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2 Corinthians 4

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Integrity in Ministry and the Gospel's Light 1–6

1
Therefore seeing we have this ministry, even as we obtained mercy, we faint not: ​
2
but we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by the manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God. ​
3
And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled in them that perish: ​
4
in whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of the unbelieving, that the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should not dawn upon them. ​
5
For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. ​
6
Seeing it is God, that said, Light shall shine out of darkness, who shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. ​

Treasure in Earthen Vessels 7–12

7
But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the exceeding greatness of the power may be of God, and not from ourselves; ​
8
we are pressed on every side, yet not straitened; perplexed, yet not unto despair; ​
9
pursued, yet not forsaken; smitten down, yet not destroyed;
10
always bearing about in the body the dying of Jesus, that the life also of Jesus may be manifested in our body. ​
11
For we who live are always delivered unto death for Jesus’ sake, that the life also of Jesus may be manifested in our mortal flesh.
12
So then death worketh in us, but life in you. ​

Enduring Affliction with Eternal Hope 13–18

13
But having the same spirit of faith, according to that which is written, I believed, and therefore did I speak; we also believe, and therefore also we speak; ​
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knowing that he that raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also with Jesus, and shall present us with you. ​
15
For all things are for your sakes, that the grace, being multiplied through the many, may cause the thanksgiving to abound unto the glory of God.
16
Wherefore we faint not; but though our outward man is decaying, yet our inward man is renewed day by day. ​
17
For our light affliction, which is for the moment, worketh for us more and more exceedingly an 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. ​

Bible text: American Standard Version (1901) · Public domain

Study Notes for 2 Corinthians 4

Verse 1

we faint not — Ekkakeo, to lose heart, give way through weariness; the same verb stands in 'let us not be weary in well doing' (Gal 6:9) and returns in v.16. The reason given is mercy received: the 'ministry' (diakonia, service) is held by grace, as a gift received.

Verse 2

the hidden things of dishonesty — Literally the hidden things of shame (aischyne), what must be kept out of sight. Panourgia, 'craftiness', is trickery. Against it stands 'manifestation of the truth' before 'every man's conscience', as in 'not as many, which corrupt the word of God' (2 Cor 2:17).

Verse 3

hid to them that are lost — Kalypto, to cover, as with the veil of 3:14–15. 'Lost' is apollymi, those perishing, to whom the preaching of the cross is foolishness (1 Cor 1:18). The gospel is not itself obscure; the covering lies on the hearers, as v.4 goes on to say.

Verse 4

the god of this world — Aion, an age; the same adversary is 'the prince of the power of the air' who works in the disobedient (Eph 2:2). He 'blinded the minds' (noema, thoughts) of the unbelieving. Christ is 'the image' (eikon) of God, as in Col 1:15, 'the image of the invisible God'.

Verse 5

we preach not ourselves — Kerysso, to proclaim as a herald; the message is 'Christ Jesus the Lord' (kyrios). The preachers call themselves 'your servants' (doulos, bondservants), 'for Jesus' sake', not lords: 'not for that we have dominion over your faith' (2 Cor 1:24).

Verse 6

commanded the light to shine out of darkness — The creation word, 'And God said, Let there be light' (Gen 1:3). The one verb lampo serves both for the light commanded and the light that 'hath shined in our hearts'. The knowledge of God's glory is seen 'in the face' (prosopon) of Jesus Christ.

Verse 7

this treasure in earthen vessels — Thesauros is the treasure of the gospel; ostrakinos is clay, pottery, easily broken. The purpose is stated: 'the excellency' (hyperbole, surpassing greatness) 'of the power' is 'of God, and not of us', as 'our sufficiency is of God' (2 Cor 3:5).

Verse 8

troubled on every side, yet not distressed — The first of four pairs (vv.8–9). Thlibo is to be pressed; stenochoreo is to be hemmed in with no room. 'Perplexed… not in despair' plays on two Greek words, aporeo and exaporeomai: at a loss, but not utterly without a way out. Compare 2 Cor 12:10.

Verse 10

bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus — Nekrosis, dying (deadness); periphero, to carry about. Paul's sufferings share Christ's: 'the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death' (Phil 3:10). The purpose is that Jesus' life be 'made manifest' (phaneroo) in the same body.

Verse 12

death worketh in us, but life in you — Energeo, to be at work. The apostles' exposure to death issues in life for the Corinthians, as Paul says again: 'I will very gladly spend and be spent for you' (2 Cor 12:15), and 'if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith' (Phil 2:17).

Verse 13

I believed, and therefore have I spoken — Quoted from Ps 116:10, where it is followed by 'I was greatly afflicted', so this is faith that speaks under affliction. Paul claims 'the same spirit of faith' (pneuma pisteos) as the psalmist, and adds his own: 'we also believe, and therefore speak'.

Verse 14

he which raised up the Lord Jesus — The ground of confidence is the resurrection of Christ, applied to believers in 'shall raise up us also by Jesus', as in 1 Cor 6:14 and Rom 8:11. Paristemi, 'present', means to set beside; the apostles are brought before him 'with you', together with the Corinthians.

Verse 16

the inward man is renewed day by day — Anakainoo, to make new, the verb of 'renewed in knowledge' (Col 3:10). The 'outward man' (exo anthropos) 'perish' (diaphtheiro, wastes away), while 'the inward man' (cf. Rom 7:22) is renewed. 'We faint not' repeats v.1.

Verse 17

light affliction, which is but for a moment — Elaphros is light, parautika momentary; against them is set 'a far more exceeding and eternal weight' (baros) of glory. Affliction 'worketh' (katergazomai) glory, as 'the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared' (Rom 8:18).

Verse 18

the things which are not seen — Skopeo, to fix the eye on a mark, a deliberate look. 'Temporal' is proskairos, for a season; 'eternal' is aionios. The same principle appears in 'we walk by faith, not by sight' (2 Cor 5:7) and in 'faith is… the evidence of things not seen' (Heb 11:1).