2 Corinthians 4 is a chapter where the apostle Paul explains the nature and essence of his ministry, emphasizing his dedication and determination to preach the gospel even in the midst of suffering and adversity. In this chapter, Paul recognizes his ministry as a grace given by God, and emphasizes his honesty and transparency in spreading the gospel. He also conveys spiritual hope and comfort to believers, and shows an example of unwavering faith even in the midst of suffering. The main contents are explained in detail as follows.
1. Pride and honesty in position (verses 1-6)
Verse 1 : “Therefore, since we have received this ministry and have received mercy, we do not lose heart.”
- Paul recognizes that he has been entrusted with this ministry as God's mercy, and emphasizes that he does not become discouraged because of it.
Verse 2 : “We therefore lay aside the hidden work of shame, not walking in deceit or confusing the word of God, but by presenting the truth, commending ourselves to every man’s conscience before God.”
- Paul says that he is recommended to God before people's consciences by abandoning shameful things, not using deceit or distorted methods, and only preaching the truth.
Verses 3-4 : "But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are lost, in whom the god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ."
- Paul explains that the reason the gospel is obscured is because the god of this world, Satan, has blinded the minds of unbelievers so that they cannot see the light of the gospel.
Verse 5 : "For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake."
- Paul does not preach himself, but only that Jesus Christ is Lord, and he says that he has become their servant for Jesus' sake.
Verse 6 : “For God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ has made his light shine in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”
- Paul emphasizes that God shined in their hearts the light of the knowledge of God's glory in the face of Jesus Christ.
2. Treasures in earthen vessels (verses 7-15)
Verse 7 : "But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that this all-surpassing power belongs to God and not to us."
- Through the analogy of putting the treasure of the gospel in an earthen vessel, Paul explains that God's power is revealed through human weakness.
Verses 8-9 : “We are hard pressed on every side, but we are not crushed; we are oppressed, but we do not lose heart; we are persecuted, but we are not abandoned; we are struck down, but we are not destroyed.”
- Paul does not become discouraged despite various hardships and adversities and emphasizes that God does not abandon him.
Verses 10-11 : “For we always carry in our bodies the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our bodies. For as we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus, the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our mortal flesh. “Because I want to do it.”
- Paul explains that the reason they bear in their body the death of Jesus is so that the life of Jesus may be manifested in them.
Verse 12 : "So death is at work in us, but life is at work in you."
- Paul emphasizes that death is at work in them and life is at work in the Corinthian believers.
Verse 13 : "We also have the same spirit of faith, according to what is written: 'I believed, and therefore I spoke.' We also believe, and therefore we speak."
- Paul quotes Psalm 116:10 and emphasizes that he also has the same faith.
Verse 14 : "Knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and present us with you."
- Paul is confident that God, who resurrected Jesus, will also resurrect them and allow them to stand before God with the Corinthian believers.
Verse 15 : “All things are for your sake, so that thanksgiving may increase through the grace of many, overflowing to the glory of God.”
- Paul emphasizes that everything is for the sake of the Corinthian saints and that the thanksgiving of many will bring glory to God.
3. The outer man and the inner man (verses 16-18)
Verse 16 : "Therefore we do not lose heart. Though our outer person is wasting away, yet our inner person is being renewed day by day."
- Paul emphasizes that although our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed every day.
Verse 17 : "For our light and momentary troubles work for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory."
- Paul explains that present suffering is minor compared to the weight of eternal glory.
Verse 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."
- Paul emphasizes that the gaze of faith should not be fixed on what is seen, but on the unseen, eternal things.
Chapter 4 of 2 Corinthians is where the Apostle Paul explains the nature of his ministry and emphasizes the importance of faith and not losing hope even in hardships. This provides spiritual comfort and encouragement to all believers, and challenges them to remember the mission and grace that God has given them and to dedicate themselves unwaveringly to spreading the gospel.