2 Corinthians 4

1 Therefore seeing we have this ministry, even as we obtained mercy, we faint not:2 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.3 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled in them that perish:4 in whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of the unbelieving, that the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should not dawn upon them.5 For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake.6 Seeing it is God, that said, Light shall shine out of darkness, who shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the exceeding greatness of the power may be of God, and not from ourselves;8 we are pressed on every side, yet not straitened; perplexed, yet not unto despair;9 pursued, yet not forsaken; smitten down, yet not destroyed;10 always bearing about in the body the dying of Jesus, that the life also of Jesus may be manifested in our body.11 For we who live are always delivered unto death for Jesus’ sake, that the life also of Jesus may be manifested in our mortal flesh.12 So then death worketh in us, but life in you.13 But having the same spirit of faith, according to that which is written, I believed, and therefore did I speak; we also believe, and therefore also we speak;14 knowing that he that raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also with Jesus, and shall present us with you.15 For all things are for your sakes, that the grace, being multiplied through the many, may cause the thanksgiving to abound unto the glory of God.16 Wherefore we faint not; but though our outward man is decaying, yet our inward man is renewed day by day.17 For our light affliction, which is for the moment, worketh for us more and more exceedingly an eternal weight of glory;18 while we look not 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.

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.