2 Corinthians 4:4-10:5

English Standard Version

⁴ In their case ^(A)the god of this world ^(B)has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing ^(C)the light of ^(D)the gospel of the glory of Christ, ^(E)who is the image of God. ⁵ For what ^(F)we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ^(G)ourselves as your servants^[a] for Jesus' sake. ⁶ For God, who said, ^(H)“Let light shine out of darkness,” ^(I)has shone in our hearts to give ^(J)the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

Treasure in Jars of Clay

⁷ But we have this treasure in ^(K)jars of clay, ^(L)to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. ⁸ We are ^(M)afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; ⁹ persecuted, but ^(N)not forsaken; ^(O)struck down, but not destroyed; ^10 (P)always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, ^(Q)so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. ¹¹ For 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. ¹² So ^(R)death is at work in us, but life in you.

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

¹⁶ So we do not lose heart. ^(AA)Though our outer self^[b] is wasting away, ^(AB)our inner self ^(AC)is being renewed day by day. ¹⁷ For ^(AD)this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, ^18 (AE)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 ^(AF)the tent that is ^(AG)our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, ^(AH)a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. ² For in this tent ^(AI)we groan, longing to ^(AJ)put on our heavenly dwelling, ³ if indeed by putting it on^[c] we may not be found naked. ⁴ For 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 ^(AK)may be swallowed up by life. ⁵ He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, ^(AL)who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.

⁶ So we are always of good courage. We know that ^(AM)while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, ⁷ for ^(AN)we walk by faith, not ^(AO)by sight. ⁸ Yes, we are of good courage, and we ^(AP)would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. ⁹ So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to ^(AQ)please him. ¹⁰ For ^(AR)we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, ^(AS)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

¹¹ Therefore, knowing ^(AT)the fear of the Lord, we persuade others. But ^(AU)what we are is known to God, and I hope it is known also to your conscience. ^12 (AV)We are not commending ourselves to you again but ^(AW)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. ¹³ For if we ^(AX)are beside ourselves, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. ¹⁴ For the love of Christ ^(AY)controls us, because we have concluded this: that ^(AZ)one has died for all, therefore all have died; ¹⁵ and he died for all, ^(BA)that those who live might no longer live for themselves but ^(BB)for him who for their sake died and was raised.

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

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

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

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

The Temple of the Living God

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

7 Since we have these promises, beloved, ^(DF)let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body^[h] and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God.

Paul's Joy

^2 (DG)Make room in your hearts^[i] for us. ^(DH)We have wronged no one, we have corrupted no one, we have taken advantage of no one. ³ I do not say this to condemn you, for I said before that ^(DI)you are in our hearts, to die together and to live together. ⁴ I am acting with ^(DJ)great boldness toward you; ^(DK)I have great pride in you; ^(DL)I am filled with comfort. In all our affliction, I am overflowing with joy.

⁵ For even ^(DM)when we came into Macedonia, our bodies had no rest, but we were afflicted at every turn—^(DN)fighting without and fear within. ⁶ But ^(DO)God, who comforts the downcast, ^(DP)comforted us by the coming of Titus, ⁷ and not only by his coming but also by the comfort with which he was comforted by you, as he told us of your longing, your mourning, your zeal for me, so that I rejoiced still more. ⁸ For ^(DQ)even if I made you grieve with my letter, I do not regret it—though ^(DR)I did regret it, for I see that that letter grieved you, though only for a while. ⁹ As it is, I rejoice, not because you were grieved, but ^(DS)because you were grieved into repenting. For you felt a godly grief, so that you suffered no loss through us.

¹⁰ For ^(DT)godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas ^(DU)worldly grief produces death. ¹¹ For see what earnestness this godly grief has produced in you, but also what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what longing, ^(DV)what zeal, what punishment! At every point you have proved yourselves innocent in the matter. ¹² So although I wrote to you, it was not for the sake of the one ^(DW)who did the wrong, nor for the sake of the one who suffered the wrong, but in order that your earnestness for us might be revealed to you in the sight of God. ¹³ Therefore ^(DX)we are comforted.

And besides our own comfort, we rejoiced still more at the joy of Titus, because his spirit ^(DY)has been refreshed by you all. ¹⁴ For ^(DZ)whatever boasts I made to him about you, I was not put to shame. But just as everything we said to you ^(EA)was true, so also our boasting before Titus has proved true. ¹⁵ And his affection for you is even greater, as he remembers ^(EB)the obedience of you all, how you received him with fear and trembling. ¹⁶ I rejoice, because I have complete ^(EC)confidence in you.

