2 Corinthians 4
Revised Geneva Translation
4 Therefore, seeing that we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we do not faint.
2 But we have cast from us the cloaks of shame, and do not walk in craftiness, nor handle the Word of God deceitfully. But in declaration of the truth, we commend ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.
3 If the Gospel is then hidden, it is hidden to those who are lost,
4 in whom the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving; that the light of the glorious Gospel of Christ, which is the image of God, should not shine unto them.
5 For we do not preach 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, has 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 so that the excellency of that power might be of God, and not of us.
8 We are afflicted on every side, yet we are not in distress. We are in doubt, but yet we do not despair;
9 persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but we do not perish.
10 Everywhere we carry about in our body the dying of the Lord Jesus, so that the life of Jesus might also be made manifest in our bodies.
11 For we who live are always delivered unto death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus might also be made manifest in our mortal flesh.
12 So then, death works in us, and life in you.
13 And because we have the same spirit of faith, as it is written, “I believed, and therefore I have spoken”, we also believe, and therefore speak,
14 knowing that He Who has raised up the Lord Jesus, shall also raise us up by Jesus, and shall set us with you.
15 For all things are for your sakes, so that that superabundant grace by the thanksgiving of many, may increase to the praise of God.
16 Therefore, we do not faint. But though our outward man perishes, yet the inward man is renewed daily.
17 For our light affliction, which is only for a moment, works for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.
18 While we look, not on the things which are seen, but on the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary. But the things which are not seen are eternal.
2 Corinthians 4
Holman 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 shameful secret things, not walking(C) in deceit or distorting God’s message,(D) but commending ourselves to every person’s conscience in God’s sight 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 so they cannot see 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 slaves because of Jesus. 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 pressured 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 revealed in our body. 11 For we who live are always given over to death(O) because of Jesus, so that Jesus’ life may also be revealed in our mortal flesh. 12 So death works 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,(P)[b] we also believe, and therefore speak. 14 We know that the One who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus(Q) and present us with you. 15 Indeed, everything is for your benefit, so that grace, extended through more and more people, may cause thanksgiving(R) to increase to God’s glory.
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[c](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.
Footnotes
- 2 Corinthians 4:4 Or the gospel of the glorious Christ, or the glorious gospel of Christ
- 2 Corinthians 4:13 Ps 116:10 LXX
- 2 Corinthians 4:17 See note at 2Co 1:4.
© 2019, 2024 by Five Talents Audio. All rights reserved.
Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville Tennessee. All rights reserved.