2 Corinthians 4-5

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.

Our Future after Death

5 For we know that if our earthly tent we live in^(X) is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal dwelling in the heavens,^(Y) not made with hands.^{(Z) 2} Indeed, we groan in this tent, desiring^(AA) to put on our heavenly dwelling, ³ since, when we are clothed,^[c] we will not be found naked.^{(AB) 4} Indeed, we groan while we are in this tent, burdened as we are, because we do not want to be unclothed but clothed, so that mortality^(AC) may be swallowed up by life. ⁵ Now the one who prepared us for this very purpose is God, who gave us the Spirit as a down payment.

⁶ So we are always confident and know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. ⁷ For we walk by faith,^(AD) not by sight.^{(AE) 8} In fact, we are confident, and we would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord.^{(AF) 9} Therefore, whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to be pleasing^(AG) to him. ¹⁰ For we must all appear before the judgment seat^(AH) of Christ,^(AI) so that each may be repaid^(AJ) for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.

¹¹ Therefore, since we know the fear of the Lord,^(AK) we try to persuade people. What we are is plain to God, and I hope it is also plain to your consciences. ¹² We are not commending ourselves to you again, but giving you an opportunity to be proud of us, so that you may have a reply for those who take pride in outward appearance rather than in the heart. ¹³ For if we are out of our mind,^(AL) it is for God; if we are in our right mind,^(AM) it is for you. ¹⁴ For the love of Christ compels us, since we have reached this conclusion, that one died for all,^(AN) and therefore all died. ¹⁵ And he died for all^(AO) so that those who live should no longer live for themselves,^(AP) but for the one^(AQ) who died for them and was raised.

The Ministry of Reconciliation

¹⁶ From now on, then, we do not know anyone from a worldly perspective.^[d] Even if we have known Christ from a worldly perspective,^[e] yet now we no longer know him in this way. ¹⁷ Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation;^(AR) the old has passed away, and see,^(AS) the new has^[f] come!^{(AT) 18} Everything is from God, who has reconciled us to himself through Christ and has given us the ministry of reconciliation.^{(AU) 19} That is, in Christ, God was reconciling the world^(AV) to himself,^(AW) not counting their trespasses against them, and he has committed the message of reconciliation to us.

²⁰ Therefore, we are ambassadors^(AX) for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us. We plead on Christ’s behalf,^(AY) “Be reconciled to God.” ²¹ He made the one who did not know sin^(AZ) to be sin^[g] for us,^(BA) so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.