Focused Passage

2 Corinthians 4:1-6

Merciful Ministry, Treasure in Jars of Clay, and Unseen Eternal Glory

Because Paul has received mercy, he refuses manipulative ministry, proclaims Christ rather than himself, carries gospel treasure in fragile humanity, and interprets affliction through resurrection hope and unseen eternal glory.

Berean Standard Bible, Public Domain - Translation notes - Reference sources

1 Therefore, since God in His mercy has given us this ministry, we do not lose heart.

2 Instead, we have renounced secret and shameful ways. We do not practice deceit, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by open proclamation of the truth, we commend 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 The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

5 For we do not proclaim ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake.

6 For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made His light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 1

Cross-references

Galatians 6:9 Classic cross-references Isaiah 40:31 Classic cross-references 2 Corinthians 4:16 Classic cross-references Acts 20:24 Classic cross-references Luke 18:1 Classic cross-references Colossians 1:15 OliveGrove study links Hebrews 1:3 OliveGrove study links John 1:14 OliveGrove study links

Original words

Therefore Διὰ G1223 Preposition . . . τοῦτο G3778 Demonstrative Pronoun - Accusative Neuter Singular [since God] in His καθὼς G2531 Adverb mercy ἠλεήθημεν G1653 Verb - Aorist Indicative Passive - 1st Person Plural has given us ἔχοντες G2192 Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Plural this ταύτην G3778 Demonstrative Pronoun - Accusative Feminine Singular - τὴν G3588 Article - Accusative Feminine Singular ministry διακονίαν G1248 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular vvv οὐκ G3756 Adverb we do not lose heart ἐγκακοῦμεν G1573 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Plural

BSB notes

Literally Therefore, having this ministry, as we have received mercy,

Verse 2

Cross-references

2 Timothy 2:15 Classic cross-references Hebrews 4:12 Classic cross-references 2 Corinthians 2:17 Classic cross-references 1 Thessalonians 2:3 Classic cross-references 2 Corinthians 6:7 Classic cross-references Colossians 1:15 OliveGrove study links Hebrews 1:3 OliveGrove study links John 1:14 OliveGrove study links

Original words

Instead ἀλλὰ G235 Conjunction we have renounced ἀπειπάμεθα G550 Verb - Aorist Indicative Middle - 1st Person Plural - τὰ G3588 Article - Accusative Neuter Plural secret κρυπτὰ G2927 Adjective - Accusative Neuter Plural - τῆς G3588 Article - Genitive Feminine Singular [and] shameful [ways] αἰσχύνης G152 Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular vvv μὴ G3361 Adverb We do not practice περιπατοῦντες G4043 Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Plural . . . ἐν G1722 Preposition deceit πανουργίᾳ G3834 Noun - Dative Feminine Singular nor μηδὲ G3366 Conjunction do we distort δολοῦντες G1389 Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Plural the τὸν G3588 Article - Accusative Masculine Singular word λόγον G3056 Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular - τοῦ G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Singular of God Θεοῦ G2316 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular On the contrary ἀλλὰ G235 Conjunction - τῇ G3588 Article - Dative Feminine Singular by open proclamation φανερώσει G5321 Noun - Dative Feminine Singular of the τῆς G3588 Article - Genitive Feminine Singular truth ἀληθείας G225 Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular we commend συνιστάνοντες G4921 Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Plural ourselves ἑαυτοὺς G1438 Reflexive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Plural to πρὸς G4314 Preposition every πᾶσαν G3956 Adjective - Accusative Feminine Singular man’s ἀνθρώπων G444 Noun - Genitive Masculine Plural conscience συνείδησιν G4893 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular in the sight of ἐνώπιον G1799 Preposition - τοῦ G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Singular God Θεοῦ G2316 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular

Verse 3

Cross-references

Isaiah 44:18 Classic cross-references Hosea 4:6 Classic cross-references 1 Corinthians 1:18 Classic cross-references 2 Corinthians 3:14 Classic cross-references 2 Thessalonians 2:9 Classic cross-references Colossians 1:15 OliveGrove study links Hebrews 1:3 OliveGrove study links John 1:14 OliveGrove study links

Original words

And δὲ G1161 Conjunction even καὶ G2532 Conjunction if Εἰ G1487 Conjunction our ἡμῶν G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Plural - τὸ G3588 Article - Nominative Neuter Singular gospel εὐαγγέλιον G2098 Noun - Nominative Neuter Singular is ἔστιν G1510 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular veiled κεκαλυμμένον G2572 Verb - Perfect Participle Middle or Passive - Nominative Neuter Singular it is ἐστὶν G1510 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular veiled κεκαλυμμένον G2572 Verb - Perfect Participle Middle or Passive - Nominative Neuter Singular to ἐν G1722 Preposition those who τοῖς G3588 Article - Dative Masculine Plural are perishing ἀπολλυμένοις G622 Verb - Present Participle Middle or Passive - Dative Masculine Plural

