The Light of the Gospel

Therefore, having (A)this ministry (B)by the mercy of God,[a] we do not lose heart. But we have renounced (C)disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice[b] cunning or (D)to tamper with God's word, but (E)by the open statement of the truth (F)we would commend ourselves to everyone's conscience in the sight of God. And even (G)if our gospel is veiled, (H)it is veiled to (I)those who are perishing. In their case (J)the god of this world (K)has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing (L)the light of (M)the gospel of the glory of Christ, (N)who is the image of God. For what (O)we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with (P)ourselves as your servants[c] for Jesus' sake. For God, who said, (Q)“Let light shine out of darkness,” (R)has shone in our hearts to give (S)the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Corinthians 4:1 Greek having this ministry as we have received mercy
  2. 2 Corinthians 4:2 Greek to walk in
  3. 2 Corinthians 4:5 Or slaves (for the contextual rendering of the Greek word doulos, see Preface)

Treasure in Clay Jars

Therefore, since we have this ministry through the mercy shown to us, we do not get discouraged. Instead, we have renounced secret and shameful ways. We do not use trickery or pervert God’s word. By clear statements of the truth we commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience before God.

So if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are dying.[a] In their case, the god of this world has blinded the minds of those who do not believe to keep them from seeing the light of the glorious gospel of the Messiah,[b] who is the image of God.

For we do not preach ourselves, but rather Jesus the Messiah[c] as Lord, and ourselves as merely your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,”[d] has shone in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory in the face of Jesus[e] the Messiah.[f]

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Corinthians 4:3 Or being destroyed
  2. 2 Corinthians 4:4 Or Christ
  3. 2 Corinthians 4:5 Or Christ
  4. 2 Corinthians 4:6 Gen 1:3
  5. 2 Corinthians 4:6 Other mss. lack Jesus
  6. 2 Corinthians 4:6 Or Christ; other mss. read of the Messiah Jesus