2 Corinthians 4

The Light of the Gospel

4Therefore, since we have this ministry because we were shown mercy, ^gwe do not give up. ^h2Instead, we have renounced shameful secret things, not walking ⁱin deceit or distorting God’s message, ^jbut commending ourselves to every person’s conscience in God’s sight by an open display of the truth. ^k3But if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. ⁴In their case, the god of this age ^lhas blinded the minds of the unbelievers so they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, ^mnwho is the image of God. ^o5For we are not proclaiming ourselves but Jesus Christ as Lord, ^pand ourselves as your slaves because of Jesus. ⁶For God who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” ^qhas shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge ^rof God’s glory ^sin the face of Jesus Christ.

Treasure in Clay Jars

⁷Now we have this treasure in clay jars, so that this extraordinary power ^tmay be from God and not from us. ⁸We are pressured in every way but not crushed; we are perplexed but not in despair; ⁹we are persecuted but not abandoned; we are struck down but not destroyed. ¹⁰We always carry the death of Jesus ^uin our body, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. ¹¹For we who live are always given over to death ^vbecause of Jesus, so that Jesus’ life may also be revealed in our mortal flesh. ¹²So death works in us, but life in you. ¹³And since we have the same spirit of faith in keeping with what is written, I believed, therefore I spoke, ^wxwe also believe, and therefore speak. ¹⁴We know that the One who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus ^yand present us with you. ¹⁵Indeed, everything is for your benefit, so that grace, extended through more and more people, may cause thanksgiving ^zto increase to God’s glory.

¹⁶Therefore we do not give up. ^aEven though our outer person is being destroyed, our inner person ^bis being renewed day by day. ¹⁷For our momentary light affliction ^cdis producing for us an absolutely incomparable eternal weight of glory. ^e18So we do not focus on what is seen, ^fbut on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.