2 Corinthians 4

2 Corinthians · Chapter 4

2 Corinthians 4:2

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.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.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.

King James Version (1769)

Other translations

VerseKJVBSBASV
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.Instead, we have renounced secret and shameful ways. We do not practice deceit, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by open proclamation of the truth, we commend ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.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.

In context

AI-assisted, sourced

2 Corinthians 4:1-6We preach Christ Jesus the Lord

About 2 Corinthians 4Because "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 4:12 Corinthians 4:22 Corinthians 4:52 Corinthians 4:72 Corinthians 4:82 Corinthians 4:92 Corinthians 4:162 Corinthians 4:172 Corinthians 4:18

Who, where and when in this chapter

Original Greek words

EnglishGreekSay itStrong'sMeaning
Butἀλλ᾽all᾽G0235
but

ἀλλά (alla) ἀλλά (ἀλλ᾽ usually bef. α and υ, often bef. ε and η, rarely bef. ο and ω, never bef. ι; Tdf., Pr., 93 f.; WH, App., 146), adversative particle, stronger than δέ; prop. neuter pl. of ἄλλος, used adverbially, with changed accent; hence prop. otherwise, on the other hand (cf. Rom.3:31); …

we have renouncedἀπειπάμεθαapeipamethaG0550
to renounce

ἀπεῖπον (apeipon) ἀπ-εῖπον, 2 aor. without present in use [in LXX for מָאַס, אָמַר, etc. ;] 1. to tell out. 2. to forbid (3Ki.11:2). 3. to renounce: 1 aor. mid. (WH, App., 164; MM, VGT, see word), 2Co.4:2.† (AS)

hidden thingsκρυπτὰkruptaG2927
hidden

κρυπτός (kruptos) κρυπτός, -ή, -όν (κρύπτω) [in LXX for אָטַם, מִסְתָּר, etc. ;] hidden, secret: Mat.10:26, Mrk.4:22, Luk.8:17 12:2; ὁ κ. τῆς καρδίας ἄνθρωπος, 1Pe.3:4; neut., ἐν τῷ κ., Mat.6:4, 6; ἐν κ., Jhn.7:4, 10 18:20; ὁ ἐν κ. Ἰουδαῖος, Rom.2:29; pl., τὰ κ. τ. σκότους, 1Co.4:5; τ. ἀνθρώπων, Rom.2:16; τ. καρδίας, 1Co.14:25; τ. αἰσχύνης, 2Co.4:2.† κρυφαῖος, -αία, -αῖον (κρύφα = κρυφῆ) [in LXX for מִסְתָּר, Jer.23:24, al. ;] hidden, secret: ἐν τῷ κ., Mat.6:18.† (AS)

of shameαἰσχύνηςaischunēsG0152
shame

αἰσχύνη (aischunē) αἰσχύνη, -ης, ἡ (αἶσχος, shame, disgrace), [in LXX chiefly for בּשֶׁת ;] shame (MM, VGT, see word): subjectively, Luk.14:19, 2Co.4:2; objectively, Php.3:19, Heb.12:2; as something to be ashamed of, Rev.3:18; pl. (Bl., §32, 6), shameful deeds, Ju 13.† SYN.: αἰδώς, which see (AS)

notμὴmēG3361
not

μή (mē) μή, subjective negative particle, used where the negation depends on a condition or hypothesis, expressed or understood, as distinct from οὐ, which denies absolutely. μή is used where one thinks a thing is not, as distinct from an absolute negation. As a general rule, οὐ negatives the indic, μή the other moods, incl, ptcp. [In LXX for אֵין ,אַיִן ,אַל ] I. As a neg. adv., not; 1. with ref. to thought or opinion: Jhn.3:18, Tit.1:11, 2Pe.1:9. 2. In delib. questions, with subjc. (M, Pr., 185): Mrk.12:14, Rom.3:8. …

walkingπεριπατοῦντεςperipatountesG4043
to walk

περιπατέω (peripateō) περι-πατέω, -ῶ [in LXX chiefly for הָלַךְ pi., hith. ;] to walk: absol., Mat.9:5, Mrk.5:42, Luk.5:23, Jhn.1:36; with pred., γυμνός, Rev.16:15; ἐπάνω Luk.11:44; διά, with genitive, Rev.21:24; ἐν, Mrk.11:27 12:38, Jhn.7:1 11:54, Rev.2:1, al.; ἐν τ. σκοτίᾳ, figuratively, Jhn.8:12 12:35, 1Jn.1:6-7 Jn 2:11; ἐπί, with genitive, Mat.14:26; id. with dative, Mat.14:25, 29; μετά, Jhn.6:66, Rev.3:4; παρά, with accusative, Mat.4:18. Metaphorical, of living, passing one's life, conducting oneself (like ἀναστρέφομαι in Xen., Plut., LXX, π.; M, Pro.11:1-31; Deiss., BS, 194) : ἀκριβῶς, Eph.5:15; ἀτάκτως, 2T …

