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.

Read full chapter

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)

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.

Read full chapter

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