41 Therefore e , since we have this ministry , as we received mercy , we do not lose heart , 2 but we have renounced the things hidden because of shame , not walking in craftiness or adulterating the word of God , but by the manifestation of truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God . 3 And even if our gospel is veiled , it is veiled to those who are perishing , 4 in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ , who is the image of God . 5 For we do not preach ourselves but Christ Jesus as Lord , and ourselves as your bond-servants for Jesus' sake . 6 For God , who said , " Light shall shine out of darkness ," is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ .
7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels , so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves ;
8 we are afflicted in every way , but not crushed ; perplexed , but not despairing ; 9 persecuted , but not forsaken ; struck down , but not destroyed ; 10 always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus , so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body . 11 For we who live are constantly being delivered over to death for Jesus' sake , so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh . 12 So death works in us, but life in you. 13 But having the same spirit of faith , according to what is written , " I BELIEVED , THEREFORE I SPOKE ," we also believe , therefore we also speak , 14 knowing that He who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and will present us with you. 15 For all things are for your sakes , so that the grace which is spreading to more and more people may cause the giving of thanks to abound to the glory of God . 16 Therefore we do not lose heart , but though e our outer man is decaying , yet our inner man is being renewed day by day . 17 For momentary , light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison , 18 while we look not 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 .
41 Since God has so generously let us in on what he is doing, we're not about to throw up our hands and walk off the job just because we run into occasional hard times. 2 We refuse to wear masks and play games. We don't maneuver and manipulate behind the scenes. And we don't twist God's Word to suit ourselves. Rather, we keep everything we do and say out in the open, the whole truth on display, so that those who want to can see and judge for themselves in the presence of God. 3 If our Message is obscure to anyone, it's not because we're holding back in any way. No, it's because these other people are looking or going the wrong way and refuse to give it serious attention. 4 All they have eyes for is the fashionable god of darkness. They think he can give them what they want, and that they won't have to bother believing a Truth they can't see. They're stone-blind to the dayspring brightness of the Message that shines with Christ, who gives us the best picture of God we'll ever get. 5 Remember, our Message is not about ourselves; we're proclaiming Jesus Christ, the Master. All we are is messengers, errand runners from Jesus for you. 6 It started when God said, "Light up the darkness!" and our lives filled up with light as we saw and understood God in the face of Christ, all bright and beautiful.
7 If you only look at us, you might well miss the brightness. We carry this precious Message around in the unadorned clay pots of our ordinary lives. That's to prevent anyone from confusing God's incomparable power with us.
8 As it is, there's not much chance of that. You know for yourselves that we're not much to look at. We've been surrounded and battered by troubles, but we're not demoralized; we're not sure what to do, 9 but we know that God knows what to do; we've been spiritually terrorized, but God hasn't left our side; we've been thrown down, but we haven't broken. 10 What they did to Jesus, they do to us - trial and torture, mockery and murder; what Jesus did among them, he does in us - he lives! 11 Our lives are at constant risk for Jesus' sake, which makes Jesus' life all the more evident in us. 12 While we're going through the worst, you're getting in on the best! 13 We're not keeping this quiet, not on your life. Just like the psalmist who wrote, "I believed it, so I said it," we say what we believe. 14 And what we believe is that the One who raised up the Master Jesus will just as certainly raise us up with you, alive. 15 Every detail works to your advantage and to God's glory: more and more grace, more and more people, more and more praise! 16 So we're not giving up. How could we! Even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without his unfolding grace. 17 These hard times are small potatoes compared to the coming good times, the lavish celebration prepared for us. 18 There's far more here than meets the eye. The things we see now are here today, gone tomorrow. But the things we can't see now will last forever.
