2 Corinthians 4
Christian Standard Bible
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.
2 Corinthians 4
Lexham English Bible
Proclaiming Jesus Christ as Lord
4 Because of this, since we[a] have this ministry, just as we have been shown mercy, we do not lose heart, 2 but we have renounced shameful hidden things, not behaving with craftiness or adulterating the word of God, but with the open proclamation of the truth commending ourselves to every person’s conscience before God. 3 But if indeed our gospel is veiled, it is veiled among those who are perishing, 4 among whom the god of this age has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, so that they would not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 5 For we do not proclaim ourselves, but Christ Jesus[b] as Lord, and ourselves as your slaves for the sake of Jesus. 6 For God who said, “Light will shine out of darkness,”[c] is the one who has shined in our hearts for the enlightenment of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.[d]
Treasure in Earthenware Jars
7 But we have this treasure in earthenware jars, in order that the extraordinary degree of the power may be from God and not from us. 8 We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; 9 persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed; 10 always carrying around the death of Jesus in our body, in order that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. 11 For we who are alive are continually being handed over to death because of Jesus, in order that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our mortal flesh. 12 So then, death is at work in us, but life in you. 13 But because we[e] have the same spirit of faith in accordance with what is written, “I believed, therefore I spoke,”[f] we also believe, therefore we also speak, 14 because we[g] know that the one who raised Jesus[h] will also raise us together with Jesus and present us together with you. 15 For all these things are for your sake[i], in order that the grace that is increasing through the many may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God.
16 Therefore we do not lose heart, but even if our outer person is being destroyed, yet our inner person is being renewed day after day. 17 For our momentary light affliction is producing in us an eternal weight of glory beyond all measure and proportion[j], 18 because[k] we are not looking at what is seen, but what is not seen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is not seen is eternal.
Footnotes
- 2 Corinthians 4:1 Here “since” is supplied as a component of the participle (“have”) which is understood as causal
- 2 Corinthians 4:5 Some manuscripts have “Jesus Christ”
- 2 Corinthians 4:6 An allusion to Gen 1:3
- 2 Corinthians 4:6 Some manuscripts have “in the face of Jesus Christ”
- 2 Corinthians 4:13 Here “because” is supplied as a component of the participle (“have”) which is understood as causal
- 2 Corinthians 4:13 A quotation from Ps 116:10
- 2 Corinthians 4:14 Here “because” is supplied as a component of the participle (“know”) which is understood as causal
- 2 Corinthians 4:14 Some manuscripts have “the Lord Jesus”
- 2 Corinthians 4:15 Literally “for the sake of you”
- 2 Corinthians 4:17 Literally “according to an extraordinary degree to an extraordinary degree”
- 2 Corinthians 4:18 Here “because” is supplied as a component of the causal genitive absolute participle (“looking at”)
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