The Light of Christ’s Gospel
1 Therefore, since we have this ministry, 1 Cor. 7:25as we have received mercy, we Luke 18:1; 2 Cor. 4:16; Gal. 6:9; Eph. 3:13; 2 Thess. 3:13do not lose heart. 2 But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness nor handling the word of God deceitfully, but by manifestation of the truth 2 Cor. 5:11commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God. 3 But even if our gospel is veiled, (1 Cor. 1:18); 2 Cor. 2:15it is veiled to those who are perishing, 4 whose minds John 12:31; (Eph. 6:12)the god of this age John 12:40has blinded, who do not believe, lest (2 Cor. 3:8, 9)the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, (John 1:18); Phil. 2:6; Col. 1:15; Heb. 1:3who is the image of God, should shine on them. 5 1 Cor. 1:13For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and 1 Cor. 9:19ourselves your bondservants for Jesus’ sake. 6 For it is the God Gen. 1:3who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has Is. 9:2; Mal. 4:2; Luke 1:78; 2 Pet. 1:19shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
Cast Down but Unconquered
7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, Judg. 7:2; 1 Cor. 2:5that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. 8 Weare2 Cor. 1:8; 7:5hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; weare perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not Ps. 129:2; (Heb. 13:5)forsaken; Ps. 37:24struck down, but not destroyed— 10 Phil. 3:10always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, Rom. 8:17that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. 11 For we who live Rom. 8:36are always delivered to death for Jesus’ sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. 12 So then death is working in us, but life in you.
13 And since we have 2 Pet. 1:1the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, Ps. 116:10"I believed and therefore I spoke," we also believe and therefore speak, 14 knowing that (Rom. 8:11)He who raised up the Lord Jesus will also raise us up with Jesus, and will present us with you. 15 For Col. 1:24all things are for your sakes, that 1 Cor. 9:19; 2 Cor. 1:11grace, having spread through the many, may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God.
Seeing the Invisible
16 Therefore we 2 Cor. 4:1; Gal. 6:9do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is (Is. 40:29, 31; Col. 3:10)being renewed day by day. 17 For Matt. 5:12; Rom. 8:18; 1 Pet. 1:6our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, 18 Rom. 8:24; (2 Cor. 5:7; Heb. 11:1, 13)while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.