Bible Version: New International Version (NIV)
Application Notes: Life Application Study Bible (NIV)
2 CORINTHIANS 4
Present Weakness and Resurrection Life
1 Therefore, since through God’s mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart. 2 Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to everyone’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 that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 5 For what we preach is not 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 God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.
7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. 8 We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. 10 We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. 11 For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may also be revealed in our mortal body. 12 So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.
13 It is written: “I believed; therefore I have spoken.” Since we have that same spirit of faith, we also believe and therefore speak, 14 because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you to himself. 15 All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.
16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
Application Notes
4:2 Paul condemned those who twist God's Word. Preachers, teachers, and anyone else who talks about Jesus Christ must remember that they stand in God's presence--he hears every word. Some Christian ministers and leaders twist Scripture in an attempt to motivate or please audiences. Others take Scripture out of context to promote their own views. When you tell people about Christ, be careful not to distort the message.
4:3-4 The gospel is open and revealed to everyone, except to those who refuse to believe it. Satan, "the god of this age," works to deceive, and he has blinded those who don't believe in Christ (see 11:14-15). The allure of money, power, and pleasure blinds people to the light of Christ's gospel. Those who reject Christ and prefer their own pursuits have unknowingly made Satan their god.
4:5 The focus of Paul's preaching was on Jesus Christ and not himself. When you witness, tell people about what Jesus has done and not about your abilities and accomplishments. People must be introduced to Jesus, not to you. And if you hear people preaching about their own ideas rather than about Christ, beware-they are false teachers.
4:5 Paul willingly served the Corinthian church even though the people must have deeply disappointed him. Serving people requires a sacrifice of time and personal desires. Being one of Jesus' followers means serving others, even when they do not measure up to our expectations.
4:7 The supremely valuable message of salvation in Jesus Christ has been entrusted by God to frail and fallible human beings. Paul's focus, however, is not on the perishable container but on its priceless contents--God's power dwelling in us. Though we are "jars of clay," God uses us to spread his gospel, and he gives us power to do his work. Relying on God's power, not our own, will keep us from pride and motivate us to stay close to him, our power source. If you do this, many will see God's Spirit shining in you and be drawn to him. They will notice that, although you have normal struggles and challenges, there is something appealing about how you handle them. They will be able to tell that you rely on another power source, and they will want to know more.
4:8-12 Paul reminds us that though we may think we are at the end of our rope, we are never at the end of our hope. Our perishable bodies are subject to sin and suffering, but God never abandons us. Because Christ has won the victory over death, we can have eternal life. All our risks, humiliations, and trials are opportunities for Christ to demonstrate his power and presence in and through us. We must ask ourselves. Could I handle the suffering and opposition that Paul did? The drive for success in human terms can ruin effective ministry. From an earthly perspective. Paul was not very successful during his lifetime. However. God worked through him mightily and used him to impact countless lives for Christ. Like Paul, we must carry out our own ministries, looking to God for strength. When opposition, slander, or disappointment threaten to rob you of victory, remember that no one can destroy what God has accomplished through you.
4:15-18 Paul had faced suffering. trials. and distress as he preached the gospel. But he knew that they would one day be over, and he would obtain God's rest and rewards. As we face great troubles, it's easy to focus on our pain rather than on the ultimate goal. Just as athletes concentrate on the finish line and ignore their discomfort. We, too. must focus on the reward for our faith and the joy that lasts forever. No matter what happens to us in this life, we have the assurance of eternal life. When all suffering will end and all sorrow will flee away (Isaiah 35:10).
4:16 It is easy to lose heart and quit. We have all faced problems in our relationships or in our work that have caused us to think about giving up. Rather than quitting when persecution wore him down, Paul concentrated on experiencing the inner strength that comes from the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 3:16). Don't let fatigue, pain, or criticism force you off the job. Renew your commitment to serving Christ. Don't forsake your eternal reward because of the intensity of today's pain. Your temporary weakness allows the resurrection power of Christ to strengthen you moment by moment.
4:17 Our troubles do not need to diminish our faith or disillusion us. We should realise that God cares deeply about our suffering, even when we don't have tangible evidence of his work. However. Our problems and human limitations can have several positive results: (1) They can teach us how to suffer with Christ. (2) They can teach us to persevere faithfully. (3) They can teach us to look beyond this life for hope. (4) They can be used by God to demonstrate his power. Even when our pain feels great. God is still good and faithful, and his glory is always greater.
4:18 Paul gives a strategy for how to cope with terrible illness, persecution, or pain. We are to fix our hope not on this life but on the life to come. Knowing that we will live forever with God in a place without sin and suffering can help us live above the pain that we face in this life. (For more on fixing our eyes on Jesus. see Hebrews 12:2.)
Taken from Life Application Study Bible - Third Edition - (NIV)