2 Corinthians 4
Paul declares that the god of this world has blinded the minds of unbelievers, but God has shined the light of the knowledge of His glory in the face of Jesus Christ. He describes the treasure of the gospel carried in earthen vessels, and though outwardly perishing, the inward man is renewed day by day — for the afflictions are light and momentary compared to the eternal weight of glory.
| v | King James Version | Modern English |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not; | Therefore, since we have this ministry by the mercy we have received, we do not lose heart. |
| 2 | But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God. | We have renounced the hidden things of shame, refusing to walk in craftiness or to handle the word of God deceitfully. Instead, by the open declaration of the truth, we commend ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God. |
| 3 | But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: | But if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing — |
| 4 | In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. | the god of this world has blinded the minds of those who do not believe, so that the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, Who is the image of God, should not shine on them. |
| 5 | For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake. | For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus as Lord — and ourselves as Your servants for Jesus' sake. |
| 6 | For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. | For God, Who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. |
| 7 | But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. | But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the excellency of the power may be of God and not of us. |
| 8 | We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; | We are pressed on every side, yet not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; |
| 9 | Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; | persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed. |
| 10 | Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. | We are always carrying around in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, so that the life of Jesus also may be made known in our body. |
| 11 | For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh. | For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be made known in our mortal flesh. |
| 12 | So then death worketh in us, but life in you. | So then death is at work in us, but life in You. |
| 13 | We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak; | We have the same spirit of faith as is written: "I believed, and therefore have I spoken." We also believe, and therefore speak, |
| 14 | Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you. | knowing that He who raised up the Lord Jesus will also raise us up with Jesus, and will present us together with You in His presence. |
| 15 | For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God. | For all these things are for Your sakes, so that grace, having reached more and more people, may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God. |
| 16 | For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. | Therefore we do not lose heart. Though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. |
| 17 | For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; | For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, |
| 18 | While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal. | while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen — for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal. |