Paul’s Perseverance in Ministry

4:1 Therefore, since we have this ministry, just as God has shown us mercy,1 we do not become discouraged.2 4:2 But we have rejected3 shameful hidden deeds,4 not behaving5 with deceptiveness6 or distorting the word of God, but by open proclamation of the truth we commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience before God. 4:3 But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled only to those who are perishing, 4:4 among whom the god of this age has blinded the minds of those who do not believe7 so they would not see the light of the glorious gospel8 of Christ,9 who is the image of God. 4:5 For we do not proclaim10 ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your slaves11 for Jesus’ sake. 4:6 For God, who said “Let light shine out of darkness,”12 is the one who shined in our hearts to give us the light of the glorious knowledge13 of God in the face of Christ.14