Second Letter to the Corinthians 4

¹ Since we have by an act of mercy been entrusted with this work of administration, there is no weakening on our part.

² On the contrary, we will have none of the reticence of those who are ashamed, no deceitfulness or watering down the word of God; but the way we commend ourselves to every human being with a conscience is by stating the truth openly in the sight of God.

³ If our gospel does not penetrate the veil, then the veil is on those who are not on the way to salvation;

⁴ the unbelievers whose minds the god of this world has blinded, to stop them seeing the light shed by the Good News of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

⁵ For it is not ourselves that we are preaching, but Christ Jesus as the Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake.

⁶ It is the same God that said, ‘Let there be light shining out of darkness’, who has shone in our minds to radiate the light of the knowledge of God’s glory, the glory on the face of Christ.

⁷ We are only the earthenware jars that hold this treasure, to make it clear that such an overwhelming power comes from God and not from us.

⁸ We are in difficulties on all sides, but never cornered; we see no answer to our problems, but never despair;

⁹ we have been persecuted, but never deserted; knocked down, but never killed;

¹⁰ always, wherever we may be, we carry with us in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus, too, may always be seen in our body.

¹¹ Indeed, while we are still alive, we are consigned to our death every day, for the sake of Jesus, so that in our mortal flesh the life of Jesus, too, may be openly shown.

¹² So death is at work in us, but life in you.

¹³ But as we have the same spirit of faith that is mentioned in scripture – I believed, and therefore I spoke[*a] – we too believe and therefore we too speak,

¹⁴ knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus to life will raise us with Jesus in our turn, and put us by his side and you with us.

¹⁵ You see, all this is for your benefit, so that the more grace is multiplied among people, the more thanksgiving there will be, to the glory of God.

¹⁶ That is why there is no weakening on our part, and instead, though this outer man of ours may be falling into decay, the inner man is renewed day by day.

¹⁷ Yes, the troubles which are soon over, though they weigh little, train us for the carrying of a weight of eternal glory which is out of all proportion to them.

¹⁸ And so we have no eyes for things that are visible, but only for things that are invisible; for visible things last only for a time, and the invisible things are eternal.