2 Corinthians 4-6

English Standard Version

The Light of the Gospel

4 Therefore, having ^(A)this ministry ^(B)by the mercy of God,^[a] we do not lose heart. ²But we have renounced ^(C)disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice^[b] cunning or ^(D)to tamper with God's word, but ^(E)by the open statement of the truth ^(F)we would commend ourselves to everyone's conscience in the sight of God. ³And even ^(G)if our gospel is veiled, ^(H)it is veiled to ^(I)those who are perishing. ⁴In their case ^(J)the god of this world ^(K)has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing ^(L)the light of ^(M)the gospel of the glory of Christ, ^(N)who is the image of God. ⁵For what ^(O)we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ^(P)ourselves as your servants^[c] for Jesus' sake. ⁶For God, who said, ^(Q)“Let light shine out of darkness,” ^(R)has shone in our hearts to give ^(S)the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

Treasure in Jars of Clay

⁷But we have this treasure in ^(T)jars of clay, ^(U)to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. ⁸We are ^(V)afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; ⁹persecuted, but ^(W)not forsaken; ^(X)struck down, but not destroyed; ¹⁰^(Y)always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, ^(Z)so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. ¹¹For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. ¹²So ^(AA)death is at work in us, but life in you.

¹³Since we have ^(AB)the same spirit of faith according to what has been written, ^(AC)“I believed, and so I spoke,” we also believe, and so we also speak, ¹⁴knowing that ^(AD)he who raised the Lord Jesus ^(AE)will raise us also with Jesus and ^(AF)bring us with you into his presence. ¹⁵For ^(AG)it is all for your sake, so that as ^(AH)grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, ^(AI)to the glory of God.

¹⁶So we do not lose heart. ^(AJ)Though our outer self^[d] is wasting away, ^(AK)our inner self ^(AL)is being renewed day by day. ¹⁷For ^(AM)this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, ¹⁸^(AN)as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.

Our Heavenly Dwelling

5 For we know that if ^(AO)the tent that is ^(AP)our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, ^(AQ)a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. ²For in this tent ^(AR)we groan, longing to ^(AS)put on our heavenly dwelling, ³if indeed by putting it on^[e] we may not be found naked. ⁴For while we are still in this tent, we groan, being burdened—not that we would be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed, so that what is mortal ^(AT)may be swallowed up by life. ⁵He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, ^(AU)who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.

⁶So we are always of good courage. We know that ^(AV)while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, ⁷for ^(AW)we walk by faith, not ^(AX)by sight. ⁸Yes, we are of good courage, and we ^(AY)would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. ⁹So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to ^(AZ)please him. ¹⁰For ^(BA)we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, ^(BB)so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.

The Ministry of Reconciliation

¹¹Therefore, knowing ^(BC)the fear of the Lord, we persuade others. But ^(BD)what we are is known to God, and I hope it is known also to your conscience. ¹²^(BE)We are not commending ourselves to you again but ^(BF)giving you cause to boast about us, so that you may be able to answer those who boast about outward appearance and not about what is in the heart. ¹³For if we ^(BG)are beside ourselves, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. ¹⁴For the love of Christ ^(BH)controls us, because we have concluded this: that ^(BI)one has died for all, therefore all have died; ¹⁵and he died for all, ^(BJ)that those who live might no longer live for themselves but ^(BK)for him who for their sake died and was raised.

¹⁶From now on, therefore, ^(BL)we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. ¹⁷Therefore, if anyone is ^(BM)in Christ, he is ^(BN)a new creation.^[f] ^(BO)The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. ¹⁸All this is from God, ^(BP)who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us ^(BQ)the ministry of reconciliation; ¹⁹that is, in Christ God was reconciling^[g] the world to himself, ^(BR)not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us ^(BS)the message of reconciliation. ²⁰Therefore, ^(BT)we are ambassadors for Christ, ^(BU)God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. ²¹^(BV)For our sake he made him to be sin ^(BW)who knew no sin, so that in him we might become ^(BX)the righteousness of God.

6 ^(BY)Working together with him, then, ^(BZ)we appeal to you ^(CA)not to receive the grace of God in vain. ²For he says,

^(CB)“In a favorable time I listened to you,
and in a day of salvation I have helped you.”

Behold, ^(CC)now is the ^(CD)favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation. ³We ^(CE)put no obstacle in anyone's way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry, ⁴but ^(CF)as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: ^(CG)by great endurance, ^(CH)in afflictions, ^(CI)hardships, calamities, ⁵^(CJ)beatings, imprisonments, ^(CK)riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger; ⁶^(CL)by purity, ^(CM)knowledge, patience, kindness, ^(CN)the Holy Spirit, ^(CO)genuine love; ⁷by ^(CP)truthful speech, and ^(CQ)the power of God; with ^(CR)the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left; ⁸through honor and dishonor, ^(CS)through slander and praise. We are treated as impostors, and yet are true; ⁹as unknown, and ^(CT)yet well known; ^(CU)as dying, and behold, we live; ^(CV)as punished, and yet not killed; ¹⁰^(CW)as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; ^(CX)as poor, yet making many rich; ^(CY)as having nothing, ^(CZ)yet possessing everything.

¹¹We have spoken freely to you,^[h] Corinthians; ^(DA)our heart is wide open. ¹²You are not restricted by us, but ^(DB)you are restricted in your own affections. ¹³^(DC)In return (I speak ^(DD)as to children) widen your hearts also.

The Temple of the Living God

¹⁴^(DE)Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For ^(DF)what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or ^(DG)what fellowship has light with darkness? ¹⁵^(DH)What accord has Christ with Belial?^[i] Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever? ¹⁶What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For ^(DI)we are the temple of the living God; as God said,

^(DJ)“I will make my dwelling among them and ^(DK)walk among them,
    and ^(DL)I will be their God,
    and they shall be my people.
¹⁷Therefore ^(DM)go out from their midst,
    and be separate from them, says the Lord,
and touch no unclean thing;
    then I will welcome you,
¹⁸^(DN)and I will be a father to you,
    and you shall be sons and daughters to me,
says the Lord Almighty.”

Footnotes

2 Corinthians 4:1 Greek having this ministry as we have received mercy
2 Corinthians 4:2 Greek to walk in
2 Corinthians 4:5 Or slaves (for the contextual rendering of the Greek word doulos, see Preface)
2 Corinthians 4:16 Greek man
2 Corinthians 5:3 Some manuscripts putting it off
2 Corinthians 5:17 Or creature
2 Corinthians 5:19 Or God was in Christ, reconciling
2 Corinthians 6:11 Greek Our mouth is open to you
2 Corinthians 6:15 Greek Beliar