2 Corinthians 4:5-12

American Standard Version

⁵For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your ^[a]servants ^[b]for Jesus’ sake. ⁶Seeing it is God, that said, ^[c]Light shall shine out of darkness, who shined in our hearts, to give the ^[d]light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

⁷But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the exceeding greatness of the power may be of God, and not from ourselves; ⁸we are pressed on every side, yet not straitened; perplexed, yet not unto despair; ⁹pursued, yet not ^[e]forsaken; smitten down, yet not destroyed; ¹⁰always bearing about in the body the ^[f]dying of Jesus, that the life also of Jesus may be manifested in our body. ¹¹For we who live are always delivered unto death for Jesus’ sake, that the life also of Jesus may be manifested in our mortal flesh. ¹²So then death worketh in us, but life in you.

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Footnotes

2 Corinthians 4:5 Greek bondservants. Compare 1 Cor. 9:19.
2 Corinthians 4:5 Some ancient authorities read through Jesus.
2 Corinthians 4:6 Gen. 1:3.
2 Corinthians 4:6 Greek illumination.
2 Corinthians 4:9 Or, left behind
2 Corinthians 4:10 Greek putting to death.

2 Corinthians 4:5-12

New International Version

⁵For what we preach is not ourselves,^(A) but Jesus Christ as Lord,^(B) and ourselves as your servants^(C) for Jesus’ sake. ⁶For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,”^[a]^(D) made his light shine in our hearts^(E) to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.^(F)

⁷But we have this treasure in jars of clay^(G) to show that this all-surpassing power is from God^(H) and not from us. ⁸We are hard pressed on every side,^(I) but not crushed; perplexed,^(J) but not in despair; ⁹persecuted,^(K) but not abandoned;^(L) struck down, but not destroyed.^(M) ¹⁰We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus,^(N) so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.^(O) ¹¹For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake,^(P) so that his life may also be revealed in our mortal body. ¹²So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.^(Q)