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.