2Cor.4.1

Since God has so generously let us in on what he is doing, we're not about to throw up our hands and walk off the job just because we run into occasional hard times.

2Cor.4.1

Therefore, since through God's mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart.

2Cor.4.1

Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we do not lose heart.

2Cor.4.1

And so, since God in his mercy has given us this wonderful ministry, we never give up.

2Cor.4.2

We refuse to wear masks and play games. We don't maneuver and manipulate behind the scenes. And we don't twist God's Word to suit ourselves. Rather, we keep everything we do and say out in the open, the whole truth on display, so that those who want to can see and judge for themselves in the presence of God.

2Cor.4.2

Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God.

2Cor.4.2

But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, 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.

2Cor.4.2

We reject all shameful and underhanded methods. We do not try to trick anyone, and we do not distort the word of God. We tell the truth before God, and all who are honest know that.

2Cor.4.3

If our Message is obscure to anyone, it's not because we're holding back in any way. No, it's because these other people are looking or going the wrong way and refuse to give it serious attention.

2Cor.4.3

And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing.

2Cor.4.3

But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing,

2Cor.4.3

If the Good News we preach is veiled from anyone, it is a sign that they are perishing.

2Cor.4.4

All they have eyes for is the fashionable god of darkness. They think he can give them what they want, and that they won't have to bother believing a Truth they can't see. They're stone-blind to the dayspring brightness of the Message that shines with Christ, who gives us the best picture of God we'll ever get.

2Cor.4.4

The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

2Cor.4.4

whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.

2Cor.4.4

Satan, the god of this evil world, has blinded the minds of those who don't believe, so they are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News that is shining upon them. They don't understand the message we preach about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God.

2Cor.4.5

Remember, our Message is not about ourselves; we're proclaiming Jesus Christ, the Master. All we are is messengers, errand runners from Jesus for you.

2Cor.4.5

For we do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake.

2Cor.4.5

For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus' sake.

2Cor.4.5

We don't go around preaching about ourselves; we preach Christ Jesus, the Lord. All we say about ourselves is that we are your servants because of what Jesus has done for us.

2Cor.4.6

It started when God said, "Light up the darkness!" and our lives filled up with light as we saw and understood God in the face of Christ, all bright and beautiful.

2Cor.4.6

For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.

2Cor.4.6

For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

2Cor.4.6

For God, who said, "Let there be light in the darkness," has made us understand that this light is the brightness of the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ.

2Cor.4.7

If you only look at us, you might well miss the brightness. We carry this precious Message around in the unadorned clay pots of our ordinary lives. That's to prevent anyone from confusing God's incomparable power with us.

2Cor.4.7

But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.

2Cor.4.7

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.

2Cor.4.7

But this precious treasure--this light and power that now shine within us--is held in perishable containers, that is, in our weak bodies. So everyone can see that our glorious power is from God and is not our own.

2Cor.4.8

As it is, there's not much chance of that. You know for yourselves that we're not much to look at. We've been surrounded and battered by troubles, but we're not demoralized; we're not sure what to do,

2Cor.4.8

We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair;

2Cor.4.8

We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;

2Cor.4.8

We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed and broken. We are perplexed, but we don't give up and quit.

2Cor.4.9

but we know that God knows what to do; we've been spiritually terrorized, but God hasn't left our side; we've been thrown down, but we haven't broken.

2Cor.4.9

persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.

2Cor.4.9

persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed--

2Cor.4.9

We are hunted down, but God never abandons us. We get knocked down, but we get up again and keep going.

2Cor.4.10

What they did to Jesus, they do to us--trial and torture, mockery and murder; what Jesus did among them, he does in us--he lives!

2Cor.4.10

We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.

2Cor.4.10

always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.

2Cor.4.10

Through suffering, these bodies of ours constantly share in the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be seen in our bodies.

2Cor.4.11

Our lives are at constant risk for Jesus' sake, which makes Jesus' life all the more evident in us.

2Cor.4.11

For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that his life may be revealed in our mortal body.

2Cor.4.11

For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus' sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.

2Cor.4.11

Yes, we live under constant danger of death because we serve Jesus, so that the life of Jesus will be obvious in our dying bodies.

2Cor.4.12

While we're going through the worst, you're getting in on the best!

2Cor.4.12

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

2Cor.4.12

So then death is working in us, but life in you.

2Cor.4.12

So we live in the face of death, but it has resulted in eternal life for you.

2Cor.4.13

We're not keeping this quiet, not on your life. Just like the psalmist who wrote, "I believed it, so I said it," we say what we believe.

2Cor.4.13

It is written: "I believed; therefore I have spoken." With that same spirit of faith we also believe and therefore speak,

2Cor.4.13

And since we have the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, "I believed and therefore I spoke," we also believe and therefore speak,

2Cor.4.13

But we continue to preach because we have the same kind of faith the psalmist had when he said, "I believed in God, and so I speak."

2Cor.4.14

And what we believe is that the One who raised up the Master Jesus will just as certainly raise us up with you, alive.

2Cor.4.14

because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you in his presence.

2Cor.4.14

knowing that He who raised up the Lord Jesus will also raise us up with Jesus, and will present us with you.

2Cor.4.14

We know that the same God who raised our Lord Jesus will also raise us with Jesus and present us to himself along with you.

2Cor.4.15

Every detail works to your advantage and to God's glory: more and more grace, more and more people, more and more praise!

2Cor.4.15

All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.

2Cor.4.15

For all things are for your sakes, that grace, having spread through the many, may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God.

2Cor.4.15

All of these things are for your benefit. And as God's grace brings more and more people to Christ, there will be great thanksgiving, and God will receive more and more glory.

2Cor.4.16

So we're not giving up. How could we! Even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without his unfolding grace.

2Cor.4.16

Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.

2Cor.4.16

Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day.

2Cor.4.16

That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day.

2Cor.4.17

These hard times are small potatoes compared to the coming good times, the lavish celebration prepared for us.

2Cor.4.17

For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.

2Cor.4.17

For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory,

2Cor.4.17

For our present troubles are quite small and won't last very long. Yet they produce for us an immeasurably great glory that will last forever!

2Cor.4.18

There's far more here than meets the eye. The things we see now are here today, gone tomorrow. But the things we can't see now will last forever.

2Cor.4.18

So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

2Cor.4.18

while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

2Cor.4.18

So we don't look at the troubles we can see right now; rather, we look forward to what we have not yet seen. For the troubles we see will soon be over, but the joys to come will last forever.