Study Desk

Present Weakness and Resurrection Life

Therefore, since through God's mercy^(a) we have this ministry, we do not lose heart.^(b)

Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways;^(c) we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God.^(d) On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to everyone's conscience^(e) in the sight of God.

And even if our gospel^(f) is veiled,^(g) it is veiled to those who are perishing.^(h)

The god⁽ⁱ⁾ of this age^(j) has blinded^(k) the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ,^(l) who is the image of God.^(m)

For what we preach is not ourselves,⁽ⁿ⁾ but Jesus Christ as Lord,^(o) and ourselves as your servants^(p) for Jesus' sake.

For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness,"^[a](q) made his light shine in our hearts^(r) to give us the light of the knowledge of God's glory displayed in the face of Christ.^(s)

But we have this treasure in jars of clay^(t) to show that this all-surpassing power is from God^(u) and not from us.

We are hard pressed on every side,^(v) but not crushed; perplexed,^(w) but not in despair;

persecuted,^(x) but not abandoned;^(y) struck down, but not destroyed.^(z)

We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus,^(aa) so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.^(ab)

For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake,^(ac) so that his life may also be revealed in our mortal body.

So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.^(ad)

It is written: "I believed; therefore I have spoken."^[b](ae) Since we have that same spirit of^[c] faith,^(af) we also believe and therefore speak,

because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead^(ag) will also raise us with Jesus^(ah) and present us with you to himself.^(ai)

All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving^(aj) to overflow to the glory of God.

Therefore we do not lose heart.^(ak) Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly^(al) we are being renewed^(am) day by day.

For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.^(an)

So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen,^(ao) since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.