| Chapter text (World English Bible version) |  |
| 1 Therefore, seeing we have this ministry, even as we obtained mercy, we don’t faint. 2 But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness nor handling the word of God deceitfully, but by the manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God. | How does Paul describe the way he and his coworkers serve God and handle the truth? |
| 3 Even if our Good News is veiled, it is veiled in those who are dying, 4 in whom the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving, that the light of the Good News of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should not dawn on them. | What does Paul say has blinded the minds of unbelievers? |
5 For we don’t preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake, 6 seeing it is God who said, “Light will shine out of darkness,”* who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. * Quotation from Genesis 1 v 3 | What message does Paul preach, and how does he describe God’s light shining in their hearts? |
| 7 But we have this treasure in clay vessels, that the exceeding greatness of the power may be of God and not from ourselves. 8 We are pressed on every side, yet not crushed; perplexed, yet not to despair; 9 pursued, yet not forsaken; struck down, yet not destroyed; 10 always carrying in the body the putting to death of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. | How does Paul describe the contrast between fragile “clay vessels” and God’s power at work in them? |
11 For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus’ sake, that the life also of Jesus may be revealed in our mortal flesh. 12 So then death works in us, but life in you. * Quotation from Psalm 116 v 10 | How does Paul explain that both death and life are at work in him and in the believers? |
| 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, that the grace, being multiplied through the many, may cause the thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God. | What hope gives Paul confidence that their hardships will lead to thanksgiving and glory to God? |
| 16 Therefore we don’t faint, but though our outward person is decaying, yet our inward person is renewed day by day. 17 For our light affliction, which is for the moment, works for us more and more exceedingly an eternal weight of glory, 18 while we don’t look 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. | How does Paul encourage believers to view their troubles compared to eternal glory? |
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