2 Corinthians 4:1-18
4 That is why, since we have this ministry+ according to the mercy that was shown us,+ we do not give up;
2 but we have renounced the underhanded things of which to be ashamed,+ not walking with cunning, neither adulterating the word of God,+ but by making the truth manifest recommending ourselves to every human conscience in the sight of God.+
3 If, now, the good news we declare is in fact veiled, it is veiled among those who are perishing,+
4 among whom the god* of this system of things*+ has blinded the minds* of the unbelievers,+ that the illumination*+ of the glorious good news+ about the Christ,* who is the image+ of God, might not shine through.+
5 For we are preaching, not ourselves, but Christ Jesus as Lord,+ and ourselves as YOUR slaves+ for Jesus’ sake.
6 For God is he who said: “Let the light shine* out of darkness,”+ and he has shone on our hearts to illuminate+ [them] with the glorious knowledge*+ of God by* the face of Christ.+
7 However, we have this treasure+ in earthen+ vessels,*+ that the power+ beyond what is normal may be God’s+ and not that out of ourselves.+
8 We are pressed in every way,+ but not cramped beyond movement; we are perplexed, but not absolutely with no way out;+
9 we are persecuted, but not left in the lurch;+ we are thrown down,+ but not destroyed.+
10 Always we endure everywhere in our body the death-dealing treatment given to Jesus,*+ that the life of Jesus may also be made manifest in our body.+
11 For we who live are ever being brought face to face with death*+ for Jesus’ sake, that the life of Jesus may also be made manifest in our mortal flesh.+
12 Consequently death is at work in us, but life in YOU.+
13 Now because we have the same spirit of faith as that of which it is written: “I exercised faith, therefore I spoke,”+ we too exercise faith and therefore we speak,
14 knowing that he who raised Jesus* up will raise us up also together with Jesus and will present us together with YOU.+
15 For all things are for YOUR sakes,+ in order that the undeserved kindness which was multiplied should abound because of the thanksgiving of many more to the glory of God.+
16 Therefore we do not give up, but even if the man we are outside is wasting away, certainly the man we are inside+ is being renewed from day to day.
17 For though the tribulation is momentary+ and light, it works out for us a glory that is of more and more surpassing weight and is everlasting;+
18 while we keep our eyes, not on the things seen, but on the things unseen.+ For the things seen are temporary,+ but the things unseen are everlasting.+
Footnotes
^ Lit., “the lighting.”
^ Or, “of the good news about the glory of the Christ.”
^ Lit., “mental powers.” Gr., no·eʹma·ta; Lat., menʹtes.
^ Or, “order of things.” Gr., ai·oʹnos; Lat., saeʹcu·li; J17,18,22(Heb.), ha·ʽoh·lamʹ, “the order of things.”
^ Gr., ho the·osʹ; Lat., deʹus; J17,18(Heb.), ʼelo·hehʹ; J22(Heb.), ʼel.
^ Or, “in.”
^ Or, “the knowledge of the glory.”
^ Or, “The light will shine.”
^ Lit., “in baked clay vessels.”
^ Or, “in our body the putting of Jesus to death.”
^ Or, “being delivered to death.”
^ “Jesus,” P46BVg; אCDSyh, “the Lord Jesus.”
