clay jars in which this treasure is stored. The real power comes from God and not from us. We often suffer, but we are never crushed. Even when we don't know what to do, we never give up. In times of trouble, God is with us, and when we are knocked down, we get up again. 10-11 We face death every day because of Jesus. Our bodies show what his death was like, so his life can also be seen in us. 12 This means that death is working in us, but life is working in you.

13 In the Scriptures it says, “I spoke because I had faith.” We have this same kind of faith. So we speak 14 because we know that God raised the Lord Jesus to life. And just as God raised Jesus, he will also raise us to life. Then he will bring us into his presence together with you. 15 All of this has been done for you, so more and more people will know how kind God is and will praise and honor him.

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For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,”[a](A) made his light shine in our hearts(B) to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.(C)

But we have this treasure in jars of clay(D) to show that this all-surpassing power is from God(E) and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side,(F) but not crushed; perplexed,(G) but not in despair; persecuted,(H) but not abandoned;(I) struck down, but not destroyed.(J) 10 We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus,(K) so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.(L) 11 For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake,(M) 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.(N)

13 It is written: “I believed; therefore I have spoken.”[b](O) Since we have that same spirit of[c] faith,(P) we also believe and therefore speak, 14 because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead(Q) will also raise us with Jesus(R) and present us with you to himself.(S) 15 All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving(T) to overflow to the glory of God.

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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