2 Corinthians 4

1 Therefore, since God [in His loving kindness and compassion] in His mercy [showing pity and forgiveness] has given us this ministry [service, work of helping others], we do not [completely] lose heart [become discouraged, faint]. word study 2 Instead, we have renounced [given up, completely rejected] secret [hidden, concealed] and shameful [dishonorable, disgraceful] ways [practices, behaviors]. We do not practice [walk in, live by] deceit [craftiness, cunning], nor do we distort [corrupt, adulterate] the word [Logos, divine message] of God [the one true deity]. On the contrary [but, in contrast], by open [clear, manifest] proclamation [declaration, revelation] of the truth [reality, authenticity], we commend [recommend, approve] ourselves to every man’s [human being’s, person’s] conscience [moral awareness, inner sense] in the sight [presence, before] of God [the Almighty, divine Judge]. word study 3 And even if our gospel [good news, message of salvation] is veiled [hid, covered], it is veiled [hidden, obscured] to those who are perishing [lost, dying, being destroyed]. word study 4 The god [Satan, ruler of this age] of this age [a long period of time, an era] has blinded [made spiritually dull, hardened] the minds [thoughts, understanding] of unbelievers [those without faith, untrustworthy] so they cannot see [perceive, comprehend] the light [illumination, spiritual understanding] of the gospel [good news, message of salvation] of the glory [honor, praise, divine splendor] of Christ [the Anointed One, Messiah], who is the image [likeness, representation] of God [the supreme Deity, Creator]. word study 5 For we do not [completely reject the idea of] proclaim ourselves, but [instead, we preach] Jesus Christ [the Anointed One, Messiah] as Lord [Master, God], and ourselves as your [faithful] servants [slaves, bondservants] for Jesus’ [God’s salvation] sake [because of, through]. word study 6 For God [the supreme Creator], who said, “Let light [spiritual illumination] shine out of darkness [spiritual ignorance],” made His light [divine understanding] shine in our hearts [the seat of thoughts and emotions] to give us the light [spiritual enlightenment] of the knowledge [spiritual understanding] of the glory [divine honor] of God [the one true deity] in the face [presence] of Jesus Christ [Joshua, God’s salvation]. word study 7 Now we have [possess, hold] this treasure [wealth, riches] in jars of [earthen] clay to show that this surpassingly [exceedingly, superior] great power [strength, ability] is from [out of, originating with] God [the one true deity] and not [absolutely not] from us [our own strength, ourselves]. word study 8 We are hard pressed [troubled, afflicted] on all sides [every direction, in every way], but not crushed [straitened, distressed]; perplexed [at a loss, unsure], but not in despair [without hope, utterly helpless]; word study 9 persecuted [pursued, cruelly attacked], but not [never] forsaken [abandoned, left behind]; struck down [cast down, thrown down, badly wounded], but not [never] destroyed [killed, lost completely]. word study 10 We always [at all times, continually] carry around in our body [the whole physical person, literally or figuratively] the death [state of being dead, spiritually or physically] of Jesus [Joshua, God is salvation], so that the life [physical and spiritual existence] of Jesus [God’s salvation] may also be revealed [made visible, manifested] in our body [the whole physical person, literally or figuratively]. word study 11 For we who are alive [still breathing, yet under threat of death] are always [continually, forever] consigned to death [delivered unto death, surrendered to mortal peril] for Jesus’ sake [because of our faith in Jesus, on account of our devotion to Him], so that the life [eternal life, divine nature] of Jesus may also be revealed [made manifest, clearly shown] in our mortal [subject to death, fragile] body [physical flesh, earthly vessel]. word study 12 So then [as a result, therefore], death [physical or spiritual] is at work [being active, working effectively] in us [in our lives, among us], but life [eternal, spiritual existence] is at work [being active, operating powerfully] in you [among you, within your hearts]. word study 13 And in keeping with what is written: “I believed [trusted in God], therefore I have spoken [uttered words of faith],” we who have the same [shared, like-minded] spirit [the vital principle] of faith [confidence, trust in God] also believe [have confidence, trust] and therefore speak [utter words, proclaim], word study 14 knowing [being fully aware, having spiritual insight] that the One [God, the Father] who raised [brought back to life, resurrected] the Lord [Master, Savior] Jesus [Joshua, God is salvation] will also raise [bring back to life, resurrect] us [believers, the church] with [together, in companionship] Jesus [the Messiah, Christ] and present [stand us before, bring us into] us with [together, in fellowship] you [the church, believers] in His [God’s, the Father’s] presence [before His face, in His glory]. word study 15 All this [for your sake, on your account] is for your benefit [to help you, for your advantage], so that the [divine, gracious] grace [unmerited favor, kindness] that is extending [increasing, spreading] to more and more people [a greater multitude, many] may overflow [abound, superabound] in thanksgiving [gratitude, praise], to the [highest, eternal] glory [honor, praise] of God [the Almighty, Creator]. word study 16 Therefore [as a consequence of our faith] we do not lose heart [become discouraged or faint]. Though our outer self [outward man, physical body] is wasting away [perishing, decaying], yet our inner self [inward man, spiritual being] is being renewed [made new, restored] day by day [daily, continually]. word study 17 For our [trivial, light] light and momentary affliction [pressure, tribulation] is producing [working out, bringing about] for us an eternal [age-during] glory [honor, praise] that is [far beyond comparison, surpassing] [exceedingly, more and more] far beyond comparison. word study 18 So we fix our eyes [with unwavering attention] not on what is seen [temporally visible], but on what is unseen [eternally real, not perceived by physical sight]. For what is seen [visible to the human eye] is temporary [fleeting, transitory], but what is unseen [spiritually discerned] is eternal [lasting forever, age-during]. word study