The Second Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Corinthians

⭑ Catholic Public Domain :: World English Bible Catholic ⭑

- Kapitel 4 -

Therefore, since we have this ministry, and in as much as we have obtained mercy for ourselves, we are not inadequate.(a)

For we renounce dishonorable and hidden acts, not walking by craftiness, nor by adulterating the Word of God. Instead, by the manifestation of truth, we commend ourselves to the conscience of each man before God.

But if our Gospel is in some way hidden, it is hidden to those who are perishing.

As for them, the god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that the light of the Gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, would not shine in them.

For we are not preaching about ourselves, but about Jesus Christ our Lord. We are merely your servants through Jesus.

For God, who told the light to shine out of darkness, has shined a light into our hearts, to illuminate the knowledge of the splendor of God, in the person of Christ Jesus.

Treasure in Jars of Clay

(Romans 6:1–14)

But we hold this treasure in earthen vessels, so that what is sublime may be of the power of God, and not of us.

In all things, we endure tribulation, yet we are not in anguish. We are constrained, yet we are not destitute.

We suffer persecution, yet we have not been abandoned. We are thrown down, yet we do not perish.

We ever carry around the mortification of Jesus in our bodies, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies.

For we who live are ever handed over unto death for the sake of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our mortal flesh.

Therefore, death is at work in us, and life is at work in you.

But we have the same Spirit of faith. And just as it is written, “I believed, and for that reason I spoke,” so we also believe, and for that reason, we also speak.

For we know that the One who raised up Jesus will raise us up also with Jesus and will place us with you.

Thus, all is for you, so that grace, abounding through many in thanksgiving, may abound to the glory of God.

For this reason, we are not insufficient. But it is as though our outer man is corrupted, while our inner man is renewed from day to day.

For though our tribulation is, at the present time, brief and light, it accomplishes in us the weight of a sublime eternal glory, beyond measure.

And we are contemplating, not the things that are seen, but the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are temporal, whereas the things that are not seen are eternal.

Fußnoten

(a)4:1 Paul is discussing his adequacy or perceived inadequacy for the ministry given to him by God. The word ‘deficimus’ in this context is not so much ‘to fail’ as to be insufficient or inadequate for a task.(Conte)

Therefore, seeing we have this ministry, even as we obtained mercy, we don’t faint.

But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness nor handling the word of God deceitfully, but by the manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.

Even if our Good News is veiled, it is veiled in those who are dying,

in whom the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving, that the light of the Good News of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should not dawn on them.

For we don’t preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake,

seeing it is God who said, “Light will shine out of darkness,”(a) who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

Treasure in Jars of Clay

(Romans 6:1–14)

But we have this treasure in clay vessels, that the exceeding greatness of the power may be of God and not from ourselves.

We are pressed on every side, yet not crushed; perplexed, yet not to despair;

pursued, yet not forsaken; struck down, yet not destroyed;

always carrying in the body the putting to death of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.

For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus’ sake, that the life also of Jesus may be revealed in our mortal flesh.

So then death works in us, but life in you.

But having the same spirit of faith, according to that which is written, “I believed, and therefore I spoke.”(b) We also believe, and therefore we also speak,

knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus, and will present us with you.

For all things are for your sakes, that the grace, being multiplied through the many, may cause the thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God.

Therefore we don’t faint, but though our outward person is decaying, yet our inward person is renewed day by day.

For our light affliction, which is for the moment, works for us more and more exceedingly an eternal weight of glory,

while we don’t look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

Fußnoten

(a)4:6 ℘ Genesis 1:3

(b)4:13 ℘ Psalms 116:10