Proclaiming Jesus Christ As Lord
1 Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not;
1 Therefore, since we have this ministry through the mercy shown to us, we do not get discouraged.
1 Therefore, since we have this ministry, just as we received mercy [from God, granting us salvation, opportunities, and blessings], we do not get discouraged nor lose our motivation.
2 But 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.
2 but we have renounced the (D)things hidden because of shame, not walking in craftiness or (E)adulterating the word of God, but by the manifestation of truth (F)commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.
2 Instead, we have renounced shameful secret things, not walking(C) in deceit or distorting God’s message,(D) but commending ourselves to every person’s conscience in God’s sight by an open display of the truth.(E)
2 Instead, we have renounced secret and shameful ways. We do not use trickery or pervert God's word. By clear statements of the truth we commend ourselves to everyone's conscience before God.
2 But we have renounced the disgraceful things hidden because of shame; not walking in trickery or adulterating the word of God, but by stating the truth [openly and plainly], we commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God.
3 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:
3 But if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing.
3 So if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are dying.
3 But even if our gospel is [in some sense] hidden [behind a veil], it is hidden [only] to those who are perishing;
4 In 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.
4 in whose case (J)the god of (K)this (b)world has (L)blinded the minds of the unbelieving (c)so that they might not see the (M)light of the gospel of the (N)glory of Christ, who is the (O)image of God.
4 In their case, the god of this age(F) has blinded the minds of the unbelievers so they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ,(a)(G) who is the image of God.(H)
4 In their case, the god of this world has blinded the minds of those who do not believe to keep them from seeing the light of the glorious gospel of the Messiah, who is the image of God.
4 among them the god of this world [Satan] has blinded the minds of the unbelieving to prevent them from seeing the illuminating light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
5 For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake.
5 For we (P)do not preach ourselves but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your bond-servants (d)for Jesus’ sake.
5 For we are not proclaiming ourselves but Jesus Christ as Lord,(I) and ourselves as your slaves because of Jesus.
5 For we do not preach ourselves, but rather Jesus the Messiah as Lord, and ourselves as merely your servants for Jesus' sake.
5 For we do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves [merely] as your bond-servants for Jesus’ sake.
6 For 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.
6 For God, who said, “(Q)Light shall shine out of darkness,” is the One who has (R)shone in our hearts to give the (S)Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.
6 For God who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,”(J) has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge(K) of God’s glory(L) in the face of Jesus Christ.
6 For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," has shone in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God's glory in the face of Jesus the Messiah.
Treasure In Earthenware Jars
7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.
7 But we have this treasure in (T)earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of (U)the power will be of God and not from ourselves;
7 Now we have this treasure in clay jars, so that this extraordinary power(M) may be from God and not from us.
7 But we have this treasure in clay jars to show that its extraordinary power comes from God and not from us.
7 But we have this precious treasure [the good news about salvation] in [unworthy] earthen vessels [of human frailty], so that the grandeur and surpassing greatness of the power will be [shown to be] from God [His sufficiency] and not from ourselves.
8 We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;
8 We are pressured in every way but not crushed; we are perplexed but not in despair;
8 In every way we're troubled but not crushed, frustrated but not in despair,
8 We are pressured in every way [hedged in], but not crushed; perplexed [unsure of finding a way out], but not driven to despair;
9 Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;
9 we are persecuted but not abandoned; we are struck down but not destroyed.
9 persecuted but not abandoned, struck down but not destroyed.
9 hunted down and persecuted, but not deserted [to stand alone]; struck down, but never destroyed;
10 Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.
10 (AB)always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that (AC)the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.
10 We always carry the death of Jesus(N) in our body, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.
10 We are always carrying around the death of Jesus in our bodies, so that the life of Jesus may be clearly shown in our bodies.
10 always carrying around in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the [resurrection] life of Jesus also may be shown in our body.
11 For 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.
11 For we who live are constantly being delivered over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.
11 For we who live are always given over to death(O) because of Jesus, so that Jesus’ life may also be revealed in our mortal flesh.
11 While we are alive, we are constantly being handed over to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus may be clearly shown in our mortal bodies.
11 For we who live are constantly [experiencing the threat of] being handed over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the [resurrection] life of Jesus also may be evidenced in our mortal body [which is subject to death].
13 We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak;
13 But having the same (AD)spirit of faith, according to what is written, “(AE)I believed, therefore I spoke,” we also believe, therefore we also speak,
13 And since we have the same spirit of faith in keeping with what is written, I believed, therefore I spoke,(P)(b) we also believe, and therefore speak.
13 Now since we have the same spirit of faith in keeping with this Scripture: "I believed, and so I spoke," we also believe and therefore speak.
14 Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you.
14 knowing that He who (AF)raised the Lord Jesus (AG)will raise us also with Jesus and will (AH)present us with you.
14 We know that the One who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus(Q) and present us with you.
14 We know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus will also raise us with Jesus and present us to God together with you.
14 knowing that He who raised the Lord Jesus will also raise us with Jesus and will present us [along] with you in His presence.
15 For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God.
15 For all things are (AI)for your sakes, so that the grace which is (e)(AJ)spreading to more and more people may cause the giving of thanks to abound to the glory of God.
15 Indeed, everything is for your benefit, so that grace, extended through more and more people, may cause thanksgiving(R) to increase to God’s glory.
15 All this is for your sake so that, as his grace spreads, more and more people will give thanks and glorify God.
15 For all [these] things are for your sake, so that as [God’s remarkable, undeserved] grace reaches to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of [our great] God.
Living By Faith
16 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.
16 Therefore we (AK)do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our (AL)inner man is (AM)being renewed day by day.
16 Therefore we do not give up.(S) Even though our outer person is being destroyed, our inner person(T) is being renewed day by day.
16 That's why we are not discouraged. No, even if outwardly we are wearing out, inwardly we are being renewed each and every day.
16 Therefore we do not become discouraged [spiritless, disappointed, or afraid]. Though our outer self is [progressively] wasting away, yet our inner self is being [progressively] renewed day by day.
17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;
17 For momentary, (AN)light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison,
17 For our momentary light affliction(c)(U) is producing for us an absolutely incomparable eternal weight of glory.(V)
17 This light, temporary nature of our suffering is producing for us an everlasting weight of glory, far beyond any comparison,
17 For our momentary, light distress [this passing trouble] is producing for us an eternal weight of glory [a fullness] beyond all measure [surpassing all comparisons, a transcendent splendor and an endless blessedness]!
18 While 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.
18 while we (AO)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.
18 So we do not focus on what is seen,(W) but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
18 because we do not look for things that can be seen but for things that cannot be seen. For things that can be seen are temporary, but things that cannot be seen are eternal.
18 So we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are unseen; for the things which are visible are temporal [just brief and fleeting], but the things which are invisible are everlasting and imperishable. Cross references: 2 Corinthians 4:6 : Gen 1:3 2 Corinthians 4:13 : Ps 116:10 end of crossrefs