2 Corinthians 4

King James Version (1769) · Tap a verse to see it in context

About this chapter

AI-assisted, sourced

Because "we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not," Paul writes, and he will not handle "the word of God deceitfully," for "we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord." "We have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us": they are "troubled on every side, yet not distressed... cast down, but not destroyed." So "we faint not," for "our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory," and "the things which are not seen are eternal." 2 Corinthians 4:1 2 Corinthians 4:2 2 Corinthians 4:5 2 Corinthians 4:7 2 Corinthians 4:8 2 Corinthians 4:9 2 Corinthians 4:16 2 Corinthians 4:17 2 Corinthians 4:18

Who, where, when, and the key verses

Who

Paul and his fellow workers, who call themselves "your servants for Jesus' sake"; and "the god of this world," who has blinded unbelievers' minds. 2 Corinthians 4:4 2 Corinthians 4:5 2 Corinthians overview

Where

Paul writes from Macedonia to the church at Corinth and "all the saints which are in all Achaia," the Roman province in southern Greece. 2 Corinthians overview

When

Traditionally about AD 55-57, some months after 1 Corinthians, during Paul's third journey. Scholars agree that Paul wrote it; many think it gathers more than one of his letters to Corinth. 2 Corinthians overview

How it fits

Chapter 3 ended with believers "changed into the same image from glory to glory." Chapter 5 carries on the hope of verse 18: "if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God." 2 Corinthians 3:18 2 Corinthians 4:18 2 Corinthians 5:1

Key verses

Verse 7
"We have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us." 2 Corinthians 4:7
Verse 13
"I believed, and therefore have I spoken." Paul quotes Psalm 116:10, "I believed, therefore have I spoken." 2 Corinthians 4:13 Psalms 116:10
Verse 17
"Our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory." 2 Corinthians 4:16 2 Corinthians 4:17 2 Corinthians 4:18

Takeaway

Your weakness shows that the power is God's; do not lose heart, but fix your eyes on what is unseen and eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:7 2 Corinthians 4:16 2 Corinthians 4:18

Drafted by AI from the Scripture and data shown under “Show sources,” then checked automatically and by a separate AI reader. Updated 2026-11-01.

We preach Christ Jesus the Lord

¹Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not; ²But 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. ³But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: ⁴In 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. ⁵For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake. ⁶For 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.

Treasure in earthen vessels

⁷But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. ⁸We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; ⁹Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; ¹⁰Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. ¹¹For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus’ sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh. ¹²So then death worketh in us, but life in you. ¹³We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak; ¹⁴Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you. ¹⁵For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God.

We faint not

¹⁶For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. ¹⁷For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; ¹⁸While 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.