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

Therefore seeing we have this ministry, even as we obtained mercy, we faint not:

2 W e 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.

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

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

And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled in them that perish:

4 T he 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.

in whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of the unbelieving, that the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should not dawn upon them.

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

For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake.

6 I t 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.

Seeing it is God, that said, Light shall shine out of darkness, who shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

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

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the exceeding greatness of the power may be of God, and not from ourselves;

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

we are pressed on every side, yet not straitened; perplexed, yet not unto despair;

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

pursued, yet not forsaken; smitten down, yet not destroyed;

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

always bearing about in the body the dying of Jesus, that the life also of Jesus may be manifested in our body.

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

For we who live are always delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus may be manifested in our mortal flesh.

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

So then death worketh in us, but life in you.

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

But having the same spirit of faith, according to that which is written, I believed, and therefore did I speak; we also believe, and therefore also we speak;

14 W e 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.

knowing that he that raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also with Jesus, and shall present us with you.

15 T hese 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

For all things are for your sakes, that the grace, being multiplied through the many, may cause the thanksgiving to abound unto the glory of God.

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

Wherefore we faint not; but though our outward man is decaying, yet our inward man is renewed day by day.

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

For our light affliction, which is for the moment, worketh for us more and more exceedingly an eternal weight of glory;

18 W e 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.

while 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.