Proclaiming Jesus Christ as Lord
Treasure in Earthenware Jars
7 But we have this treasure in earthenware jars, in order that the extraordinary degree of the power may be from God and not from us. 8 We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; 9 persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed; 10 always carrying around the death of Jesus in our body, in order that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. 11 For we who are alive are continually being handed over to death because of Jesus, in order that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our mortal flesh. 12 So then, death is at work in us, but life in you. 13 But because we[e] have the same spirit of faith in accordance with what is written, “I believed, therefore I spoke,”[f] we also believe, therefore we also speak, 14 because we[g] know that the one who raised Jesus[h] will also raise us together with Jesus and present us together with you. 15 For all these things are for your sake[i], in order that the grace that is increasing through the many may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God.
16 Therefore we do not lose heart, but even if our outer person is being destroyed, yet our inner person is being renewed day after day. 17 For our momentary light affliction is producing in us an eternal weight of glory beyond all measure and proportion[j], 18 because[k] we are not looking at what is seen, but what is not seen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is not seen is eternal.
Footnotes
- 2 Corinthians 4:1 Here “since” is supplied as a component of the participle (“have”) which is understood as causal
- 2 Corinthians 4:5 Some manuscripts have “Jesus Christ”
- 2 Corinthians 4:6 An allusion to Gen 1:3
- 2 Corinthians 4:6 Some manuscripts have “in the face of Jesus Christ”
- 2 Corinthians 4:13 Here “because” is supplied as a component of the participle (“have”) which is understood as causal
- 2 Corinthians 4:13 A quotation from Ps 116:10
- 2 Corinthians 4:14 Here “because” is supplied as a component of the participle (“know”) which is understood as causal
- 2 Corinthians 4:14 Some manuscripts have “the Lord Jesus”
- 2 Corinthians 4:15 Literally “for the sake of you”
- 2 Corinthians 4:17 Literally “according to an extraordinary degree to an extraordinary degree”
- 2 Corinthians 4:18 Here “because” is supplied as a component of the causal genitive absolute participle (“looking at”)