The Light of the Gospel

Therefore, since we have this ministry because we were shown mercy,(A) we do not give up.(B) 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) But if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. 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) For we are not proclaiming ourselves but Jesus Christ as Lord,(I) and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’s sake. 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.

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Footnotes

  1. 4:4 Or the gospel of the glorious Christ, or the glorious gospel of Christ

Paul’s Apostolic Ministry

Therefore, since we have this (A)ministry, as we (B)received mercy, we (C)do not lose heart, but we have renounced the (D)things hidden because of shame, not walking in trickery nor (E)distorting the word of God, but by the open proclamation of the truth (F)commending ourselves to every person’s conscience in the sight of God. And even if our (G)gospel is (H)veiled, it is veiled [a]to (I)those who are perishing, in whose case (J)the god of (K)this [b]world has (L)blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that [c]they will not see the (M)light of the gospel of the (N)glory of Christ, who is the (O)image of God. For we (P)do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your bond-servants [d]on account of Jesus. 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.

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Corinthians 4:3 Lit among
  2. 2 Corinthians 4:4 Lit age
  3. 2 Corinthians 4:4 Or the light...image of God, will not shine upon them
  4. 2 Corinthians 4:5 Two early mss through Jesus