Present Weakness and Resurrection Life

4 Therefore, since through God’s mercyd we have this ministry, we do not lose heart.e 2 Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways;f we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God.g On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to everyone’s conscienceh in the sight of God. 3 And even if our gospeli is veiled,j it is veiled to those who are perishing.k 4 The godl of this agem has blindedn the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ,o who is the image of God.p 5 For what we preach is not ourselves,q but Jesus Christ as Lord,r and ourselves as your servantss for Jesus’ sake. 6 For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,”a t made his light shine in our heartsu to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.v

7 But we have this treasure in jars of clayw to show that this all-surpassing power is from Godx and not from us. 8 We are hard pressed on every side,y but not crushed; perplexed,z but not in despair; 9 persecuted,a but not abandoned;b struck down, but not destroyed.c