2 Corinthians 4
New Matthew Bible
A true preacher is diligent. He does not corrupt the word of God. He does not preach himself, but seeks the honour of Christ – yea though it be at the risk of his life.
4 Therefore, seeing that we have such an office, even as mercy has come on us, we faint not, 2 but have cast from us the cloaks of dishonesty, and do not walk in craftiness. Neither do we corrupt the word of God, but walk in open truth, and appeal to every man’s conscience in the sight of God. 3 If our gospel be yet hid, it is hid among those who are lost, 4 in whom the god of this world has blinded the minds of those who do not believe, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
5 For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus to be the Lord, and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake. 6 For it is God who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, which has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing power of it may be seen to be of God, and not of us. 8 We are troubled on every side, yet we are not without means. We are in poverty, but not utterly bereft. 9 We are persecuted, but are not forsaken. We are cast down, nevertheless we do not perish. 10 And we always bear in our bodies the dying of the Lord Jesus so that the life of Jesus may appear in our bodies. 11 For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life also of Jesus may appear in our mortal flesh. 12 So then, death works in us, and life in you.
13 Seeing, then, that we have the same spirit of faith as is written of – I believed, and therefore I have spoken – we also believe, and therefore speak. 14 For we know that he who raised up the Lord Jesus will raise us up also by the means of Jesus, and will set us with you. 15 For I do all things for your sakes, so that the abundant grace, through thanks given by many, may redound to the glory of God.
16 And so we are not wearied, but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. 17 For our exceeding tribulation, which is momentary and light, prepares an exceeding and an eternal weight of glory for us, 18 while we look not on the things that are seen, but on the things which are not seen. For the things that are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen, are eternal.
2 Corinthians 4
Authorized (King James) Version
4 Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not; 2 but have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God. 3 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: 4 in whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. 5 For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake. 6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
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 alway 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.
Copyright © 2016 by Ruth Magnusson (Davis). Includes emendations to February 2022. All rights reserved.
KJV reproduced by permission of Cambridge University Press, the Crown’s patentee in the UK.