1 T herefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not;

Through God’s loving-kindness, He has given us this job to do. So we do not give up.

2 B ut have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God.

We have put away all things that are done in secret and in shame. We do not play with the Word of God or use it in a false way. Because we are telling the truth, we want men’s hearts to listen to us. God knows our desires.

3 B ut if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:

If the Good News we preach is hidden, it is hidden to those who are lost in sin.

4 I n whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

The eyes of those who do not believe are made blind by Satan who is the god of this world. He does not want the light of the Good News to shine in their hearts. This Good News shines as the shining-greatness of Christ. Christ is as God is.

5 F or we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake.

We do not preach about ourselves. We preach Christ Jesus the Lord. We are your servants because of Jesus.

6 F or God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

It was God Who said, “The light will shine in darkness.” He is the One Who made His light shine in our hearts. This brings us the light of knowing God’s shining-greatness which is seen in Christ’s face.

7 B ut we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.

We have this light from God in our human bodies. This shows that the power is from God. It is not from ourselves.

8 W e are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;

We are pressed on every side, but we still have room to move. We are often in much trouble, but we never give up.

9 P ersecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;

People make it hard for us, but we are not left alone. We are knocked down, but we are not destroyed.

10 A lways bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.

We carry marks on our bodies that show the death of Jesus. This is how Jesus makes His life seen in our bodies.

11 F or we which live are always delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.

Every day of our life we face death because of Jesus. In this way, His life is seen in our bodies.

12 S o then death worketh in us, but life in you.

Death is working in us because we work for the Lord, but His life is working in you.

13 W e having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak;

The Holy Writings say, “I believed, so I spoke.” We have the same kind of faith as David had. We also believe, so we speak.

14 K nowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you.

We know that God raised the Lord Jesus from the dead. He will raise us up also. God will take us to Himself and He will take you.

15 F or all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God.

These things happened for your good. As more people receive God’s favor, they will give thanks for the shining-greatness of God. Life Now—Life in Heaven

16 F or which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.

This is the reason we do not give up. Our human body is wearing out. But our spirits are getting stronger every day.

17 F or our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;

The little troubles we suffer now for a short time are making us ready for the great things God is going to give us forever.

18 W hile we look 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.

We do not look at the things that can be seen. We look at the things that cannot be seen. The things that can be seen will come to an end. But the things that cannot be seen will last forever.