2 Corinthians 4 - Expanded Bible (EXB)

Preaching the Good News

4 [L Therefore,] Since God in his mercy gave us this ·work to do [ministry], we don’t ·give up [lose heart; become discouraged]. 2 But we have ·turned away from [rejected; renounced] ·secret [underhanded] and shameful ways. We ·use no trickery [L do not walk in deception], and we do not ·change [distort] the ·teaching [word] of God. We ·teach the truth plainly [fully/openly disclose the truth], ·showing everyone who we are so that they can know in their hearts what kind of people we are [L commending ourselves to every person’s conscience] in God’s sight. 3 If the ·Good News [Gospel] that we preach is ·hidden [veiled], it is ·hidden [veiled] only to those who are ·lost [perishing]. 4 The ·devil who rules this world [L god of this age] has blinded the minds of ·those who do not believe [unbelievers]. [L …so that] They cannot see the light of the Good News—the Good News ·about [that reveals] the glory of Christ, who is ·exactly like [L the image of] God. 5 [L For] We do not preach about ourselves, but we preach that Jesus Christ is Lord and that we are your ·servants [slaves; bondservants] for Jesus. 6 [L For; Because] God who said, “Let the light shine out of the darkness [Gen. 1:3; Is. 9:2],” is the same God who made his light shine in our hearts ·by letting us know [or to give us the knowledge of] the glory of God that is in the face of Christ.

Spiritual Treasure in Clay Jars

7 [L But] We have this treasure ·from God, but we are like clay jars that hold the treasure [L in clay jars]. This shows that the ·great [extraordinary; transcendent] power is from God, not from us. 8 We have ·troubles all around us [or all kinds of troubles/trials], but we are not ·defeated [crushed]. We ·do not know what to do [are perplexed/bewildered], but we do not ·give up the hope of living [despair]. 9 We are ·persecuted [pursued], but ·God does not leave us [not abandoned/left behind]. We are ·hurt [L struck down; knocked over] sometimes, but we are not destroyed. 10 We always carry the death of Jesus in our own bodies [C Paul was in constant danger of the kind of violent death Jesus experienced] so that the life of Jesus [C resurrection life] can also be ·seen [revealed; manifested] in our bodies. 11 [L For] We are alive, but for Jesus we are always ·in danger of [L being handed over to] death so that the life of Jesus can be ·seen [revealed; manifested] in our ·bodies that die [mortal flesh]. 12 So death is working in us, but life is working in you.

13 It is written in the Scriptures, “I believed, so I spoke [Ps. 116:10].” ·Our faith is like this, too [L Having the same spirit of faith,…]. We also believe, and so we speak. 14 We know that ·God [L the one] who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and will ·bring us together with you into his presence [L present (us) with you]. 15 All these things are for ·you [your benefit], so that the grace of God that is ·being given [expanding; increasing] to more and more people will bring increasing thanks to God for his glory.

Living by Faith

16 So we do not ·give up [despair; lose heart]. Though our ·physical body [L outer person] is ·becoming older and weaker [decaying; being destroyed], our ·spirit inside us [L inner (person)] is ·made new [being renewed] every day. 17 ·We have small troubles for a while now, but they [L For our brief and insignificant trials/tribulations] are ·helping us gain [or producing in us] an eternal ·glory [L burden/weight of glory] that ·is much greater than [overwhelmingly exceeds] the troubles. 18 We set our eyes not on what we see but on what we cannot see. [L For; Because] What we see ·will last only a short time [L is temporary/transitory], but what we cannot see ·will last forever [L is eternal].

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2 Corinthians 4 - Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

4 Because of this, having this ministration, according as we did receive kindness, we do not faint, 2 but did renounce for ourselves the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness, nor deceitfully using the word of God, but by the manifestation of the truth recommending ourselves unto every c...
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2 Corinthians 4 - Wycliffe Bible (WYC)

4 Therefore we that have this administration [Therefore we having this administration, or office], after this that we have gotten mercy, fail we not, 2 but do we away the privy things of shame, not walking in subtle guile, neither doing adultery by the word of God, but in showing of the truth comme...
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2 Corinthians 4 - Worldwide English (New Testament) (WE)

4 God in his kindness gave us this work. So we do not give up. 2 We never do wrong things nor do things in secret. We do not fool people nor change God's message. No, we tell people the truth openly. We let every person judge us for himself. We know that God sees all we do. 3 If the good news which ...
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2 Corinthians 4 - World English Bible (WEB)

4 Therefore seeing we have this ministry, even as we obtained mercy, we don’t faint. 2 But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully, but by the manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the s...
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2 Corinthians 4 - The Voice (VOICE)

Drawing from Exodus 32–34, Paul uses Moses as a model of one who has been transformed by God’s glory, but in a limited way. Moses encountered God (the Lord) through the Spirit on that mountain, but the Spirit now—as a fulfillment of the new covenant—dwells in the hearts of believers and continually ...
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2 Corinthians 4 - Tree of Life Version (TLV)

Treasures in Jars of Clay4 For this reason, since we have this ministry, just as we received mercy, we do not lose heart. 2 Instead, we renounced the hidden shameful ways—not walking in deception or distorting the word of God, but commending ourselves before God to everyone’s conscience by the open...
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2 Corinthians 4 - Revised Standard Version (RSV)

Treasure in Clay Jars4 Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God,[a] we do not lose heart. 2 We have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways; we refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God’s word, but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to every man’s consci...
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2 Corinthians 4 - Revised Geneva Translation (RGT)

4 Therefore, seeing that we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we do not faint. 2 But we have cast from us the cloaks of shame, and do not walk in craftiness, nor handle the word of God deceitfully. But in declaration of the truth, we commend ourselves to every man’s conscience in the si...
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2 Corinthians 4 - New Testament for Everyone (NTE)

Light out of Darkness4 For this reason, since we have this work entrusted to us in accordance with the mercy we have received, we don’t lose heart. 2 On the contrary, we have renounced the secret things that make people ashamed. We don’t use tricks; we don’t falsify God’s word. Rather, we speak the...
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2 Corinthians 4 - New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised (NRSVA)

Treasure in Clay Jars4 Therefore, since it is by God’s mercy that we are engaged in this ministry, we do not lose heart. 2 We have renounced the shameful things that one hides; we refuse to practise cunning or to falsify God’s word; but by the open statement of the truth we commend ourselves to the...
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2 Corinthians 4 - New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

Treasure in Clay Jars4 Therefore, since it is by God’s mercy that we are engaged in this ministry, we do not lose heart.(A)2 We have renounced the shameful, underhanded ways; we refuse to practice cunning or to falsify God’s word, but by the open statement of the truth we commend ourselves to the co...
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2 Corinthians 4 - New Matthew Bible (NMB)

A true preacher is diligent. He does not corrupt the word of God. He does not preach himself, but seeks the honour of Christ – yea though it be at the risk of his life. 4 Therefore, seeing that we have such an office, even as mercy has come on us, we faint not, 2 but have cast from us the cloaks of...
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2 Corinthians 4 - New Living Translation (NLT)

Treasure in Fragile Clay Jars4 Therefore, since God in his mercy has given us this new way,[a] we never give up. 2 We reject all shameful deeds and underhanded methods. We don’t try to trick anyone or distort the word of God. We tell the truth before God, and all who are honest know this. 3 If the G...
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2 Corinthians 4 - New Life Version (NLV)

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2 Corinthians 4 - New King James Version (NKJV)

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