Epistula II ad Corinthios, 4
1. Ideo habentes hanc ministra tionem, iuxta quod misericor diam consecuti sumus, non deficimus,
1. Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God, we do not lose heart.
2. sed abdicavimus occulta dedecoris non ambulantes in astutia neque adulterantes verbum Dei, sed in manifestatione veritatis commendantes nosmetipsos ad omnem conscientiam hominum coram Deo.
2. We have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways; we refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God's word, but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God.
3. Quod si etiam velatum est evangelium nostrum, in his, qui pereunt, est velatum;
3. And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled only to those who are perishing.
4. in quibus deus huius saeculi excaecavit mentes infidelium, ut non fulgeat illuminatio evangelii gloriae Christi, qui est imago Dei.
4. In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the likeness of God.
5. Non enim nosmetipsos praedicamus sed Iesum Christum Dominum; nos autem servos vestros per Iesum.
5. For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake.
6. Quoniam Deus, qui dixit: “De tenebris lux splendescat”, ipse illuxit in cordibus nostris ad illuminationem scientiae claritatis Dei in facie Iesu Christi.
6. For it is the God who said, "Let light 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 Christ.
7. Habemus autem thesaurum istum in vasis fictilibus, ut sublimitas sit virtutis Dei et non ex nobis.
7. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, to show that the transcendent power belongs to God and not to us.
8. In omnibus tribulationem patimur, sed non angustiamur; aporiamur, sed non destituimur;
8. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair;
9. persecutionem patimur, sed non derelinquimur; deicimur, sed non perimus;
9. persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed;
10. semper mortificationem Iesu in corpore circumferentes, ut et vita Iesu in corpore nostro manifestetur.
10. always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies.
11. Semper enim nos, qui vivimus, in mortem tradimur propter Iesum, ut et vita Iesu manifestetur in carne nostra mortali.
11. For while we live we are always being given up to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus may be manifested in our mortal flesh.
12. Ergo mors in nobis operatur, vita autem in vobis.
12. So death is at work in us, but life in you.
13. Habentes autem eundem spiritum fidei, sicut scriptum est: “Credidi, propter quod locutus sum”, et nos credimus, propter quod et loquimur,
13. Since we have the same spirit of faith as he had who wrote, "I believed, and so I spoke," we too believe, and so we speak,
14. scientes quoniam, qui suscitavit Dominum Iesum, et nos cum Iesu suscitabit et constituet vobiscum.
14. knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into his presence.
15. Omnia enim propter vos, ut gratia abundans per multos gratiarum actionem abundare faciat in gloriam Dei.
15. For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God.
16. Propter quod non deficimus, sed licet is, qui foris est, noster homo corrumpitur, tamen is, qui intus est, noster renovatur de die in diem.
16. So we do not lose heart. Though our outer nature is wasting away, our inner nature is being renewed every day.
17. Id enim, quod in praesenti est, leve tribulationis nostrae supra modum in sublimitatem aeternum gloriae pondus operatur nobis,
17. For this slight momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison,
18. non contemplantibus nobis, quae videntur, sed quae non videntur; quae enim videntur, temporalia sunt, quae autem non videntur, aeterna sunt.
18. because we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen; for the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.
