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Summary

2 Corinthians 4:1–2 – Honest Ministry

What happens: Because of God’s mercy, Paul does not lose heart. He renounces secret and shameful ways, refuses to tamper with God’s word, and sets the truth forth openly before God.

What it means: God’s mercy sustains perseverance and integrity. The message belongs to God, so honesty honors His holiness. Transparent proclamation trusts God to work through truth.

2 Corinthians 4:3–7 – Veiled Gospel and Jars of Clay

What happens: If the gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those perishing, blinded by the god of this age. God, who said “Let light shine,” shines in hearts to give the light of the knowledge of God’s glory in the face of Christ. This treasure is in jars of clay to show the power is God’s, not ours.

What it means: Salvation is God’s creative act of illumination, revealing His glory in Christ. Human weakness highlights divine power. God is sovereign and gracious, and faith is a gift of His light.

2 Corinthians 4:8–12 – Suffering Yet Sustained

What happens: Paul lists paradoxes: afflicted but not crushed, perplexed but not driven to despair, persecuted but not forsaken, struck down but not destroyed. He carries Jesus’ death so that Jesus’ life is revealed. Death works in him, life in the Corinthians.

What it means: Union with Christ shapes ministry through suffering and resurrection power. God’s faithfulness keeps His servants. Suffering becomes the path where Christ’s life is displayed.

2 Corinthians 4:13–18 – Faith, Resurrection, and Eternal Weight of Glory

What happens: Paul speaks by faith, knowing that God will raise believers with Jesus. Grace increases thanksgiving to God’s glory. He does not lose heart; the inner self is renewed as the outer wastes away. He looks to unseen, eternal glory that far outweighs present troubles.

What it means: Hope rests in the resurrection and the eternal promises of God. Fixing eyes on the unseen fuels endurance and worship. God transforms affliction into glory for those who trust Him.

Application

  • Handle God’s word with honesty and avoid manipulative tactics.
  • Embrace weakness so God’s power is clear.
  • Endure trials with faith, expecting Christ’s life to appear through you.
  • Fix your eyes on eternal glory to sustain daily courage.

Bible

1Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not;

2But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God.

3But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:

4In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

5For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake.

6For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

7But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.

8We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;

9Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;

10Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.

11For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.

12So then death worketh in us, but life in you.

13We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak;

14Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you.

15For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God.

16For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.

17For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;

18While we 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.

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