1So because of God’s mercy, we have work to do. He has given it to us. And we don’t give up.2Instead, we have given up doing secret and shameful things. We don’t twist God’s word. In fact, we do just the opposite. We present the truth plainly. In the sight of God, we make our appeal to everyone’s sense of what is right and wrong.3Suppose our good news is covered with a veil. Then it is veiled to those who are dying.4The god of this world has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. They can’t see the light of the good news that makes Christ’s glory clear. Christ is the likeness of God.5The message we preach is not about ourselves. Our message is about Jesus Christ. We say that he is Lord. And we say that we serve you because of Jesus.6God said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness.’ He made his light shine in our hearts. His light gives us the light to know God’s glory. His glory is shown in the face of Christ. (Ge 1:3)7Treasure is kept in clay jars. In the same way, we have the treasure of the good news in these earthly bodies of ours. That shows that the mighty power of the good news comes from God. It doesn’t come from us.8We are pushed hard from all sides. But we are not beaten down. We are bewildered. But that doesn’t make us lose hope.9Others make us suffer. But God does not desert us. We are knocked down. But we are not knocked out.10We always carry around the death of Jesus in our bodies. In that way, the life of Jesus can be shown in our bodies.11We who are alive are always in danger of death because we are serving Jesus. This happens so that his life can also be shown in our earthly bodies.12Death is at work in us. But life is at work in you.13It is written, ‘I believed, and so I have spoken.’ We have that same spirit of faith. So we also believe and speak. (Ps 116:10)14We know that God raised the Lord Jesus from the dead. And he will also raise us up with Jesus. And he will present both you and us to himself.15All this is for your benefit. God’s grace is reaching more and more people. So they will become more and more thankful. They will give glory to God.16We don’t give up. Our bodies are becoming weaker and weaker. But our spirits are being renewed day by day.17Our troubles are small. They last only for a short time. But they are earning for us a glory that will last for ever. It is greater than all our troubles.18So we don’t spend all our time looking at what we can see. Instead, we look at what we can’t see. That’s because what can be seen lasts only a short time. But what can’t be seen will last for ever.
2 Corinthians 4
English Standard Version
The Light of the Gospel
1Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God,[1] we do not lose heart. (1Co 7:25; 2Co 3:6; 1Ti 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. (Ro 6:21; 2Co 2:17; 2Co 5:11; 2Co 6:7; 2Co 7:14)3And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. (Mt 13:15; 1Co 1:18; 2Co 2:15; 2Co 3:14; 2Th 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. (Joh 12:31; Ac 26:18; 2Co 3:18; 2Co 4:3; 2Co 4:6; Php 2:6; Col 1:15; Heb 1:3)5For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants[3] for Jesus’ sake. (1Co 9:19; 2Co 1:24; 1Th 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. (Ge 1:3; 2Co 4:4; 2Pe 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. (Jud 7:2; Job 10:9; Job 13:12; La 4:2; 1Co 2:5; 2Co 5:1; 1Th 4:4; 2Ti 2:20; 1Pe 3:7)8We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; (Ps 129:2; 2Co 7:5)9persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; (De 4:31; Ps 37:24; Pr 24:16; Mic 7:8; Heb 13:5)10always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. (Ro 5:10; Ro 6:5; Ro 6:8; Ro 8:36; 1Co 4:9; 1Co 15:31; 2Co 1:5; 2Co 1:9; 2Co 6:9; 2Ti 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. (2Co 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, (Ps 116:10; 1Co 12:9; 2Pe 1:1)14knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into his presence. (Ac 2:24; 2Co 1:9; 1Th 4:14; Jud 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. (Ro 8:28; 2Co 1:6; 2Co 1:11; 2Co 8:19; 2Co 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. (Isa 40:30; Ac 20:24; Ro 7:22; Ro 12:2)17For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, (Ps 30:5; Isa 54:7; Ro 8:18; 1Pe 1:6; 1Pe 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. (Ro 8:24; 2Co 5:7; Heb 11:1; Heb 11:13)