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2 Corinthians 4
Disciples’ Literal New Testament

So We Don’t Lose Heart In This Ministry Or Its Reception; God Is Shining Through Us

4 For this reason, having this ministry even-as[a] we received-mercy, we do not lose-heart. 2 But we renounced the hidden things of [b] shame, not walking in craftiness[c], nor handling-deceitfully[d] the word of God, but by the open-disclosure of the truth, commending[e] ourselves to every conscience of mankind[f] in the sight of God. 3 And if indeed our good-news is veiled, it is veiled in the ones perishing, 4 in whose case the god of this age blinded the minds of the unbelievers so that they might not see[g] the illumination of the good-news of the glory of Christ— Who is the image of God. 5 For we are not proclaiming ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your slaves for the sake of Jesus, 6 because God, the One having said “Light will shine out of darkness”, is He Who shined in our hearts for[h] the illumination of [i] the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

God Is Making Life Known Through Clay Vessels Handed Over To Death

7 But[j] we have this treasure in vessels made-of-clay, in order that the excess[k] of the power may be God’s and not from us— 8 in every way being afflicted[l] but not restrained[m], being perplexed but not utterly-perplexed, 9 being persecuted but not forsaken, being struck down but not perishing; 10 at-all-times carrying-around in our body the dying[n] of Jesus in order that the life of Jesus may also be made-evident[o] in our body. 11 For we the ones living are always being handed-over to death for the sake of Jesus, in order that the life of Jesus may also be made-evident in our mortal flesh. 12 So then, death is at-work in us, but life in you.

But We Believe And Speak Because We Know God Will Raise Us Up With Jesus

13 But having the same spirit[p] of faith in accordance with the thing having been written, “I believed, therefore I spoke” [Ps 116:10]— we also believe, therefore we also speak, 14 knowing that the One having raised the Lord Jesus will also raise us with Jesus, and will present us with you. 15 For all things are for your sakes— in order that grace, having increased through the more people, may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God.

And Our Affliction Is Producing an Eternal Weight of Glory For Us In Heaven

16 Therefore we do not lose-heart. But even though our outer person is being destroyed[q], nevertheless our inner person is being renewed day in and day out. 17 For the momentary lightness of our affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory extremely beyond measure, 18 while we are not looking-for[r] the things being seen, but the things not being seen. For the things being seen are temporary, but the things not being seen are eternal.

Footnotes

  1. 2 Corinthians 4:1 That is, as a gift of His grace.
  2. 2 Corinthians 4:2 That is, proceeding from shameful motives; or, resulting in shame when they become known. It is failure to attain hidden self-focused motives that causes us to lose heart.
  3. 2 Corinthians 4:2 Or, trickery. That is, using any means to gain our end.
  4. 2 Corinthians 4:2 Or, adulterating, distorting, falsifying.
  5. 2 Corinthians 4:2 Or, presenting.
  6. 2 Corinthians 4:2 That is, every individual conscience of all people with whom we come in contact.
  7. 2 Corinthians 4:4 Or, so that the illumination of the good-news of the glory of Christ might not shine-forth on them.
  8. 2 Corinthians 4:6 That is, to create in us.
  9. 2 Corinthians 4:6 That is, consisting of; or, produced by.
  10. 2 Corinthians 4:7 Paul now turns to the external causes of losing heart.
  11. 2 Corinthians 4:7 That is, abundance (in quantity); or, excellence (in quality).
  12. 2 Corinthians 4:8 Or, pressed, squeezed.
  13. 2 Corinthians 4:8 Or, confined, crushed.
  14. 2 Corinthians 4:10 Or, putting-to-death; or its result, the death, deadness.
  15. 2 Corinthians 4:10 Or, revealed, made visible.
  16. 2 Corinthians 4:13 That is, disposition characterized by. Or, Spirit producing.
  17. 2 Corinthians 4:16 Or, ruined, spoiled, consumed, wasted.
  18. 2 Corinthians 4:18 Or, looking-at, looking-to, watching-for.
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2 Corinthians 4
New International Version

Present Weakness and Resurrection Life

4 Therefore, since through God’s mercy(A) we have this ministry, we do not lose heart.(B) 2 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. 3 And even if our gospel(F) is veiled,(G) it is veiled to those who are perishing.(H) 4 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) 5 For what we preach is not ourselves,(N) but Jesus Christ as Lord,(O) and ourselves as your servants(P) for Jesus’ sake. 6 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)

7 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. 8 We are hard pressed on every side,(V) but not crushed; perplexed,(W) but not in despair; 9 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
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2 Corinthians 3
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