1 Such by God's mercy is our ministry, and therefore we do not waver
2 but have renounced all shameful secrecy. It is not our way to be devious, or to falsify the word of God; instead, in God's sight we commend ourselves to every human being with a conscience by showing the truth openly.
3 If our gospel seems to be veiled at all, it is so to those who are on the way to destruction,
4 the unbelievers whose minds have been blinded by the god of this world, so that they cannot see shining the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
5 It is not ourselves that we are proclaiming, but Christ Jesus as the Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake.
6 It is God who said, 'Let light shine out of darkness,' that has shone into our hearts to enlighten them with the knowledge of God's glory, the glory on the face of Christ.
7 But we hold this treasure in pots of earthenware, so that the immensity of the power is God's and not our own.
8 We are subjected to every kind of hardship, but never distressed; we see no way out but we never despair;
9 we are pursued but never cut off; knocked down, but still have some life in us;
10 always we carry with us in our body the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus, too, may be visible in our body.
11 Indeed, while we are still alive, we are continually being handed over to death, for the sake of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus, too, may be visible in our mortal flesh.
12 In us, then, death is at work; in you, life.
13 But as we have the same spirit of faith as is described in scripture -- I believed and therefore I spoke -we, too, believe and therefore we, too, speak,
14 realising that he who raised up the Lord Jesus will raise us up with Jesus in our turn, and bring us to himself -- and you as well.
15 You see, everything is for your benefit, so that as grace spreads, so, to the glory of God, thanksgiving may also overflow among more and more people.
16 That is why we do not waver; indeed, though this outer human nature of ours may be falling into decay, at the same time our inner human nature is renewed day by day.
17 The temporary, light burden of our hardships is earning us for ever an utterly incomparable, eternal weight of glory,
18 since what we aim for is not visible but invisible. Visible things are transitory, but invisible things eternal.
Versículos relacionados com 2 Corinthians, 4:
In 2 Corinthians 4, Paul talks about the ministry that he and his companions exercise and how they face difficulties, but do not give up because of their hope in Christ. He also discusses how God's glory is revealed in the work of Christ and how our own weakness makes this glory more evident. Here are five verses related to these themes:
Romans 5:3-5: "And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, because we know that tribulation produces perseverance; perseverance, an approved character; and the approved character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because because God poured his love in our hearts through the Holy Spirit that He gave us. " This verse shows how tribulation can produce perseverance and eventually hope, how Paul speaks in 2 Corinthians 4.
2 Corinthians 1:3-4: "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of Mercies and God of all consolation, who comforts us in all our tribulations, that with the consolation we receive from God. , we can comfort those who are going through similar tribulations. " Here Paul highlights how God is the Comforter in the midst of tribulations, which is important to deal with the difficulties he and his companions face.
John 1:14: "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us. We have seen his glory, glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and of truth." This verse highlights the incarnation of Jesus, which is the basis of the work that Paul and his companions do and is the source of the glory of God that is revealed.
2 Corinthians 4:7: "But we have this treasure in clay vessels, so that the excellence of power is of God and not of us." Here Paul talks about how our weakness is evidenced in our limited humanity, but how this allows God's glory to be even more evident.
Romans 8:18: "I consider that our current sufferings cannot be compared to the glory that will be revealed in us." Here Paul highlights how the glory of God will be revealed through the suffering that He and His companions face, an idea similar to what He expresses in 2 Corinthians 4.
Chapters: