| 1 | Therefore, since we do hold
and
engage in this ministry by the mercy of God [granting us favor, benefits, opportunities, and especially salvation], we do not get discouraged (spiritless and despondent with fear)
or
become faint with weariness and exhaustion. |
| 2 | We have renounced disgraceful ways (secret thoughts, feelings, desires and underhandedness, the methods and arts that men hide through shame); we refuse to deal craftily (to practice trickery and cunning) or to adulterate
or
handle dishonestly the Word of God, but we state the truth openly (clearly and candidly). And so we commend ourselves in the sight
and
presence of God to every man’s conscience. |
| 3 | But even if our Gospel (the glad tidings) also be hidden (obscured and covered up with a veil that hinders the knowledge of God), it is hidden [only] to those who are perishing
and
obscured [only] to those who are spiritually dying
and
veiled [only] to those who are lost. |
| 4 | For the god of this world has blinded the unbelievers’ minds [that they should not discern the truth], preventing them from seeing the illuminating light of the Gospel of the glory of Christ (the Messiah), Who is the Image
and
Likeness of God. |
| 5 | For what we preach is not ourselves but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves [merely] as your servants (slaves) for Jesus’ sake. |
| 6 | For God Who said, Let light shine out of darkness, has shone in our hearts so as [to beam forth] the Light for the illumination of the knowledge of the majesty
and
glory of God [as it is manifest in the Person and is revealed] in the face of
Jesus
Christ (the Messiah). |
| 7 | However, we possess this precious treasure [the divine Light of the Gospel] in [frail, human] vessels of earth, that the grandeur
and
exceeding greatness of the power may be shown to be from God and not from ourselves. |
| 8 | We are hedged in (pressed) on every side [troubled and oppressed in every way], but not cramped
or
crushed; we suffer embarrassments
and
are perplexed
and
unable to find a way out, but not driven to despair; |
| 9 | We are pursued (persecuted and hard driven), but not deserted [to stand alone]; we are struck down to the ground, but never struck out
and
destroyed; |
| 10 | Always carrying about in the body the liability
and
exposure to the same putting to death that
the Lord
Jesus suffered, so that the [
[a]resurrection] life of Jesus also may be shown forth by
and
in our bodies. |
| 11 | For we who live are constantly [experiencing] being handed over to death for Jesus’ sake, that the [
[b]resurrection] life of Jesus also may be evidenced through our flesh which is liable to death. |
| 12 | Thus death is actively at work in us, but [it is in order that
[c]our] life [may be actively at work] in you. |
| 13 | Yet we have the same spirit of faith as he had who wrote, I have believed, and therefore have I spoken. We too believe, and therefore we speak, |
| 14 | Assured that He Who raised up the Lord Jesus will raise us up also with Jesus and bring us [along] with you into His presence. |
| 15 | For all [these] things are [taking place] for your sake, so that the more grace (divine favor and spiritual blessing) extends to more and more people
and
multiplies through the many, the more thanksgiving may increase [and redound] to the glory of God. |
| 16 | Therefore we do not become discouraged (utterly spiritless, exhausted, and wearied out through fear). Though our outer man is [progressively] decaying
and
wasting away, yet our inner self is being [progressively] renewed day after day. |
| 17 | For our light, momentary affliction (this slight distress of the passing hour) is ever more and more abundantly preparing
and
producing
and
achieving for us an everlasting weight of glory [beyond all measure, excessively surpassing all comparisons and all calculations, a vast and transcendent glory and blessedness never to cease!], |
| 18 | Since we consider
and
look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen; for the things that are visible are temporal (brief and fleeting), but the things that are invisible are deathless
and
everlasting. |
Cross references:
-
2 Corinthians 4:6 : Gen. 1:3.
-
2 Corinthians 4:13 : Ps. 116:10.
|