The Light of Christ’s Gospel

4 Therefore, since we have this ministry, aas we have received mercy, we bdo not lose heart. 2 But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness nor 1handling the word of God deceitfully, but by manifestation of the truth ccommending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God. 3 But even if our gospel is veiled, dit is veiled to those who are perishing, 4 whose minds ethe god of this age fhas blinded, who do not believe, lest gthe light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, hwho is the image of God, should shine on them. 5 iFor we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and jourselves your bondservants for Jesus’ sake. 6 For it is the God kwho commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has lshone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

Cast Down But Unconquered

7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, mthat the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. 8 We are nhard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not oforsaken; pstruck down, but not destroyed—10 qalways carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, rthat the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. 11 For we who live sare always delivered to death for Jesus’ sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. 12 So then death is working in us, but life in you.

13 And since we have tthe same spirit of faith, according to what is written, u“I believed and therefore I spoke,” we also believe and therefore speak, 14 knowing that vHe who raised up the Lord Jesus will also raise us up with Jesus, and will present us with you. 15 For wall things are for your sakes, that xgrace, having spread through the many, may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God.

Seeing the Invisible

16 Therefore we ydo not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is zbeing renewed day by day. 17 For aour light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, 18 bwhile we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

Assurance of the Resurrection

5 For we know that if aour earthly 1house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house bnot made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2 For in this cwe groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed with our 2habitation which is from heaven, 3 if indeed, dhaving been clothed, we shall not be found naked. 4 For we who are in this tent groan, being burdened, not because we want to be unclothed, ebut further clothed, that mortality may be swallowed up by life. 5 Now He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who also fhas given us the Spirit as 3a guarantee.

6 So we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord. 7 For gwe walk by faith, not by sight. 8 We are confident, yes, hwell pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.

The Judgment Seat of Christ

9 Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him.