2 Corinthians
Chapter 4
Sincere Preaching
Since this is our ministry, graciously entrusted to us, we do not weaken.
We refuse to remain silent with half-truths out of fear; we do not act with cunning or distort God’s message, but by speaking the truth openly, we place ourselves before the conscience of everyone in the sight of God.
In fact, if the gospel we preach stays unclear, it is only unclear to those who are headed toward their own destruction.
The god of this world has blinded the minds of these unbelievers so they cannot see the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God.
It is not ourselves we preach, but Christ Jesus as Lord; and for Jesus’ sake, we serve you.
God, who said, ‘Let the light shine out of darkness,’ has also made the light shine in our hearts to radiate and reveal the glory of God as it shines in the face of Christ.
Trust in God
However, we carry this treasure in jars of clay so that this all-surpassing power may not be attributed to us, but to God.
We face all kinds of trials, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair,
persecuted, but not abandoned, knocked down but not crushed.
At any moment, we carry in our bodies the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be seen in us.
For we, the living, are continually given up to death for the sake of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may be revealed in our mortal existence.
So death is at work in us, but life in you.
We have received the same spirit of faith mentioned in Scripture, which states: I believed and so I spoke. We also believe, and so we speak.
We know that he who raised the Lord Jesus will also raise us with Jesus, and bring us with you into his presence.
Finally, everything is for your good so that grace will come more abundantly upon you, and there will be greater thanksgiving for the glory of God.
Hope of Glory
Therefore, we are not discouraged. On the contrary, even as our outer being wastes away, our inner self is being renewed day by day.
The minor affliction that passes quickly prepares us for an eternal wealth of glory, so great and beyond all comparison.
So, we no longer focus on what is seen but on what is unseen, for what we see lasts only a moment, but what cannot be seen is eternal.
Commentaries
Sincere Preaching.
Paul defends his ministry by responding to his enemies’ accusations. His ministry is a pure gift and, therefore, carries responsibility (cf. 1 Tim 2:5). The honesty and responsible sincerity he mentioned earlier are contrasted with two tactics: hiding with shame and twisting truths with cunning. Paul continues his defense by affirming that he does not promote himself but Christ, and that his ministry is one of service, carried out in humility, poverty, and suffering. It is a ministry without human glamour or prestige.
Trust in God.
We reach the central part of the letter. Up to this point, Paul has defended himself against his critics. Now he describes his ‘ideal’ of the mission of an apostle of Christ. He speaks openly, shaped by many years of missionary work. He believes that “a crucified man” is the best messenger of the Crucified One. But just as Christ’s death brought life to him and to everyone else, so the suffering of the Apostle brings life to the community: death in us and life in you (12). With this hope, the Apostle faces his hardships with joy and confidence, concluding that “he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us up with Jesus and bring us with you into his presence” (14).
Hope of Glory.
Paul feels himself caught between two opposing forces: physical and mental decline on one side, and daily spiritual growth on the other. It is as if two opposing energies are at work within him, one of ‘corruption’ and the other of ‘renewal.’ One impacts the visible outer man, while the other influences the unseen inner man. The Apostle is not deterred or discouraged. He continues in chapter 5 by comparing future and present blessings. This situation sparks in him a deep desire to be with Christ permanently and to live for Him. To the image of the final dwelling place, the Apostle adds two more: that of putting on and putting on again, and that of ‘being at home’ or ‘being in exile.’ The key at all times is to please the Lord and do His will, just as He does.