2 Corinthians 4

1Therefore, since we have this ministry through God’s mercy, we do not lose heart.

2Instead, we have renounced secret and shameful ways. We do not act with cunning or distort the word of God, but by openly stating the truth we commend ourselves to every human conscience in the sight of God.

3And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing.

4In their case the god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

5For we do not proclaim ourselves but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake.

6For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” is the one who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

7But we have this treasure in clay jars, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and does not come from us.

8We are pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair;

9persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.

10We always carry in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.

11For we who are alive are always being handed over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our mortal flesh.

12So death is at work in us, but life in you.

13Since we have the same spirit of faith that is expressed in what is written, “I believed, therefore I spoke,” we also believe, and therefore we also speak,

14because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus will also raise us with Jesus and bring us together with you into his presence.

15For all this is for your sake, so that as grace reaches more and more people it may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.

16So we do not lose heart. Even though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day.

17For this light, momentary affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison,

18because we do not look at the things that are seen but at the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are temporary, but the things that are unseen are eternal.