²⁶ Then God said, “Let us^(A) make man^[a] in^[b] our image, according to our likeness.^(B) They will rule the fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, the livestock, the whole earth, and the creatures that crawl^[c] on the earth.”^(C)

²⁸ We know that all things work together^[a] for the good^[b] of those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.^{(A) 29} For those he foreknew he also predestined^(B) to be conformed to the image of his Son,^(C) so that he would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.^(D)

¹⁷ Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. ¹⁸ We all, with unveiled faces, are looking as in a mirror at^[a](A) the glory of the Lord^(B) and are being transformed^(C) into the same image^(D) from glory to glory; this is from the Lord who is the Spirit.^[b]

The Light of the Gospel

4 Therefore, since we have this ministry because we were shown mercy,^(E) we do not give up.^{(F) 2} Instead, we have renounced secret and shameful things, not acting^(G) deceitfully or distorting the word of God,^(H) but commending ourselves before God to everyone’s conscience by an open display of the truth.^{(I) 3} But if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. ⁴ In their case, the god of this age^(J) has blinded the minds of the unbelievers to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ,^[c](K) who is the image of God.^{(L) 5} For we are not proclaiming ourselves but Jesus Christ as Lord,^(M) and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’s sake. ⁶ For God who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,”^(N) has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge^(O) of God’s glory^(P) in the face of Jesus Christ.