1Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God,[1] we do not lose heart. (林前7:25; 林后3:6; 提前1:13)2But we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice[2] cunning or to tamper with God’s word, but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God. (羅6:21; 林后2:17; 林后5:11; 林后6:7; 林后7:14)3And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. (太13:15; 林前1:18; 林后2:15; 林后3:14; 帖后2:10)4In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. (约12:31; 徒26:18; 林后3:18; 林后4:3; 林后4:6; 腓2:6; 西1:15; 來1:3)5For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants[3] for Jesus’ sake. (林前9:19; 林后1:24; 帖前2:6)6For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. (创1:3; 林后4:4; 彼后1:19)
Treasure in Jars of Clay
7But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. (士7:2; 伯10:9; 伯13:12; 哀4:2; 林前2:5; 林后5:1; 帖前4:4; 提后2:20; 彼前3:7)8We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; (诗129:2; 林后7:5)9persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; (申4:31; 诗37:24; 箴24:16; 弥7:8; 來13:5)10always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. (羅5:10; 羅6:5; 羅6:8; 羅8:36; 林前4:9; 林前15:31; 林后1:5; 林后1:9; 林后6:9; 提后2:11)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 death is at work in us, but life in you. (林后13:9)13Since we have the same spirit of faith according to what has been written, “I believed, and so I spoke,” we also believe, and so we also speak, (诗116:10; 林前12:9; 彼后1:1)14knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into his presence. (徒2:24; 林后1:9; 帖前4:14; 犹1:24)15For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God. (羅8:28; 林后1:6; 林后1:11; 林后8:19; 林后9:11)16So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self[4] is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. (赛40:30; 徒20:24; 羅7:22; 羅12:2)17For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, (诗30:5; 赛54:7; 羅8:18; 彼前1:6; 彼前5:10)18as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal. (羅8:24; 林后5:7; 來11:1; 來11:13)