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Therefore, having this ministry, as we have had mercy shewn us, we faint not.

But we have rejected the hidden things of shame, not walking in deceit, nor falsifying the word of God, but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every conscience of men before God.

But if also our gospel is veiled, it is veiled in those that are lost;

in whom the god of this world has blinded the thoughts of the unbelieving, so that the radiancy of the glad tidings of the glory of the Christ, who is [the] image of God, should not shine forth [for them].

For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus Lord, and ourselves your bondmen for Jesus' sake.

Because [it is] the God who spoke that out of darkness light should shine who has shone in our hearts for the shining forth of the knowledge of the glory of God in [the] face of [Jesus] Christ.

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the surpassingness of the power may be of God, and not from us:

every way afflicted, but not straitened; seeing no apparent issue, but our way not entirely shut up;

persecuted, but not abandoned; cast down, but not destroyed;

10 always bearing about in the body the dying of Jesus, that the life also of Jesus may be manifested in our body;

11 for we who live are always delivered unto death on account of Jesus, that the life also of Jesus may be manifested in our mortal flesh;

12 so that death works in us, but life in you.

13 And having the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, I have believed, therefore have I spoken; *we* also believe, therefore also we speak;

14 knowing that he who has raised the Lord Jesus shall raise us also with Jesus, and shall present [us] with you.

15 For all things [are] for your sakes, that the grace abounding through the many may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God.

16 Wherefore we faint not; but if indeed our outward man is consumed, yet the inward is renewed day by day.

17 For our momentary [and] light affliction works for us in surpassing measure an eternal weight of glory;

18 while we look not at the things that are seen, but at the things that are not seen; for the things that are seen [are] for a time, but those that are not seen eternal.

For we know that if our earthly tabernacle house be destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

For indeed in this we groan, ardently desiring to have put on our house which [is] from heaven;

if indeed being also clothed we shall not be found naked.

For indeed we who are in the tabernacle groan, being burdened; while yet we do not wish to be unclothed, but clothed, that [what is] mortal may be swallowed up by life.

Now he that has wrought us for this very thing [is] God, who also has given to us the earnest of the Spirit.

Therefore [we are] always confident, and know that while present in the body we are absent from the Lord,

(for we walk by faith, not by sight;)

we are confident, I say, and pleased rather to be absent from the body and present with the Lord.

Wherefore also we are zealous, whether present or absent, to be agreeable to him.

10 For we must all be manifested before the judgment-seat of the Christ, that each may receive the things [done] in the body, according to those he has done, whether [it be] good or evil.

11 Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord we persuade men, but have been manifested to God, and I hope also that we have been manifested in your consciences.

12 [For] we do not again commend ourselves to you, but [we are] giving to you occasion of boast in our behalf, that ye may have [such] with those boasting in countenance, and not in heart.

13 For whether we are beside ourselves, [it is] to God; or are sober, [it is] for you.

14 For the love of the Christ constrains us, having judged this: that one died for all, then all have died;

15 and he died for all, that they who live should no longer live to themselves, but to him who died for them and has been raised.

16 So that *we* henceforth know no one according to flesh; but if even we have known Christ according to flesh, yet now we know [him thus] no longer.

17 So if any one [be] in Christ, [there is] a new creation; the old things have passed away; behold all things have become new:

18 and all things [are] of the God who has reconciled us to himself by [Jesus] Christ, and given to us the ministry of that reconciliation:

19 how that God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, not reckoning to them their offences; and putting in us the word of that reconciliation.

20 We are ambassadors therefore for Christ, God as [it were] beseeching by us, we entreat for Christ, Be reconciled to God.

21 Him who knew not sin he has made sin for us, that *we* might become God's righteousness in him.

But [as] fellow-workmen, we also beseech that ye receive not the grace of God in vain:

(for he says, I have listened to thee in an accepted time, and I have helped thee in a day of salvation: behold, now [is the] well-accepted time; behold, now [the] day of salvation:)

giving no manner of offence in anything, that the ministry be not blamed;

but in everything commending ourselves as God's ministers, in much endurance, in afflictions, in necessities, in straits,

in stripes, in prisons, in riots, in labours, in watchings, in fastings,

in pureness, in knowledge, in longsuffering, in kindness, in [the] Holy Spirit, in love unfeigned,

in [the] word of truth, in [the] power of God; through the arms of righteousness on the right hand and left,

through glory and dishonour, through evil report and good report: as deceivers, and true;

as unknown, and well known; as dying, and behold, we live; as disciplined, and not put to death;

10 as grieved, but always rejoicing; as poor, but enriching many; as having nothing, and possessing all things.

11 Our mouth is opened to you, Corinthians, our heart is expanded.

12 Ye are not straitened in us, but ye are straitened in your affections;

13 but for an answering recompense, (I speak as to children,) let *your* heart also expand itself.

14 Be not diversely yoked with unbelievers; for what participation [is there] between righteousness and lawlessness? or what fellowship of light with darkness?

