The Second Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Corinthians

⭑ Berean Study Bible :: World English Bible Catholic ⭑

- Chapter 4 -

Therefore, since God in His mercy has given us this ministry,(a) we do not lose heart.

Instead, we have renounced secret and shameful ways. We do not practice deceit, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by open proclamation of the truth, we commend ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.

And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing.

The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers so they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

For we do not proclaim ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake.

For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,”(b) made His light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.(c)

Treasure in Jars of Clay

(Romans 6:1–14)

Now we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this surpassingly great power is from God and not from us.

We are hard pressed on all sides, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair;

persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed.

We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.

For we who are alive are always consigned to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our mortal body.

So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.

And in keeping with what is written: “I believed, therefore I have spoken,”(d) we who have the same spirit of faith also believe and therefore speak,

knowing that the One who raised the Lord Jesus

(e)

will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you in His presence.

All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is extending to more and more people may overflow in thanksgiving, to the glory of God.

Therefore we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, yet our inner self is being renewed day by day.

For our light and momentary affliction is producing for us an eternal glory that is far beyond comparison.

So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

Footnotes

(a)4:1 Literally Therefore, having this ministry, as we have received mercy,

(b)4:6 Genesis 1:3

(d)4:13 Psalms 116:10 (see also LXX)

(e)4:14 SBL who raised Jesus

Therefore, seeing we have this ministry, even as we obtained mercy, we don’t faint.

But 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.

Even if our Good News is veiled, it is veiled in those who are dying,

in 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.

For we don’t preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake,

seeing it is God who said, “Light will shine out of darkness,”(a) who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

Treasure in Jars of Clay

(Romans 6:1–14)

But we have this treasure in clay vessels, that the exceeding greatness of the power may be of God and not from ourselves.

We are pressed on every side, yet not crushed; perplexed, yet not to despair;

pursued, yet not forsaken; struck down, yet not destroyed;

always carrying in the body the putting to death of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.

For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus’ sake, that the life also of Jesus may be revealed in our mortal flesh.

So then death works in us, but life in you.

But having the same spirit of faith, according to that which is written, “I believed, and therefore I spoke.”(b) We also believe, and therefore we also speak,

knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus, and will present us with you.

For 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.

Therefore we don’t faint, but though our outward person is decaying, yet our inward person is renewed day by day.

For our light affliction, which is for the moment, works for us more and more exceedingly an eternal weight of glory,

while 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.

Footnotes

(a)4:6 ℘ Genesis 1:3

(b)4:13 ℘ Psalms 116:10