2 Corinthians 4:1

Paul’s Perseverance in Ministry

4:1 Therefore, since we have this ministry, just as God has shown us mercy,¹ we do not become discouraged.²

2 Corinthians 4:8-14

4:8 We are experiencing trouble on every side,³ but are not crushed; we are perplexed,⁴ but not driven to despair; 4:9 we are persecuted, but not abandoned;⁵ we are knocked down,⁶ but not destroyed, 4:10 always carrying around in our body the death of Jesus,⁷ so that the life of Jesus may also be made visible⁸ in our body. 4:11 For we who are alive are constantly being handed over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus may also be made visible⁹ in our mortal body.¹⁰ 4:12 As a result,¹¹ death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.¹² 4:13 But since we have the same spirit of faith as that shown in¹³ what has been written, “I believed; therefore I spoke,”¹⁴ we also believe, therefore we also speak. 4:14 We do so¹⁵ because we know that the one who raised up Jesus¹⁶ will also raise us up with Jesus and will bring us with you into his presence.

2 Corinthians 4:16

4:16 Therefore we do not despair,¹⁷ but even if our physical body¹⁸ is wearing away, our inner person¹⁹ is being renewed day by day.

¹tn Grk “just as we have been shown mercy”; ἠλεήθημεν (hlehqhmen) has been translated as a “divine passive” which is a circumlocution for God as the active agent. For clarity this was converted to an active construction with God as subject in the translation.

²tn Or “we do not lose heart.”

³tn Grk “we are hard pressed [by crowds] on every side.”

⁴tn Or “at a loss.”

⁵tn Or “forsaken.”

⁶tn Or “badly hurt.” It is possible to interpret καταβαλλόμενοι (kataballomenoi) here as “badly hurt”: “[we are] badly hurt, but not destroyed” (L&N 20.21).

⁷tn The first clause of 2 Cor 4:10 is elliptical and apparently refers to the fact that Paul was constantly in danger of dying in the same way Jesus died (by violence at least). According to L&N 23.99 it could be translated, “at all times we live in the constant threat of being killed as Jesus was.”

⁸tn Or “may also be revealed.”

⁹tn Or “may also be revealed.”

¹⁰tn Grk “mortal flesh.”

¹¹tn Or “So then.”

¹²tn Grk “death is at work in us, but life in you”; the phrase “is at work in” is repeated in the translation for clarity.

¹³tn Grk “spirit of faith according to.”

¹⁴sn A quotation from Ps 116:10.

¹⁵tn Grk “speak, because.” A new sentence was started here in the translation, with the words “We do so” supplied to preserve the connection with the preceding statement.

¹⁶tc ‡ Several important witnesses (א C D F G Ψ 1881), as well as the Byzantine text, add κύριον (kurion) here, changing the reading to “the Lord Jesus.” Although the external evidence in favor of the shorter reading is slim, the witnesses are important, early, and diverse (Ì⁴⁶ B [0243 33] 629 [630] 1175* [1739] pc r sa). Very likely scribes with pietistic motives added the word κύριον, as they were prone to do, thus compounding this title for the Lord.

¹⁷tn Or “do not lose heart.”

¹⁸tn Grk “our outer man.”

¹⁹tn Grk “our inner [man].”