15 and what consent of Christ with Beliar, or what part for a believer along with an unbeliever?

16 and what agreement of God's temple with idols? for *ye* are [the] living God's temple; according as God has said, I will dwell among them, and walk among [them]; and I will be their God, and they shall be to me a people.

17 Wherefore come out from the midst of them, and be separated, saith [the] Lord, and touch not [what is] unclean, and *I* will receive you;

18 and I will be to you for a Father, and ye shall be to me for sons and daughters, saith [the] Lord Almighty.

Present Weakness and Resurrection Life

Therefore, since through God’s mercy(A) we have this ministry, we do not lose heart.(B) 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. And even if our gospel(F) is veiled,(G) it is veiled to those who are perishing.(H) 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) For what we preach is not ourselves,(N) but Jesus Christ as Lord,(O) and ourselves as your servants(P) for Jesus’ sake. For 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)

But we have this treasure in jars of clay(T) to show that this all-surpassing power is from God(U) and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side,(V) but not crushed; perplexed,(W) but not in despair; persecuted,(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. 12 So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.(AD)

13 It 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, 14 because 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.

16 Therefore we do not lose heart.(AK) Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly(AL) we are being renewed(AM) day by day. 17 For 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.

Awaiting the New Body

For we know that if the earthly(AP) tent(AQ) we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. Meanwhile we groan,(AR) longing to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling,(AS) because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. For while we are in this tent, we groan(AT) and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling,(AU) so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. Now the one who has fashioned us for this very purpose is God, who has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.(AV)

Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. For we live by faith, not by sight.(AW) We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord.(AX) So we make it our goal to please him,(AY) whether we are at home in the body or away from it. 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us(AZ) for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.

The Ministry of Reconciliation

11 Since, then, we know what it is to fear the Lord,(BA) we try to persuade others. What we are is plain to God, and I hope it is also plain to your conscience.(BB) 12 We are not trying to commend ourselves to you again,(BC) but are giving you an opportunity to take pride in us,(BD) so that you can answer those who take pride in what is seen rather than in what is in the heart. 13 If we are “out of our mind,”(BE) as some say, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. 14 For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died.(BF) 15 And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves(BG) but for him who died for them(BH) and was raised again.

16 So from now on we regard no one from a worldly(BI) point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ,(BJ) the new creation(BK) has come:[d] The old has gone, the new is here!(BL) 18 All this is from God,(BM) who reconciled us to himself through Christ(BN) and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them.(BO) And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 20 We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors,(BP) as though God were making his appeal through us.(BQ) We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.(BR) 21 God made him who had no sin(BS) to be sin[e] for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.(BT)

As God’s co-workers(BU) we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain.(BV) For he says,

“In the time of my favor I heard you,
    and in the day of salvation I helped you.”[f](BW)

I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.

Paul’s Hardships

We put no stumbling block in anyone’s path,(BX) so that our ministry will not be discredited. Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses; in beatings, imprisonments(BY) and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger;(BZ) in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit(CA) and in sincere love;(CB) in truthful speech(CC) and in the power of God;(CD) with weapons of righteousness(CE) in the right hand and in the left; through glory and dishonor,(CF) bad report(CG) and good report; genuine, yet regarded as impostors;(CH) known, yet regarded as unknown; dying,(CI) and yet we live on;(CJ) beaten, and yet not killed; 10 sorrowful, yet always rejoicing;(CK) poor, yet making many rich;(CL) having nothing,(CM) and yet possessing everything.(CN)

11 We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians, and opened wide our hearts to you.(CO) 12 We are not withholding our affection from you, but you are withholding yours from us. 13 As a fair exchange—I speak as to my children(CP)—open wide your hearts(CQ) also.

Warning Against Idolatry

14 Do not be yoked together(CR) with unbelievers.(CS) For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?(CT) 15 What harmony is there between Christ and Belial[g]?(CU) Or what does a believer(CV) have in common with an unbeliever?(CW) 16 What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols?(CX) For we are the temple(CY) of the living God.(CZ) As God has said:

“I will live with them
    and walk among them,
and I will be their God,
    and they will be my people.”[h](DA)

17 Therefore,

“Come out from them(DB)
    and be separate,
says the Lord.
Touch no unclean thing,
    and I will receive you.”[i](DC)

18 And,

“I will be a Father to you,
    and you will be my sons and daughters,(DD)
says the Lord Almighty.”[j](DE)

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
  4. 2 Corinthians 5:17 Or Christ, that person is a new creation.
  5. 2 Corinthians 5:21 Or be a sin offering
  6. 2 Corinthians 6:2 Isaiah 49:8
  7. 2 Corinthians 6:15 Greek Beliar, a variant of Belial
  8. 2 Corinthians 6:16 Lev. 26:12; Jer. 32:38; Ezek. 37:27
  9. 2 Corinthians 6:17 Isaiah 52:11; Ezek. 20:34,41
  10. 2 Corinthians 6:18 2 Samuel 7:14; 7:8