2 Corinthians 4

Paul’s Perseverance in Ministry

1 Therefore, since we have this ministry, just as God has shown us mercy,t we do not become discouraged.t2 But we have rejectedt shameful hidden deeds,t not behavingt with deceptivenesst or distorting the word of God, but by open proclamation of the truth we commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience before God.3 But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled only to those who are perishing,4 among whom the god of this age has blinded the minds of those who do not believet so they would not see the light of the glorious gospelt of Christ,t who is the image of God.5 For we do not proclaimt ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your slavest for Jesus’ sake.

6 For God, who said “Let light shine out of darkness,”s is the one who shined in our hearts to give us the light of the glorious knowledget of God in the face of Christ.s

An Eternal Weight of Glory

7 But we have this treasure in clay jars, so that the extraordinary powert belongs to God and does not come from us.8 We are experiencing trouble on every side,t but are not crushed; we are perplexed,t but not driven to despair;9 we are persecuted, but not abandoned;t we are knocked down,t but not destroyed,10 always carrying around in our body the death of Jesus,t so that the life of Jesus may also be made visiblet in our body.11 For we who are alive are constantly being handed over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus may also be made visiblet in our mortal body.t12 As a result,t death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.t13 But since we have the same spirit of faith as that shown int what has been written, “I believed; therefore I spoke,”s we also believe, therefore we also speak.14 We do sot because we know that the one who raised up Jesuss will also raise us up with Jesus and will bring us with you into his presence.15 For all these things are for your sake, so that the grace that is includingt more and more people may cause thanksgiving to increaset to the glory of God.16 Therefore we do not despair,t but even if our physical bodyt is wearing away, our inner persont is being renewed day by day.17 For our momentary, light sufferingt is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison

18 because we are not looking at what can be seen but at what cannot be seen. For what can be seen is temporary, but what cannot be seen is eternal.

2 Corinthians 4

Spiritual Treasure in Clay Pots

1 God in his mercy has given us this work to do, and so we do not become discouraged. 2 We put aside all secret and shameful deeds; we do not act with deceit, nor do we falsify the word of God. In the full light of truth we live in God's sight and try to commend ourselves to everyone's good conscience. 3 For if the gospel we preach is hidden, it is hidden only from those who are being lost. 4 They do not believe, because their minds have been kept in the dark by the evil god of this world. He keeps them from seeing the light shining on them, the light that comes from the Good News about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God. 5 For it is not ourselves that we preach; we preach Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake.

6 The God who said, “Out of darkness the light shall shine!” is the same God who made his light shine in our hearts, to bring us the knowledge of God's glory shining in the face of Christ.
7 Yet we who have this spiritual treasure are like common clay pots, in order to show that the supreme power belongs to God, not to us. 8 We are often troubled, but not crushed; sometimes in doubt, but never in despair; 9 there are many enemies, but we are never without a friend; and though badly hurt at times, we are not destroyed. 10 At all times we carry in our mortal bodies the death of Jesus, so that his life also may be seen in our bodies. 11 Throughout our lives we are always in danger of death for Jesus' sake, in order that his life may be seen in this mortal body of ours.

12 This means that death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.
13 The scripture says, “I spoke because I believed.” In the same spirit of faith we also speak because we believe. 14 We know that God, who raised the Lord Jesus to life, will also raise us up with Jesus and take us, together with you, into his presence.

15 All this is for your sake; and as God's grace reaches more and more people, they will offer to the glory of God more prayers of thanksgiving.

Living by Faith

16 For this reason we never become discouraged. Even though our physical being is gradually decaying, yet our spiritual being is renewed day after day. 17 And this small and temporary trouble we suffer will bring us a tremendous and eternal glory, much greater than the trouble.

18 For we fix our attention, not on things that are seen, but on things that are unseen. What can be seen lasts only for a time, but what cannot be seen lasts forever.