2 Corinthians 4:1-5

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. 4:5 For we do not proclaim ¹⁰  ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your slaves ¹¹  for Jesus’ sake.

[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).

[4:5]  ¹⁰ tn Or “preach.”

[4:5]  ¹¹ tn Traditionally, “servants.” Though δοῦλος (doulos) is normally translated “servant,” the word does not bear the connotation of a free individual serving another. BDAG notes that “‘servant’ for ‘slave’ is largely confined to Biblical transl. and early American times…in normal usage at the present time the two words are carefully distinguished” (BDAG 260 s.v.). The most accurate translation is “bondservant” (sometimes found in the ASV for δοῦλος), in that it often indicates one who sells himself into slavery to another. But as this is archaic, few today understand its force.