New Testament
2 Corinthians 4
Overview
Sustained by the mercy of this new-covenant ministry, Paul renounces shameful, underhanded ways and refuses to tamper with God's word, commending himself by open statement of the truth (4:1-2). If his gospel is veiled, it is veiled only to those perishing, whose minds "the god of this world" has blinded so they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God (4:3-4). Paul preaches not himself but Jesus Christ as Lord, for the God who said "Let light shine out of darkness" has shone in hearts to give the light of the knowledge of God's glory in the face of Jesus Christ (4:5-6). But this treasure is carried in "jars of clay," so that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us (4:7). There follows a great catalog of paradox: afflicted but not crushed, perplexed but not driven to despair, struck down but not destroyed—always carrying in the body the death of Jesus so that His life may also be manifested (4:8-12). Anchored in the faith that the God who raised Jesus will raise believers too, Paul concludes that though the outer self is wasting away, the inner self is being renewed daily, for this "light momentary affliction" is preparing an eternal weight of glory, as we look not to the seen but to the unseen (4:13-18).
1Therefore, seeing we have this ministry, even as we obtained mercy, we don’t faint.
2But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness nor handling the word of God deceitfully, but by the manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.
3Even if our Good News is veiled, it is veiled in those who are dying,
4in whom the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving, that the light of the Good News of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should not dawn on them.
5For we don’t preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake,
6seeing it is God who said, “Light will shine out of darkness,” who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
7But we have this treasure in clay vessels, that the exceeding greatness of the power may be of God and not from ourselves.
8We are pressed on every side, yet not crushed; perplexed, yet not to despair;
9pursued, yet not forsaken; struck down, yet not destroyed;
10always carrying in the body the putting to death of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.
11For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus’ sake, that the life also of Jesus may be revealed in our mortal flesh.
12So then death works in us, but life in you.
13But having the same spirit of faith, according to that which is written, “I believed, and therefore I spoke.” We also believe, and therefore we also speak,
14knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also through Jesus, and will present us with you.
15For all things are for your sakes, that the grace, being multiplied through the many, may cause the thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God.
16Therefore we don’t faint, but though our outward person is decaying, yet our inward person is renewed day by day.
17For our light affliction, which is for the moment, works for us more and more exceedingly an eternal weight of glory,
18while we don’t look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.