2 Corinthians

The second epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Corinthians, chapter 4, New English Translation and King James Version

Chapter 4 New English Translation

Paul's Perseverance in Ministry

1 Therefore, since we have this ministry, just as God has shown us mercy, we do not become discouraged. 2 But we have rejected shameful hidden deeds, not behaving with deceptiveness or distorting the word of God, but by open proclamation of the truth we commend ourselves to everyone's conscience before God. 3 But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled only to those who are perishing, 4 among whom the god of this age has blinded the minds of those who do not believe so they would not see the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God. 5 For we do not proclaim ourselves, but Jesus Christ as LORD, and ourselves as your slaves for Jesus' sake. 6 For God, who said "Let light shine out of darkness, " is the one who shined in our hearts to give us the light of the glorious knowledge of God in the face of Christ.

An Eternal Weight of Glory

7 But we have this treasure in clay jars, so that the extraordinary power belongs to God and does not come from us. 8 We are experiencing trouble on every side, but are not crushed; we are perplexed, but not driven to despair; 9 we are persecuted, but not abandoned; we are knocked down, but not destroyed, 10 always carrying around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be made visible in our body. 11 For we who are alive are constantly being handed over to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus may also be made visible in our mortal body. 12 As a result, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you. 13 But since we have the same spirit of faith as that shown in what has been written, "I believed; therefore I spoke, " we also believe, therefore we also speak. 14 We do so because we know that the one who raised up Jesus will also raise us up with Jesus and will bring us with you into his presence. 15 For all these things are for your sake, so that the grace that is including more and more people may cause thanksgiving to increase to the glory of God. 16 Therefore we do not despair, but even if our physical body is wearing away, our inner person is being renewed day by day. 17 For our momentary, light suffering is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison 18 because we are not looking at what can be seen but at what cannot be seen. For what can be seen is temporary, but what cannot be seen is eternal.

King James Version

   1 Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not;
   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.
   3 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:
   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.
   5 For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves 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.
   7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, 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;
   9 Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast 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.
   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.
   12 So then death worketh 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;
   14 Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you.
   15 For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound 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.
   17 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.