1 T herefore, since we have this ministry, as we received mercy, we do not lose heart,

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

2 b ut we have renounced the things hidden because of shame, not walking in craftiness or adulterating the word of God, but by the manifestation of 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 A nd even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing,

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

4 i n whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

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 do not preach ourselves but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your bond-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 said, “ Light shall shine out of darkness,” is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of 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, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves;

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 afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing;

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; struck 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 carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested 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 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.

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

12 S o death works 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 B ut having the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, “ I believed, therefore I spoke,” we also believe, therefore we also 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 who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and will 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, so that the grace which is spreading to more and more people may cause the giving of thanks to abound 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 T herefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being 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 momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison,

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.