2 Corinthians 4:5-12

English Standard Version

⁵For what ^(A)we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ^(B)ourselves as your servants^[a] for Jesus' sake. ⁶For God, who said, ^(C)“Let light shine out of darkness,” ^(D)has shone in our hearts to give ^(E)the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

Treasure in Jars of Clay

⁷But we have this treasure in ^(F)jars of clay, ^(G)to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. ⁸We are ^(H)afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; ⁹persecuted, but ^(I)not forsaken; ^(J)struck down, but not destroyed; ¹⁰^(K)always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, ^(L)so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. ¹¹For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. ¹²So ^(M)death is at work in us, but life in you.

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Footnotes

2 Corinthians 4:5 Or slaves (for the contextual rendering of the Greek word doulos, see Preface)

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)