The Father's Light Shines Through Us
4 1 Therefore, since we have this ministry through the mercy shown to us, we do not lose heart. 2 Instead, we have renounced the shameful things that are hidden. We refuse to act with cunning or to distort the word of our Father. Rather, by openly declaring the truth, we commend ourselves to everyone's conscience in the sight of our Father. 3 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. 4 In their case the god of this age has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of our Father. a a v4 Here "the god of this age" is the enemy who blinds people, not our Father — the lowercase word marks the counterfeit who steals the light meant for his children. 5 For we do not proclaim ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake.
6 For our Father, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," has shone in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of our Father's glory in the face of Jesus Christ.
7 But we have this treasure in clay jars, to show that this surpassing power belongs to our Father and does not come from us. 8 We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; 9 persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. 10 We always carry in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. 11 For we who live are always being handed over to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our mortal flesh. 12 So then, death is at work in us, but life in you.
13 Since we have the same spirit of faith in keeping with what is written, "I believed, and so I spoke," we also believe, and so we also speak, 14 because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus will also raise us with Jesus and bring us, with you, into his presence. 15 For all of this is for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of our Father.
16 So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. 17 For this light and momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, 18 as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen; for the things that are seen are temporary, but the things that are unseen are eternal.