2 Corinthians 4:1

Paul’s Perseverance in Ministry

4:1 Therefore, since we have this ministry, just as God has shown us mercy, ¹  we do not become discouraged. ² 

2 Corinthians 4:7-12

An Eternal Weight of Glory

4:7 But we have this treasure in clay jars, so that the extraordinary power ³  belongs to God and does not come from us. 4:8 We are experiencing trouble on every side, ⁴  but are not crushed; we are perplexed, ⁵  but not driven to despair; 4:9 we are persecuted, but not abandoned; ⁶  we are knocked down, ⁷  but not destroyed, 4:10 always carrying around in our body the death of Jesus, ⁸  so that the life of Jesus may also be made visible ⁹  in our body. 4:11 For we who are alive are constantly being handed over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus may also be made visible ¹⁰  in our mortal body. ¹¹  4:12 As a result, ¹²  death is at work in us, but life is at work in you. ¹³ 

2 Corinthians 4:16

4:16 Therefore we do not despair, ¹⁴  but even if our physical body ¹⁵  is wearing away, our inner person ¹⁶  is being renewed day by day.

[4:1]  ¹ tn Grk “just as we have been shown mercy”; ἠλεήθημεν (hlehqhmen) has been translated as a “divine passive” which is a circumlocution for God as the active agent. For clarity this was converted to an active construction with God as subject in the translation.

[4:1]  ² tn Or “we do not lose heart.”

[4:7]  ³ tn Grk “the surpassingness of the power”; δυνάμεως (dunamew") has been translated as an attributed genitive (“extraordinary power”).

[4:8]  ⁴ tn Grk “we are hard pressed [by crowds] on every side.”

[4:8]  ⁵ tn Or “at a loss.”

[4:9]  ⁶ tn Or “forsaken.”

[4:9]  ⁷ tn Or “badly hurt.” It is possible to interpret καταβαλλόμενοι (kataballomenoi) here as “badly hurt”: “[we are] badly hurt, but not destroyed” (L&N 20.21).

[4:10]  ⁸ tn The first clause of 2 Cor 4:10 is elliptical and apparently refers to the fact that Paul was constantly in danger of dying in the same way Jesus died (by violence at least). According to L&N 23.99 it could be translated, “at all times we live in the constant threat of being killed as Jesus was.”

[4:10]  ⁹ tn Or “may also be revealed.”

[4:11]  ¹⁰ tn Or “may also be revealed.”

[4:11]  ¹¹ tn Grk “mortal flesh.”

[4:12]  ¹² tn Or “So then.”

[4:12]  ¹³ tn Grk “death is at work in us, but life in you”; the phrase “is at work in” is repeated in the translation for clarity.

[4:16]  ¹⁴ tn Or “do not lose heart.”

[4:16]  ¹⁵ tn Grk “our outer man.”

[4:16]  ¹⁶ tn Grk “our inner [man].”