Therefore, since we have this ^aministry, as we ^breceived mercy, we ^cdo not lose heart, 2 but we have renounced the ^athings hidden because of shame, not walking in trickery nor ^bdistorting the word of God, but by the open proclamation of the truth ^ccommending ourselves to every person’s conscience in the sight of God. 3 And even if our ^agospel is ^bveiled, it is veiled ¹to ^cthose who are perishing, 4 in whose case ^athe god of ^bthis ¹world has ^cblinded the minds of the unbelieving so that ²they will not see the ^dlight of the gospel of the ^eglory of Christ, who is the ^fimage of God. 5 For we ^ado not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your bond-servants ¹on account of Jesus. 6 For God, who said, “^aLight shall shine out of darkness,” is the One who has ^bshone in our hearts to give the ^cLight of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.

7 But we have this treasure in ^1aearthen containers, so that the extraordinary greatness of ^bthe power will be of God and not from ourselves; 8 we are ^aafflicted in every way, but not ^bcrushed; ^cperplexed, but not despairing; 9 ^apersecuted, but not ^babandoned; ^cstruck down, but not destroyed; 10 ^aalways carrying around in the body the dying of Jesus, so that ^bthe life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. 11 For we who live are constantly being handed over to death because of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our mortal flesh. 12 So death works in us, but life in you.

13 But having the same ^aspirit of faith, according to what is written: “^bI BELIEVED, THEREFORE I SPOKE,” we also believe, therefore we also speak, 14 knowing that He who ^araised the Lord Jesus ^bwill also raise us with Jesus, and will ^cpresent us with you. 15 For all things are ^afor your sakes, so that grace, having ^1bspread to more and more people, will cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.

16 Therefore we ^ado not lose heart, but though our outer person is decaying, yet our ^binner person is ^cbeing renewed day by day. 17 For our momentary, ^alight affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, 18 while we ^alook not 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.

Therefore, since we have this ^aministry, as we ^breceived mercy, we ^cdo not lose heart, 2 but we have renounced the ^ahidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness or ^badulterating the word of God, but by the manifestation of truth ^ccommending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God. 3 And even if our ^agospel is ^bveiled, it is veiled ¹to ^cthose who are perishing, 4 in whose case ^athe god of ^bthis age has ^cblinded the minds of the unbelieving ¹so that they might not see the ^dlight of the gospel of the ^eglory of Christ, who is the ^fimage of God. 5 For we ^ado not preach ourselves but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your slaves ¹for the sake of Jesus. 6 For God, who said, “^aLight shall shine out of darkness,” is the One who has ^bshone in our hearts to give the ^cLight of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.

7 But we have this treasure in ^aearthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of ^bthe power will be of God and not from ourselves; 8 ^ain every way afflicted, but not ^bcrushed; ^cperplexed, but not despairing; 9 ^apersecuted, but not ^bforsaken; ^cstruck down, but not destroyed; 10 ^aalways carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that ^bthe life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. 11 For we who live are constantly being delivered over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. 12 So death works in us, but life in you.

13 But having the same ^aspirit of faith, according to what is written, “^bI BELIEVED, THEREFORE I SPOKE,” we also believe, therefore we also speak, 14 knowing that He who ^araised the Lord Jesus ^bwill raise us also with Jesus and will ^cpresent us with you. 15 For all things are ^afor your sakes, so that the grace which is ^1bspreading to more and more people may cause the giving of thanks to abound to the glory of God.

16 Therefore we ^ado not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our ^binner man is ^cbeing renewed day by day. 17 For our momentary, ^alight affliction is working out for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, 18 while we ^alook not 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.

Therefore, since we have this ^aministry, just as we ^breceived mercy from God, granting us salvation, opportunities, and blessings, we ^cdo not get discouraged nor lose our motivation. 2 But we have renounced the disgraceful ^athings hidden because of shame; not walking in trickery or ^badulterating the word of God, but by stating the truth openly and plainly, we ^ccommend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God. 3 But even if our ^agospel is in some sense ^bhidden behind a veil, it is hidden only to ^cthose who are perishing; 4 among them ^athe god of ^bthis world Satan has ^cblinded the minds of the unbelieving to prevent them from seeing the illuminating ^dlight of the gospel of the ^eglory of Christ, who is the ^fimage of God. 5 For we ^ado not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves merely as your bond-servants for Jesus’ sake. 6 For God, who said, “^aLet light shine out of darkness,” is the One who has ^bshone in our hearts to give us the ^cLight of the knowledge of the glory and majesty of God clearly revealed in the face of Christ. Gen 1:3

7 But we have this precious treasure the good news about salvation in unworthy ^aearthen vessels of human frailty, so that the grandeur and surpassing greatness of ^bthe power will be shown to be from God His sufficiency and not from ourselves. 8 We are ^apressured in every way hedged in, but not ^bcrushed; ^cperplexed unsure of finding a way out, but not driven to despair; 9 ^ahunted down and persecuted, but not ^bdeserted to stand alone; ^cstruck down, but never destroyed; 10 ^aalways carrying around in the body the dying of Jesus, so that ^bthe resurrection life of Jesus also may be shown in our body. 11 For we who live are constantly experiencing the threat of being handed over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the resurrection life of Jesus also may be evidenced in our mortal body which is subject to death. 12 So physical death is actively at work in us, but spiritual life is actively at work in you.

13 Yet we have the same ^aspirit of faith as he had, who wrote in Scripture, “^bI BELIEVED, THEREFORE I SPOKE.” We also believe, therefore we also speak, Ps 116:10 14 knowing that He who ^araised the Lord Jesus ^bwill also raise us with Jesus and will ^cpresent us along with you in His presence. 15 For all these things are ^afor your sake, so that as God’s remarkable, undeserved grace ^breaches to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of our great God.

16 Therefore we ^ado not become discouraged spiritless, disappointed, or afraid. Though our outer self is progressively wasting away, yet our ^binner self is ^cbeing progressively renewed day by day. 17 For our momentary, ^alight distress this passing trouble is producing for us an eternal weight of glory a fullness beyond all measure surpassing all comparisons, a transcendent splendor and an endless blessedness! 18 So we ^alook not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are unseen; for the things which are visible are temporal just brief and fleeting, but the things which are invisible are everlasting and imperishable.