Verse 4

Cross-references

Romans 12:2 Classic cross-references John 12:40 Classic cross-references Ephesians 6:12 Classic cross-references 2 Corinthians 3:14 Classic cross-references Acts 26:18 Classic cross-references Colossians 1:15 OliveGrove study links Hebrews 1:3 OliveGrove study links John 1:14 OliveGrove study links

Original words

The ὁ G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular god θεὸς G2316 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular of this τούτου G3778 Demonstrative Pronoun - Genitive Masculine Singular - τοῦ G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Singular age αἰῶνος G165 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular has blinded ἐτύφλωσεν G5186 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular the τὰ G3588 Article - Accusative Neuter Plural minds νοήματα G3540 Noun - Accusative Neuter Plural of τῶν G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Plural - ἐν G1722 Preposition - οἷς G3739 Personal / Relative Pronoun - Dative Masculine Plural unbelievers ἀπίστων G571 Adjective - Genitive Masculine Plural so εἰς G1519 Preposition vvv μὴ G3361 Adverb vvv τὸ G3588 Article - Accusative Neuter Singular they cannot see αὐγάσαι G826 Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active the τὸν G3588 Article - Accusative Masculine Singular light φωτισμὸν G5462 Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular of the τοῦ G3588 Article - Genitive Neuter Singular gospel εὐαγγελίου G2098 Noun - Genitive Neuter Singular of the τῆς G3588 Article - Genitive Feminine Singular glory δόξης G1391 Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular - τοῦ G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Singular of Christ Χριστοῦ G5547 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular who ὅς G3739 Personal / Relative Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Singular is ἐστιν G1510 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular [the] image εἰκὼν G1504 Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular - τοῦ G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Singular of God Θεοῦ G2316 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular

Verse 5

Cross-references

Matthew 23:11 Classic cross-references 1 Corinthians 1:23 Classic cross-references 1 Thessalonians 2:5 Classic cross-references 2 Corinthians 1:24 Classic cross-references 1 Corinthians 4:1 Classic cross-references Colossians 1:15 OliveGrove study links Hebrews 1:3 OliveGrove study links John 1:14 OliveGrove study links

Original words

For γὰρ G1063 Conjunction vvv Οὐ G3756 Adverb we do not proclaim κηρύσσομεν G2784 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Plural ourselves ἑαυτοὺς G1438 Reflexive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Plural but ἀλλὰ G235 Conjunction Jesus Ἰησοῦν G2424 Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular Christ Χριστὸν G5547 Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular [as] Lord Κύριον G2962 Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular and δὲ G1161 Conjunction ourselves ἑαυτοὺς G1438 Reflexive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Plural [as] your ὑμῶν G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 2nd Person Plural servants δούλους G1401 Noun - Accusative Masculine Plural for Jesus’ Ἰησοῦν G2424 Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular sake διὰ G1223 Preposition

Verse 6

Cross-references

2 Corinthians 3:18 Classic cross-references Genesis 1:3 Classic cross-references Isaiah 60:2 Classic cross-references Ephesians 1:18 Classic cross-references 2 Corinthians 4:4 Classic cross-references Colossians 1:15 OliveGrove study links Hebrews 1:3 OliveGrove study links John 1:14 OliveGrove study links

Original words

For ὅτι G3754 Conjunction - ὁ G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular God Θεὸς G2316 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular who ὁ G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular said εἰπών G2036 Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular {Let} light φῶς G5457 Noun - Nominative Neuter Singular shine λάμψει G2989 Verb - Future Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular out of Ἐκ G1537 Preposition darkness σκότους G4655 Noun - Genitive Neuter Singular - ὃς G3739 Personal / Relative Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Singular made His light shine ἔλαμψεν G2989 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular in ἐν G1722 Preposition our ἡμῶν G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Plural - ταῖς G3588 Article - Dative Feminine Plural hearts καρδίαις G2588 Noun - Dative Feminine Plural to give us πρὸς G4314 Preposition [the] light φωτισμὸν G5462 Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular of the τῆς G3588 Article - Genitive Feminine Singular knowledge γνώσεως G1108 Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular of the τῆς G3588 Article - Genitive Feminine Singular glory δόξης G1391 Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular - τοῦ G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Singular of God Θεοῦ G2316 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular in ἐν G1722 Preposition [the] face προσώπῳ G4383 Noun - Dative Neuter Singular of Jesus Ἰησοῦ G2424 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular Christ Χριστοῦ G5547 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular

BSB notes

Genesis 1:3
SBL, NE, and WH in the face of Christ

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