Bible Gateway passage: 2 Corinthians 4 - New International Version (2024)

Present Weakness and Resurrection Life

4Therefore, since through God’s mercy^(A) we have this ministry, we do not lose heart.^{(B) 2}Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways;^(C) we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God.^(D) On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience^(E) in the sight of God. ³And even if our gospel^(F) is veiled,^(G) it is veiled to those who are perishing.^{(H) 4}The god^(I) of this age^(J) has blinded^(K) the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ,^(L) who is the image of God.^{(M) 5}For what we preach is not ourselves,^(N) but Jesus Christ as Lord,^(O) and ourselves as your servants^(P) for Jesus’ sake. ⁶For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,”^[a](Q) made his light shine in our hearts^(R) to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.^(S)

⁷But we have this treasure in jars of clay^(T) to show that this all-surpassing power is from God^(U) and not from us. ⁸We are hard pressed on every side,^(V) but not crushed; perplexed,^(W) but not in despair; ⁹persecuted,^(X) but not abandoned;^(Y) struck down, but not destroyed.^{(Z) 10}We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus,^(AA) so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.^{(AB) 11}For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake,^(AC) so that his life may also be revealed in our mortal body. ¹²So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.^(AD)

¹³It is written: “I believed; therefore I have spoken.”^[b](AE) Since we have that same spirit of^[c] faith,^(AF) we also believe and therefore speak, ¹⁴because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead^(AG) will also raise us with Jesus^(AH) and present us with you to himself.^{(AI) 15}All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving^(AJ) to overflow to the glory of God.

¹⁶Therefore we do not lose heart.^(AK) Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly^(AL) we are being renewed^(AM) day by day. ¹⁷For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.^{(AN) 18}So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen,^(AO) since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

Footnotes

1. 2 Corinthians 4:6 Gen. 1:3
2. 2 Corinthians 4:13 Psalm 116:10 (see Septuagint)
3. 2 Corinthians 4:13 Or Spirit-given

Cross references

1. 2 Corinthians 4:1 : 1Co 7:25; 1Ti 1:13, 16
2. 2 Corinthians 4:1 : ver 16; Ps 18:45; Isa 40:31
3. 2 Corinthians 4:2 : Ro 6:21; S 1Co 4:5
4. 2 Corinthians 4:2 : 2Co 2:17; S Heb 4:12
5. 2 Corinthians 4:2 : 2Co 5:11
6. 2 Corinthians 4:3 : S 2Co 2:12
7. 2 Corinthians 4:3 : 2Co 3:14
8. 2 Corinthians 4:3 : S 1Co 1:18
9. 2 Corinthians 4:4 : S Jn 12:31
10. 2 Corinthians 4:4 : S 1Co 1:20
11. 2 Corinthians 4:4 : 2Co 3:14
12. 2 Corinthians 4:4 : ver 6
13. 2 Corinthians 4:4 : S Jn 14:9
14. 2 Corinthians 4:5 : 1Co 1:13
15. 2 Corinthians 4:5 : 1Co 1:23
16. 2 Corinthians 4:5 : 1Co 9:19
17. 2 Corinthians 4:6 : Ge 1:3; Ps 18:28
18. 2 Corinthians 4:6 : 2Pe 1:19
19. 2 Corinthians 4:6 : ver 4
20. 2 Corinthians 4:7 : Job 4:19; Isa 64:8; 2Ti 2:20
21. 2 Corinthians 4:7 : Jdg 7:2; 1Co 2:5; 2Co 6:7
22. 2 Corinthians 4:8 : 2Co 7:5
23. 2 Corinthians 4:8 : Gal 4:20
24. 2 Corinthians 4:9 : Jn 15:20; Ro 8:35
25. 2 Corinthians 4:9 : Heb 13:5
26. 2 Corinthians 4:9 : Ps 37:24; Pr 24:16
27. 2 Corinthians 4:10 : S Ro 6:6; S 2Co 1:5
28. 2 Corinthians 4:10 : S Ro 6:5
29. 2 Corinthians 4:11 : Ro 8:36
30. 2 Corinthians 4:12 : 2Co 13:9
31. 2 Corinthians 4:13 : Ps 116:10
32. 2 Corinthians 4:13 : 1Co 12:9
33. 2 Corinthians 4:14 : S Ac 2:24
34. 2 Corinthians 4:14 : 1Th 4:14
35. 2 Corinthians 4:14 : Eph 5:27; Col 1:22; Jude 24
36. 2 Corinthians 4:15 : 2Co 1:11; 9:11
37. 2 Corinthians 4:16 : ver 1; Ps 18:45
38. 2 Corinthians 4:16 : Ro 7:22
39. 2 Corinthians 4:16 : Ps 103:5; Isa 40:31; Col 3:10
40. 2 Corinthians 4:17 : Ps 30:5; Ro 8:18; 1Pe 1:6, 7
41. 2 Corinthians 4:18 : 2Co 5:7; Ro 8:24; Heb 11:1