2 Corinthians 4:1-16

Present Weakness and Resurrection Life

1 Therefore, since through God’s mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart.
2 Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God.
3 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing.
4 The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
5 For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake.
6 For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,”[a] made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.
7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.
8 We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair;
9 persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.
10 We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.
11 For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, 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.
13 It is written: “I believed; therefore I have spoken.”[b] Since we have that same spirit of[c] faith, we also believe and therefore speak,
14 because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you to himself.
15 All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.
16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.

Images for 2 Corinthians 4:1-16

Cross References 39

  • 1. 1 Corinthians 7:25; 1 Timothy 1:13,16
  • 2. ver 16; Psalms 18:45; Isaiah 40:31
  • 3. Romans 6:21; S 1 Corinthians 4:5
  • 4. 2 Corinthians 2:17; S Hebrews 4:12
  • 5. 2 Corinthians 5:11
  • 6. S 2 Corinthians 2:12
  • 7. 2 Corinthians 3:14
  • 8. S 1 Corinthians 1:18
  • 9. S John 12:31
  • 10. S 1 Corinthians 1:20
  • 11. 2 Corinthians 3:14
  • 12. ver 6
  • 13. S John 14:9
  • 14. 1 Corinthians 1:13
  • 15. 1 Corinthians 1:23
  • 16. 1 Corinthians 9:19
  • 17. Genesis 1:3; Psalms 18:28
  • 18. 2 Peter 1:19
  • 19. ver 4
  • 20. Job 4:19; Isaiah 64:8; 2 Timothy 2:20; 2 Corinthians 5:1
  • 21. Judges 7:2; 1 Corinthians 2:5; 2 Corinthians 6:7
  • 22. 2 Corinthians 7:5
  • 23. Galatians 4:20
  • 24. John 15:20; Romans 8:35
  • 25. Hebrews 13:5
  • 26. Psalms 37:24; Proverbs 24:16
  • 27. S Romans 6:6; S 2 Corinthians 1:5
  • 28. S Romans 6:5
  • 29. Romans 8:36
  • 30. 2 Corinthians 13:9
  • 31. Psalms 116:10
  • 32. 1 Corinthians 12:9
  • 33. S Acts 2:24
  • 34. 1 Thessalonians 4:14
  • 35. Ephesians 5:27; Colossians 1:22; Jude 24
  • 36. 2 Corinthians 1:11; 2 Corinthians 9:11
  • 37. ver 1; Psalms 18:45
  • 38. Romans 7:22
  • 39. Psalms 103:5; Isaiah 40:31; Colossians 3:10

Footnotes 3

Scripture quoted by permission.  Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®.  NIV®.  Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica.  All rights reserved worldwide.