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.

1Therefore, seeing we haue this ministery, as we haue receiued mercie wee faint not:

2But haue renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftines, nor handling the word of God deceitfully, but by manifestation of the trueth, commending our selues to euery mans conscience, in the sight of God.

3But if our Gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:

4In whom the God of this world hath blinded the minds of them which beleeue not, lest the light of the glorious Gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine vnto them.

5For we preach not our selues, but Christ Iesus the Lord, and our selues your seruants for Iesus sake.

6For God who commaunded the light to shine out of darkenes, hath shined in our hearts, to giue the light of the knowledge of the glory of God, in the face of Iesus Christ.

7But we haue this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellencie of the power may be of God, and not of vs.

8Wee are troubled on euery side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despaire,

9Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast downe, but not destroyed.

10Alwayes bearing about in the body, the dying of the Lord Iesus, that the life also of Iesus might bee made manifest in our body.

11For we which liue, are always deliuered vnto death for Iesus sake, that the life also of Iesus might bee made manifest in our mortall flesh.

12So then death worketh in vs, but life in you.

13We hauing the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I beleeued, and therefore haue I spoken: wee also beleeue, and therefore speake.

14Knowing that hee which raised vp the Lord Iesus, shall raise vp vs also by Iesus, and shall present vs with you.

15For all things are for your sakes, that the abundāt grace might, through the thankesgiuing of many, redound to the glory of God.

16For which cause we faint not, but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.

17For our light affliction, which is but for a momēt, worketh for vs a farre more exceeding and eternall waight of glory,

18While we looke not at the things which are seene, but at þe things which are not seene: for the things which are seene, are temporall, but the things which are not seene, are eternall.

4:4==JN 12:31 COL 1:15

4:6==GEN 1:3

4:13==PS 116:10

4:14==1st THESS 4:14

 

1 Therefore, since we have this ministry through the mercy shown us, we are not discouraged. 2 Rather, we have renounced shameful, hidden things; not acting deceitfully or falsifying the word of God, but by the open declaration of the truth we commend ourselves to everyone's conscience in the sight of God. 3 And even though our gospel is veiled, it is veiled for those who are perishing, 4 in whose case the god of this age has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, so that they may not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 5 For we do not preach ourselves but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your slaves for the sake of Jesus. 6 For God who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," has shone in our hearts to bring to light the knowledge of the glory of God on the face of (Jesus) Christ. 7 But we hold this treasure in earthen vessels, that the surpassing power may be of God and not from us. 8 We are afflicted in every way, but not constrained; perplexed, but not driven to despair; 9 persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed; 10 always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our body. 11 For we who live are constantly being given up to death for the sake of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may be manifested in our mortal flesh. 12 So death is at work in us, but life in you. 13 Since, then, we have the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, "I believed, therefore I spoke," we too believe and therefore speak, 14 knowing that the one who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and place us with you in his presence. 15 Everything indeed is for you, so that the grace bestowed in abundance on more and more people may cause the thanksgiving to overflow for the glory of God. 16 Therefore, we are not discouraged; rather, although our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. 17 For this momentary light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, 18 as we look not to what is seen but to what is unseen; for what is seen is transitory, but what is unseen is eternal.

This chapter deals with Paul’s living martyrdom.
v1. “This ministry” is the presentation of the gospel as he has been alluding to in the previous chapters. Awareness of God’s mercy has kept him from discouragement in difficult situations.
v2. The heathen and maybe even his critics had used deceitful practices, but he renounced those things and taught the Word in spirit and truth so he was without reproach before God and man.
v3,4. Satan hides the light of the gospel to the unsaved through superstition, pride of intellect, attractions of this world.
5,6. No matter how talented, the messenger must be subordinate to the message of the Lord Jesus Christ, giving light in our hearts as surely as he gave light at creation. This light we reflect on to others.
7. As earthen vessels were of value only for the savings or what they contained, God uses simple human vessels to tell of His Word and His power.
v8-10. Though sufferings may be great and we may not know which way to turn, but we are not totally in despair, not totally destroyed if God is in control. Christ suffered more than us, and it is a glory to suffer for Him. Rom. 8:36;1 Cor. 15:31; Phil. 3:10.
v11,12. Suffering may be as death the severing of many affections to the ones proclaiming the Gospel, but it brings life to the ones who hear and believe.
13-15. We have a real, unshakable faith. Because of the resurrection of Christ, we too will be raised to eternal life. Paul’s sufferings had the resulting glory of bringing these people to Christ.
16-18. As in verse 1, Paul has a reason to not faint. He may be declining physically, but is being renewed spiritually. Those heavy afflictions he considers light, when compared to eternal results. The temporal things we see, carefully examine, may be very important and valuable to our well being and comfort, but they do not last. More difficult to see and understand, eternal reward is of much more value.