2 Corinthians 4
Legacy Standard Bible
The Gospel of the Glory of Christ
4 Therefore, since we have this (A)ministry, as we (B)received mercy, we (C)do not lose heart, 2 but we have renounced the (D)hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness or (E)adulterating the word of God, but by the manifestation of truth (F)commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God. 3 And even if our (G)gospel is (H)veiled, it is veiled [a]to (I)those who are perishing, 4 in whose case (J)the god of (K)this age has (L)blinded the minds of the unbelieving [b]so that they might not see the (M)light of the gospel of the (N)glory of Christ, who is the (O)image of God. 5 For we (P)do not preach ourselves but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your slaves [c]for the sake of Jesus. 6 For God, who said, “(Q)Light shall shine out of darkness,” is the One who has (R)shone in our hearts to give the (S)Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.
7 But we have this treasure in (T)earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of (U)the power will be of God and not from ourselves; 8 (V)in every way afflicted, but not (W)crushed; (X)perplexed, but not despairing; 9 (Y)persecuted, but not (Z)forsaken; (AA)struck down, but not destroyed; 10 (AB)always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that (AC)the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. 11 For we who live are constantly being delivered over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. 12 So death works in us, but life in you.
13 But having the same (AD)spirit of faith, according to what is written, “(AE)I believed, therefore I spoke,” we also believe, therefore we also speak, 14 knowing that He who (AF)raised the Lord Jesus (AG)will raise us also with Jesus and will (AH)present us with you. 15 For all things are (AI)for your sakes, so that the grace which is [d](AJ)spreading to more and more people may cause the giving of thanks to abound to the glory of God.
16 Therefore we (AK)do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our (AL)inner man is (AM)being renewed day by day. 17 For our momentary, (AN)light affliction is working out for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, 18 while we (AO)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.
Footnotes
- 2 Corinthians 4:3 Lit in
- 2 Corinthians 4:4 Or that the light...image of God, would not dawn upon them
- 2 Corinthians 4:5 Two early mss through Jesus
- 2 Corinthians 4:15 Lit being multiplied through the many
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.
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