Chapter 4

Discharging therefore this ministry in accordance with the mercy shown us, we do not lose heart.

On the contrary, we renounce those practices which shame conceals, we avoid unscrupulous conduct, we do not corrupt the word of God; but making known the truth, we commend ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God.

And if our gospel also is veiled, it is veiled only to those who are perishing.

In their case, the god of this world has blinded their unbelieving minds, that they should not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

For we preach not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves merely as your servants in Jesus.

For God, who commanded light to shine out of darkness, has shone in our hearts, to give enlightenment concerning the knowledge of the glory of God, shining on the face of Christ Jesus. Frailty and Support

But we carry this treasure in vessels of clay, to show that the abundance of the power is God's and not ours.

In all things we suffer tribulation, but we are not distressed; we are sore pressed, but we are not destitute;

we endure persecution, but we are not forsaken; we are cast down, but we do not perish;

always bearing about in our body the dying of Jesus, so that the life also of Jesus may be made manifest in our bodily frame.

For we the living are constantly being handed over to death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus may be made manifest in our mortal flesh.

Thus death is at work in us, but life in you.

But since we have the same spirit of faith, as shown in that which is written---"I believed, and so I spoke"---we also believed, wherefore we also spoke.

For we know that he who raised up Jesus will raise up us also with Jesus, and will place us with you.

For all things are for your sakes, so that the grace which abounds through the many may cause thanksgiving to abound, to the glory of God.

Wherefore we do not lose heart. On the contrary, even though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day.

For our present light affliction, which is for the moment, prepares for us an eternal weight of glory that is beyond all measure;

while we look not at the things that are seen, but at the things that are not seen. For the things that are seen are temporal, but the things that are not seen are eternal.