THE GLORY OF GOD IN THE FACE OF CHRIST

Passage: 2 Corinthians 4:1-6

Key verse: 6

NIV

Present Weakness and Resurrection Life

4 Therefore, since through God’s mercy(A) we have this ministry, we do not lose heart.(B) 2 Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways;(C) we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God.(D) On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience(E) in the sight of God. 3 And even if our gospel(F) is veiled,(G) it is veiled to those who are perishing.(H) 4 The god(I) of this age(J) has blinded(K) the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ,(L) who is the image of God.(M) 5 For what we preach is not ourselves,(N) but Jesus Christ as Lord,(O) and ourselves as your servants(P) for Jesus’ sake. 6 For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,”[a](Q) made his light shine in our hearts(R) to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.(S)

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Footnotes
  1. 2 Corinthians 4:6 Gen. 1:3
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

The Light of the Gospel

4 Therefore, having (A)this ministry (B)by the mercy of God,[a] we do not lose heart. 2 But we have renounced (C)disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice[b] cunning or (D)to tamper with God's word, but (E)by the open statement of the truth (F)we would commend ourselves to everyone's conscience in the sight of God. 3 And even (G)if our gospel is veiled, (H)it is veiled to (I)those who are perishing. 4 In their case (J)the god of this world (K)has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing (L)the light of (M)the gospel of the glory of Christ, (N)who is the image of God. 5 For what (O)we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with (P)ourselves as your servants[c] for Jesus' sake. 6 For God, who said, (Q)“Let light shine out of darkness,” (R)has shone in our hearts to give (S)the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

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Footnotes
  1. 2 Corinthians 4:1 Greek having this ministry as we have received mercy
  2. 2 Corinthians 4:2 Greek to walk in
  3. 2 Corinthians 4:5 Or slaves (for the contextual rendering of the Greek word doulos, see Preface)
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

1. Setting forth the truth plainly (1-2)

It is by God's mercy that we have this ministry, so we must not be discouraged. Sometimes we are tempted to compromise with gospel truth to make it easier for people to believe. But Paul was clear. He didn't distort the word of God to make it more palpable. He spoke the truth plainly, in the sight of God. He refused to be discouraged when people rejected the gospel, for he knew that worldliness and unbelief blind men's minds to see the light of the gospel.

2. God shined his light into our hearts (3-6)

God who created the universe in the beginning and said, 'Let there be light,' shined the gospel light into our hearts. His light enables us to see the glory of God in the face of Christ Jesus.

Prayer: Lord, problems come. Thank you for showing me that the problem is not a problem, but how I solve the problem is important. Help me to renounce ungodly and unbiblical ways and speak the truth of your word simply, so that you may do your own work through your word.

One Word: God's light shines in our hearts