4:1 Because of this, having this service, just-as we were shown-mercy, we are not depressed.
4:2 But we ourselves scoffed at the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness, nor adulterating the word of God, but by the manifestation of the truth, commending ourselves to every conscience of men in God's sight.
4:3 But even if our good-news is being hidden, it is being hidden among those who are perishing,
4:4 in whom the god of this age has blinded the minds of the unbelieving, *that* the illumination of the good-news of the glory of the Christ, who is the image of God, should not dawn for them.
4:5 For* we are not preaching ourselves, but Christ Jesus as Lord and ourselves as your* bondservants because of Jesus.
4:6 Because it is God, who said, 'Illumination shine' {Gen 1:3} out of darkness, who shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
4:7 But we have this treasure in clay vessels, in order that the excellence of the power may be from God and not from us.
4:8 We are being pressed in everything, but not distressed; being perplexed, but not despairing;
4:9 being persecuted, but not forsaken; being cast down, but not being destroyed;
4:10 always carrying around in the body the death of the Lord Jesus, in order that the life of Jesus should also be manifested in our body.
4:11 For* we who live are habitually given up to death because of Jesus, in order that the life of Jesus should also be manifested in our mortal flesh.
4:12 So-then indeed, death is working in us, but life in you*.
4:13 But having the same spirit of the faith, according to what has been written, 'I believed and hence I spoke.' {Psa 116:10} We also believe and hence we also speak;
4:14 knowing that he who raised up the Lord Jesus will also be raising us up through Jesus and will be presenting us together with you*.
4:15 For* all things are because of you*, in order that the grace which increased through the many, the thanksgiving may abound to the glory of God.
4:16 Hence we are not depressed, but even if the outward man is decayed, but yet our man inside is renewed day in and day out.
4:17 For* the momentary light weight of our affliction, is working for us according to excellence into greater excellence an everlasting weight of glory;
4:18 not to be noting the things being seen of us, but note the things which are not seen; for* the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are everlasting.