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

Because of this, having this ministration, according as we did receive kindness, we do not faint,

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 did renounce for ourselves the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness, nor deceitfully using the word of God, but by the manifestation of the truth recommending ourselves unto every conscience of men, before God;

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

and if also our good news is vailed, in those perishing it is vailed,

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 age did blind the minds of the unbelieving, that there doth not shine forth to them the enlightening of the good news of the glory of the Christ, who is the image of God;

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

for not ourselves do we preach, but Christ Jesus -- Lord, and ourselves your servants because of Jesus;

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.

because God who said, Out of darkness light to shine, who did shine in our hearts, for the enlightening 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.

And we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us;

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.

on every side being in tribulation, but not straitened; perplexed, but not in despair;

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

persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but 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.

at all times the dying of the Lord Jesus bearing about in the body, that the life also of Jesus in our body may be manifested,

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

for always are we who are living delivered up to death because of Jesus, that the life also of Jesus may be manifested in our dying flesh,

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

so that, the death indeed in us doth work, and the 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.

And having the same spirit of the faith, according to that which hath been written, `I believed, therefore I did speak;' we also do believe, therefore also do 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 who did raise up the Lord Jesus, us also through Jesus shall raise up, and shall present 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 the all things because of you, that the grace having been multiplied, because of the thanksgiving of the more, may abound to 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 if also our outward man doth decay, yet the inward 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 the momentary light matter of our tribulation, more and more exceedingly an age-during weight of glory doth work out for us --

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.

we not looking to the things seen, but to the things not seen; for the things seen temporary, but the things not seen age-during.