1
Therefore, since through God's mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart.
2
Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God.
3
And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing.
4
The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
5
For we do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake.
6
For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.
7
But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.
(the following is from Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary -- www.christnotes.org)
"Chapter Contents
The apostles laboured with much diligence, sincerity, and
faithfulness. (1-7) Their sufferings for the gospel were great, yet with
rich supports. (8-12) Prospects of eternal glory keep believers from
fainting under troubles. (13-18)
Commentary on 2 Corinthians 4:1-7
The best of men would faint, if they did not receive mercy from God.
And that mercy which has helped us out, and helped us on, hitherto, we
may rely upon to help us even to the end. The apostles had no base and
wicked designs, covered with fair and specious pretences. They did not
try to make their ministry serve a turn. Sincerity or uprightness will
keep the favourable opinion of wise and good men. Christ by his gospel
makes a glorious discovery to the minds of men. But the design of the
devil is, to keep men in ignorance; and when he cannot keep the light of
the gospel of Christ out of the world, he spares no pains to keep men
from the gospel, or to set them against it. The rejection of the gospel
is here traced to the wilful blindness and wickedness of the human
heart. Self was not the matter or the end of the apostles' preaching;
they preached Christ as Jesus, the Saviour and Deliverer, who saves to
the uttermost all that come to God through him. Ministers are servants
to the souls of men; they must avoid becoming servants to the humours or
the lusts of men. It is pleasant to behold the sun in the firmament;
but it is more pleasant and profitable for the gospel to shine in the
heart. As light was the beginning of the first creation; so, in the new
creation, the light of the Spirit is his first work upon the soul. The
treasure of gospel light and grace is put into earthen vessels. The
ministers of the gospel are subject to the same passions and weaknesses
as other men. God could have sent angels to make known the glorious
doctrine of the gospel, or could have sent the most admired sons of men
to teach the nations, but he chose humbler, weaker vessels, that his
power might be more glorified in upholding them, and in the blessed
change wrought by their ministry."
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