New King James Version

New Living Translation

The Light of Christ’s Gospel

Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we do not lose heart.

Treasure in Fragile Clay Jars

Therefore, since God in his mercy has given us this new way,a we never give up.

But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness nor [a]handling the word of God deceitfully, but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.

2

We reject all shameful deeds and underhanded methods. We don’t try to trick anyone or distort the word of God. We tell the truth before God, and all who are honest know this.

3

But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing,

3

If the Good News we preach is hidden behind a veil, it is hidden only from people who are perishing.

4

whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.

4

Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don’t understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God.

5

For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus’ sake.

5

You see, we don’t go around preaching about ourselves. We preach that Jesus Christ is Lord, and we ourselves are your servants for Jesus’ sake.

6

For it is the God who commanded light to 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 Jesus Christ.

6

For God, who said, “Let there be light in the darkness,” has made this light shine in our hearts so we could know the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ.

7

Cast Down but Unconquered

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.

7

We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure.b This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves.

8

We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;

8

We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair.

9

persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed —

9

We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed.

10

always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.

10

Through suffering, our bodies continue to share in the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be seen in our bodies.

11

For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus’ sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.

11

Yes, we live under constant danger of death because we serve Jesus, so that the life of Jesus will be evident in our dying bodies.

12

So then death is working in us, but life in you.

12

So we live in the face of death, but this has resulted in eternal life for you.

13

And since we have the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, “I believed and therefore I spoke,” we also believe and therefore speak,

13

But we continue to preach because we have the same kind of faith the psalmist had when he said, “I believed in God, so I spoke.”c

14

knowing that He who raised up the Lord Jesus will also raise us up with Jesus, and will present us with you.

14

We know that God, who raised the Lord Jesus,d will also raise us with Jesus and present us to himself together with you.

15

For all things are for your sakes, that grace, having spread through the many, may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God.

15

All of this is for your benefit. And as God’s grace reaches more and more people, there will be great thanksgiving, and God will receive more and more glory.

16

Seeing the Invisible

Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day.

16

That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits aree being renewed every day.

17

For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory,

17

For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever!

18

while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

18

So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.

Parallel

New King James Version

New Living Translation

2 Corinthians 4

2 Corinthians 4