Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

Light out of darkness

4 For this reason, since we have this work entrusted to us in accordance with the mercy we have received, we don’t lose heart. ² On the contrary, we have renounced the secret things that make people ashamed. We don’t use tricks; we don’t falsify God’s word. Rather, we speak the truth openly, and recommend ourselves to everybody’s conscience in the presence of God.

³ However, if our gospel still remains “veiled,” it is veiled for people who are perishing. ⁴ What’s happening there is that the god of this world has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they won’t see the light of the gospel of the glory of the Messiah, who is God’s image. ⁵ We don’t proclaim ourselves, you see, but Jesus the Messiah as Lord, and ourselves as your servants because of Jesus; ⁶ because the God who said “let light shine out of darkness” has shone in our hearts, to produce the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus the Messiah.

Treasure in earthenware pots

⁷ But we have this treasure in earthenware pots, so that the extraordinary quality of the power may belong to God, not to us. ⁸ We are under all kinds of pressure, but we are not crushed completely; we are at a loss, but not at our wits’ end; ⁹ we are persecuted, but not abandoned; we are cast down, but not destroyed. ¹⁰ We always carry the death of Jesus about in the body, so that the life of Jesus may be revealed in our body. ¹¹ Although we are still alive, you see, we are always being given over to death because of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may be revealed in our mortal humanity. ¹² So this is how it is: death is at work in us—but life in you!