2 Corinthians 4:1-4

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  4:2 But we have rejected ³  shameful hidden deeds, ⁴  not behaving ⁵  with deceptiveness ⁶  or distorting the word of God, but by open proclamation of the truth we commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience before God. 4:3 But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled only to those who are perishing, 4:4 among whom the god of this age has blinded the minds of those who do not believe ⁷  so they would not see the light of the glorious gospel ⁸  of Christ, ⁹  who is the image of God.

[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.”

[4:2]  ³ tn L&N 13.156; the word can also mean “to assert opposition to,” thus here “we have denounced” (L&N 33.220).

[4:2]  ⁴ tn Grk “the hidden things [deeds] of shame”; here αἰσχύνης (aiscunh") has been translated as an attributive genitive.

[4:2]  ⁵ tn Or “not conducting ourselves”; Grk “not walking” (a common NT idiom for conduct, way of life, or behavior).

[4:2]  ⁶ tn Or “craftiness.”

[4:4]  ⁷ tn Or “of unbelievers.”

[4:4]  ⁸ tn Grk “the gospel of the glory”; δόξης (doxhs) has been translated as an attributive genitive.

[4:4]  ⁹ tn Or “so that the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ would not be evident to them” (L&N 28.37).