2 Corinthians 4-6

New American Standard Bible

Paul’s Apostolic Ministry

4 Therefore, since we have this ^(A)ministry, as we ^(B)received mercy, we ^(C)do not lose heart, ² but we have renounced the ^(D)things hidden because of shame, not walking in trickery nor ^(E)distorting the word of God, but by the open proclamation of the truth ^(F)commending ourselves to every person’s conscience in the sight of God. ³ And even if our ^(G)gospel is ^(H)veiled, it is veiled ^[a]to ^(I)those who are perishing, ⁴ in whose case ^(J)the god of ^(K)this ^[b]world has ^(L)blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that ^[c]they will not see the ^(M)light of the gospel of the ^(N)glory of Christ, who is the ^(O)image of God. ⁵ For we ^(P)do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your bond-servants ^[d]on account of Jesus. ⁶ For God, who said, “^(Q)Light shall shine out of darkness,” is the One who has ^(R)shone in our hearts to give the ^(S)Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.

⁷ But we have this treasure in ^[e](T)earthen containers, so that the extraordinary greatness of ^(U)the power will be of God and not from ourselves; ⁸ we are ^(V)afflicted in every way, but not ^(W)crushed; ^(X)perplexed, but not despairing; ^9 (Y)persecuted, but not ^(Z)abandoned; ^(AA)struck down, but not destroyed; ^10 (AB)always carrying around in the body the dying of Jesus, so that ^(AC)the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. ¹¹ For we who live are constantly being handed over to death because of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our mortal flesh. ¹² So death works in us, but life in you.

¹³ But having the same ^(AD)spirit of faith, according to what is written: “^(AE)I believed, therefore I spoke,” we also believe, therefore we also speak, ¹⁴ knowing that He who ^(AF)raised the Lord Jesus ^(AG)will also raise us with Jesus, and will ^(AH)present us with you. ¹⁵ For all things are ^(AI)for your sakes, so that grace, having ^[f](AJ)spread to more and more people, will cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.

¹⁶ Therefore we ^(AK)do not lose heart, but though our outer person is decaying, yet our ^(AL)inner person is ^(AM)being renewed day by day. ¹⁷ For our momentary, ^(AN)light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, ¹⁸ while we ^(AO)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.

The Temporal and Eternal

5 For we know that if our ^[g](AP)earthly ^(AQ)tent which is our house is torn down, we have a building from God, a house ^(AR)not made by hands, eternal in the heavens. ² For indeed, in this tent we ^(AS)groan, longing to be ^(AT)clothed with our ^[h]dwelling from heaven, ³ since in fact after putting it on, we will not be found naked. ⁴ For indeed, we who are in this tent ^(AU)groan, being burdened, because we do not want to be unclothed but to be ^(AV)clothed, so that what is ^(AW)mortal will be swallowed up by life. ⁵ Now He who prepared us for this very purpose is God, who ^(AX)gave us the Spirit as a ^[i]pledge.

⁶ Therefore, being always of good courage, and knowing that ^(AY)while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord— ⁷ for ^(AZ)we walk by faith, not by ^[j]sight— ⁸ but we are of good courage and ^(BA)prefer rather to be absent from the body and ^(BB)to be at home with the Lord. ⁹ Therefore we also have as our ambition, whether at home or absent, to be ^(BC)pleasing to Him. ¹⁰ For we must all appear before ^(BD)the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive compensation for ^[k]his deeds done through the body, in accordance with what he has done, whether good or bad.

¹¹ Therefore, knowing the ^(BE)fear of the Lord, we persuade people, but we are well known to God; and I hope that we are also ^(BF)well known in your consciences. ¹² We are not commending ourselves to you ^(BG)again, but are giving you an ^(BH)opportunity to be proud of us, so that you will have an answer for those who take pride in appearance and not in heart. ¹³ For if we have ^(BI)lost our minds, it is for God; if we are of sound mind, it is for you. ¹⁴ For the love of Christ ^(BJ)controls us, having concluded this, that ^(BK)one died for all, therefore all died; ¹⁵ and He died for all, so that those who live would no longer ^(BL)live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose on their behalf.

¹⁶ Therefore from now on we recognize no one ^[l](BM)by the flesh; even though we have known Christ by the flesh, yet now we know Him in this way no longer. ¹⁷ Therefore if anyone is ^(BN)in Christ, this person is ^(BO)a new ^[m]creation; ^(BP)the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. ¹⁸ Now ^(BQ)all these things are from God, ^(BR)who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ^(BS)ministry of reconciliation, ¹⁹ namely, that ^(BT)God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, ^(BU)not counting their wrongdoings against them, and ^[n]He has ^[o]committed to us the word of reconciliation.

²⁰ Therefore, we are ^(BV)ambassadors for Christ, ^(BW)as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be ^(BX)reconciled to God. ²¹ He made Him who ^(BY)knew no sin to be ^[p](BZ)sin in our behalf, so that we might become the ^(CA)righteousness of God in Him.

Their Ministry Commended

6 And ^(CB)working together with Him, ^(CC)we also urge you not to receive ^(CD)the grace of God in vain— ² for He says,

Behold, now is “a favorable time,” behold, now is “a day of salvation”— ^3 (CF)giving no reason for taking offense in anything, so that the ministry will not be discredited, ⁴ but in everything ^(CG)commending ourselves as ^[q](CH)servants of God, ^(CI)in much endurance, in afflictions, in hardships, in difficulties, ⁵ in ^(CJ)beatings, in imprisonments, in ^(CK)[r]mob attacks, in labors, in sleeplessness, in ^(CL)hunger, ⁶ in purity, in ^(CM)knowledge, in ^(CN)patience, in kindness, in the ^(CO)Holy Spirit, in ^(CP)genuine love, ⁷ in ^(CQ)the word of truth, and in ^(CR)the power of God; by ^(CS)the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and the left, ⁸ by glory and ^(CT)dishonor, by ^(CU)evil report and good report; regarded as ^(CV)deceivers and yet ^(CW)true; ⁹ as unknown and yet well known, as ^(CX)dying and yet behold, ^(CY)we are alive; as ^[s]punished and yet not put to death, ¹⁰ as ^(CZ)sorrowful yet always ^(DA)rejoicing, as ^(DB)poor yet making many rich, as ^(DC)having nothing and yet possessing ^(DD)all things.

^11 (DE)Our mouth ^[t]has spoken freely to you, you Corinthians, our ^(DF)heart is opened wide. ¹² You are not restrained ^[u]by us, but ^(DG)you are restrained in your own ^[v]affections. ¹³ Now in the same way in ^(DH)exchange—I am speaking as to ^(DI)children—open wide your hearts to us, you as well.

^14 (DJ)Do not be ^[w]mismatched with ^(DK)unbelievers; for what do righteousness and lawlessness ^(DL)share together, or what does light have in common with darkness? ¹⁵ Or what ^(DM)harmony does Christ have with ^[x]Belial, or ^[y]what does a ^(DN)believer share with an ^(DO)unbeliever? ¹⁶ Or ^(DP)what agreement does ^[z]the temple of God have with idols? For we are ^[aa](DQ)the temple of ^(DR)the living God; just as God said,