2 Corinthians 4 - 1599 Geneva Bible (GNV)

4 1 He showeth that he hath so labored in preaching the Gospel, 4 That such are even blinded of Satan, who do not perceive the brightness thereof, 7 that the same is carried in earthen vessels, 10 who are subject to many miseries: 16 and therefore he exhorteth them by his own example to be courageous, 17 and condemn this present life.

¹ Therefore, ^[a]seeing that we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we ^[b]faint not:

² But have cast from us the ^[c]cloaks of shame, and walk not in craftiness, neither handle we the word of God ^[d]deceitfully: but in declaration of the truth we approve ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.

^{3 [e]}If the Gospel be then hid, it is hid to them that are lost.

⁴ In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds, that is, of the infidels, that the ^[f]light of the glorious Gospel of Christ, which is the ^[g]image of God, should not shine unto them.

^{5 [h]}For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your servants for ^[i]Jesus’ sake.

⁶ For God ^(A)[j]that commanded the light to shine out of darkness, is he which hath shined in our hearts, to give the ^[k]light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

^{7 [l]}But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, ^[m]that the excellency of that power might be of God, and not of us.

⁸ We are afflicted on every side, yet are we not in distress: we are in doubt, but yet we despair not.

⁹ We are persecuted, but not forsaken: cast down, but we perish not.

^{10 [n]}Everywhere we bear about in our body the ^[o]dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus might also be made manifest in our bodies.

¹¹ For we which ^[p]live, are always delivered unto death for Jesus’ sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our ^[q]mortal flesh.

^{12 [r]}So then death worketh in us, and life in you.

^{13 [s]}And because we have the same ^[t]spirit of faith, according as it is written, ^(B)I believed, and therefore have I spoken, we also believe, and therefore speak,

¹⁴ Knowing that he which hath raised up the Lord Jesus, shall raise us up also by Jesus, and shall set us with you.

^{15 [u]}For all things are for your sakes, ^[v]that that most plenteous grace by the thanksgiving of many, may redound to the praise of God.

¹⁶ Therefore we faint not, ^[w]but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is ^[x]renewed daily.

¹⁷ For our ^[y]light affliction which is but for a moment, causeth unto us a far most excellent and an eternal weight of ^[z]glory:

¹⁸ While we look not on the things which are seen, but on the things which are not seen for the things which are seen, are temporal: but the things which are not seen, are eternal.

Footnotes

1. 2 Corinthians 4:1 Now he plainly witnesseth that both he and his fellows (through the mercy of God) do their vocation and duty uprightly and sincerely, neglecting all dangers.
2. 2 Corinthians 4:1 Though we are broken in pieces with miseries and calamities, yet we yield not.
3. 2 Corinthians 4:2 Subtlety, and all kinds of deceit, which men hunt after, as it were dens and lurking holes, to cover their shameless dealings withall.
4. 2 Corinthians 4:2 This is it that in the former Chapter he called, making merchandise of the word of God.
5. 2 Corinthians 4:3 An objection: Many hear the Gospel, and yet are no more lightened thereby than by the preaching of the Law. He answereth, The fault is in the men themselves, whose eyes Satan plucketh out, who ruleth in this world. And yet notwithstanding doth he and his fellows set forth the most clear light of the Gospel to be seen and beholden, seeing that Christ whom only they preach, is he in whom only God will be known, and as it were seen.
6. 2 Corinthians 4:4 The light of plain and lightsome preaching, which telleth forth the glory of Christ.
7. 2 Corinthians 4:4 In whom the Father setteth forth himself to be seen and beholden.
8. 2 Corinthians 4:5 He removeth according to his accustomed manner, all suspicion of ambition: avouching that he teacheth faithfully, but as a servant, and witnessing that all this light which he and his fellows give to others, proceedeth from the Lord.
9. 2 Corinthians 4:5 To preach this selfsame Jesus to you.
10. 2 Corinthians 4:6 Which made only with his word.
11. 2 Corinthians 4:6 That being lightened of God, we should in like sort give that light to others.
12. 2 Corinthians 4:7 He taketh away a stumbling block, by which was darkened, amongst some, the bright shining of the ministry of the Gospel, to wit, because the Apostles were the most miserable of all men, Paul answereth that he and his fellows are as it were earthen vessels, but yet there is in them a most precious treasure.
13. 2 Corinthians 4:7 He bringeth marvelous reasons, why the Lord doth so afflict his chiefest servants, to the end saith he that all men may perceive that they stand not by any man’s virtue, but by the singular virtue of God, in that they die a thousand times, but never perish.
14. 2 Corinthians 4:10 An amplification of the former sentence, wherein he compareth his afflictions to a daily death, and the virtue of the Spirit of God in Christ, to life, which oppresseth that death.
15. 2 Corinthians 4:10 So Paul calleth that miserable estate and condition, that the faithful, but especially the minsters, are in.
16. 2 Corinthians 4:11 Which live, that life, to wit, by the Spirit of Christ, amongst so many and so great miseries.
17. 2 Corinthians 4:11 Subject to that miserable condition.
18. 2 Corinthians 4:12 A very cunning conclusion: as if he would say, Therefore to be short, we die, that you may live by our death, for that they ventured into all those dangers for the building of the Church’s sake, and they ceased not to confirm all the faithful with the examples of their patience.
19. 2 Corinthians 4:13 He declareth the former sentence, showing that he and his fellows die in a sort to purchase life to others, but yet notwithstanding they are partakers of the same life with them: because they themselves do first believe that, which they propound to others to believe, to wit, that they also shall be saved together with them in Christ.
20. 2 Corinthians 4:13 The same faith by the inspiration of the same Spirit.
21. 2 Corinthians 4:15 He showeth how this constancy is preserved in them, to wit, because they respect God’s glory, and the salvation of the Churches committed unto them.
22. 2 Corinthians 4:15 When it shall please God to deliver me, and restore me to you, that exceeding benefit which shall be poured upon me, shall in like sort redound to the glory of God, by the thanksgiving of many.
23. 2 Corinthians 4:16 He addeth as it were a triumphant song, how that he is outwardly afflicted, but inwardly he profiteth daily: and passeth not at all for all the miseries that may be sustained in this life, in comparison of that most constant and eternal glory.
24. 2 Corinthians 4:16 Gathereth new strength, that the outward man be not overcome with the miseries which come freshly one upon the neck of another, being maintained and upholden with the strength of the inward man.
25. 2 Corinthians 4:17 Afflictions are not called light, as though they were light of themselves, but because they pass away quickly, when as indeed our whole life is of no long continuance.
26. 2 Corinthians 4:17 Which remaineth forever firm and stable, and can never be shaken.

Cross references

1. 2 Corinthians 4:6 : Gen. 1:3
2. 2 Corinthians 4:13 : Ps. 116:10