Encouragement to Give Generously

8 We want you to know, brothers,^[j] about the grace of God that has been ^(ED)given among the churches of Macedonia, ² for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and ^(EE)their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. ³ For they gave ^(EF)according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord, ⁴ begging us earnestly ^(EG)for the favor^[k] of taking part in ^(EH)the relief of the saints— ⁵ and this, not as we expected, but they ^(EI)gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us. ⁶ Accordingly, ^(EJ)we urged Titus that as he had started, so he should complete among you ^(EK)this act of grace. ⁷ But as ^(EL)you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all earnestness, and in our love for you^[l]—^(EM)see that you excel in this act of grace also.

^8 (EN)I say this not as a command, but to prove by the earnestness of others that your love also is genuine. ⁹ For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ^(EO)though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich. ¹⁰ And in this matter ^(EP)I give my judgment: ^(EQ)this benefits you, who ^(ER)a year ago started not only to do this work but also to desire to do it. ¹¹ So now finish doing it as well, so that your readiness in desiring it may be matched by your completing it out of what you have. ¹² For if the readiness is there, it is acceptable ^(ES)according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have. ¹³ For I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened, but that as a matter of fairness ¹⁴ your abundance at the present time should supply ^(ET)their need, so that their abundance may supply your need, that there may be fairness. ¹⁵ As it is written, ^(EU)“Whoever gathered much had nothing left over, and whoever gathered little had no lack.”

Commendation of Titus

¹⁶ But ^(EV)thanks be to God, ^(EW)who put into the heart of Titus the same earnest care I have for you. ¹⁷ For ^(EX)he not only accepted our appeal, but being himself very earnest he is going^[m] to you of his own accord. ¹⁸ With him we are sending^{[n] (EY)}the brother who is famous among ^(EZ)all the churches for his preaching of the gospel. ¹⁹ And not only that, but he has been ^(FA)appointed by the churches to travel with us as we carry out this act of ^(FB)grace that is being ministered by us, ^(FC)for the glory of the Lord himself and to show our good will. ²⁰ We take this course so that no one should blame us about this generous gift that is being administered by us, ²¹ for ^(FD)we aim at what is honorable ^(FE)not only in the Lord's sight but also in the sight of man. ²² And with them we are sending our brother whom we have often tested and found earnest in many matters, but who is now more earnest than ever because of his great confidence in you. ²³ As for Titus, he is ^(FF)my partner and fellow worker for your benefit. And as for our brothers, they are messengers^[o] of the churches, the glory of Christ. ²⁴ So give proof before the churches of your love and of ^(FG)our boasting about you to these men.

The Collection for Christians in Jerusalem

9 Now ^(FH)it is superfluous for me to write to you about ^(FI)the ministry for the saints, ² for I know your readiness, ^(FJ)of which I boast about you to the people of Macedonia, saying that Achaia has been ready ^(FK)since last year. And your zeal has stirred up most of them. ³ But ^(FL)I am sending^[p] the brothers so that our boasting about you may not prove empty in this matter, so that you may be ready, ^(FM)as I said you would be. ⁴ Otherwise, if some Macedonians ^(FN)come with me and find that you are not ready, we would be humiliated—to say nothing of you—for being so confident. ⁵ So I thought it necessary to urge the brothers to go on ahead to you and arrange in advance for the ^(FO)gift^[q] you have promised, so that it may be ready ^(FP)as a willing gift, ^(FQ)not as an exaction.^[r]

The Cheerful Giver

⁶ The point is this: ^(FR)whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully^[s] will also reap bountifully. ⁷ Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, ^(FS)not reluctantly or under compulsion, for ^(FT)God loves a cheerful giver. ⁸ And ^(FU)God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency^[t] in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. ⁹ As it is written,

¹⁰ He who supplies ^(FW)seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and ^(FX)increase the harvest of your righteousness. ^11 (FY)You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which ^(FZ)through us will produce thanksgiving to God. ¹² For the ministry of this service is not only supplying ^(GA)the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God. ¹³ By their approval of this service, ^(GB)they^[u] will glorify God because of your submission that comes from your ^(GC)confession of the gospel of Christ, and the generosity of your contribution for them and for all others, ¹⁴ while they long for you and pray for you, because of the surpassing grace of God upon you. ^15 (GD)Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!

Paul Defends His Ministry

10 ^(GE)I, Paul, myself entreat you, by the ^(GF)meekness and gentleness of Christ—I who am humble when face to face with you, but bold toward you when I am away!— ² I beg of you ^(GG)that when I am present I may not have to show ^(GH)boldness with such confidence as I count on showing against some who suspect us of walking according to the flesh. ³ For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. ⁴ For the ^(GI)weapons of ^(GJ)our warfare are not of the flesh but have ^(GK)divine power ^(GL)to destroy strongholds. ⁵ We destroy arguments and ^(GM)every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to ^(GN)obey Christ,