inἐνenG1722
in/on/among

ἐν (en) ἐν, prep, (the most frequently of all in NT), with dative (= Heb. בְּ, Lat. in, with abl.). I. Of place, with dative of thing(s), of person(s), in, within, on, at, by, among: ἐν τ. πόλει, Luk.7:37; τ. οφθαλμῷ, Mat.7:3; τ. κοιλίᾳ, Mat.12:40; τ. ὄρει, 2Pe.1:18; τ. θρόνῳ, Rev.3:21; τ. δεξιᾷ τ. θεοῦ, Rom.8:34; ἐν ἡμῖν Abbott-Smith has ὑμῖν., Luk.1:1; of books, ἐν τ. βιβλίῳ, Gal.3:10; τ. νόμῳ, Mat.12:5, al.; ἐν τοῖς τ. Πατρός, in my Father's house (RV; cf. M, Pr., 103), Luk.2:49; trop., of the region of thought or feeling, ἐν τ. καρδίᾳ (-αις), Mat.5:28, 2Co.4:6, al.; τ. συνειδήσεσιν, 2Co.5:11; af …

craftinessπανουργίᾳ,panourgiaG3834
craftiness

πανουργία (panourgia) πανουργία, -ας, ἡ (πανοῦργος), [in LXX: Jos.9:4, Pro.1:4 8:5 (עׇרְמָה), Num.24:22, Sir.19:25 21:22 31:10 (Sir.34:10) (in all cases in good or indifferent sense)* ;] cleverness, in cl. nearly always in bad sense, craftiness, cunning, knavery: Luk.20:23, 1Co.3:19 (LXX, φρόνησις, for עׇרְמָה) 2Co.4:2 11:3, Eph.4:14.† (AS)

norμηδὲmēdeG3366
nor

μηδέ (mēde) μηδέ negative particle, related to οὐδέ as μή to οὐ, 1. as conic., continuing a negation or prohibition, but not, and not, nor: preceded by μή, Mat.6:25 22:29, Mrk.12:24, Luk.14:12, al.; ἵνα μή, Jhn.4:15; ὅπως μή, Luk.16:26; μηδέ . . . μηδέ, neither . . . nor, Mat.10:10, 1Co.10:8-9. 2. As adv., strengthening a negation, not even: Mrk.2:2, 1Co.5:11, al (AS)

falsifyingδολοῦντεςdolountesG1389
to distort

δολόω (doloō) δολόω, -ῶ (δόλος) [in LXX: Psa.15:3 (רָגַל), Psa.36:2 (חָלַק hi.) * ;] 1. to ensnare. 2. As of wine, to adulterate, corrupt: τ. λόγον τ. θεοῦ, 2Co.4:2.† SYN.: καπηλεύω which see (AS)

wordλόγονlogonG3056
word

λόγος (logos) λόγος, -ου, ὁ (λέγω) [in LXX chiefly for דָּבָר, also for מִלָּה ,אֵמֶר, etc. ;] I. Of that by which the inward thought is expressed, Lat. oratio, sermo, vox, verbum. 1. a word, not in the grammatical sense of a mere name (ἔπος, ὄνομα, ῥῆμα), but a word as embodying a conception or idea: Mat.8:8, Luk.7:7, 1Co.14:9, 19 Heb.12:19, al. …

of God,θεοῦ,theouG2316
God

θεός (theos) θεός, -οῦ, ὁ, ἡ (Act.19:37 only; see M, Pr., 60, 244), late voc., θεέ (Mat.27:46; cf. Deu.3:24, al.), [in LXX chiefly for אֱלֹהִים, also for אֵל and other cognate forms, יהוה, etc. ;] a god or deity, God. 1. In polytheistic sense, a god or deity: Act.28:6, 1Co.8:4, 2Th.2:4, al.; pl., Ac. 14:11 19:26, Gal.4:8, al. 2. Of the one true God; …

butἀλλὰallaG0235
but

ἀλλά (alla) ἀλλά (ἀλλ᾽ usually bef. α and υ, often bef. ε and η, rarely bef. ο and ω, never bef. ι; Tdf., Pr., 93 f.; WH, App., 146), adversative particle, stronger than δέ; prop. neuter pl. of ἄλλος, used adverbially, with changed accent; hence prop. otherwise, on the other hand (cf. Rom.3:31); …

manifestationφανερώσειphanerōseiG5321
revelation

φανέρωσις (phanerōsis) φανέρωσις, -εως, ἡ (φανερόω), [in LXX as seel. for δήλωσις אוּרִים), Lev.8:8, Cod. Ven. (Thayer, see word) * ;] manifestation: 1Co.12:7, 2Co.4:2.† (AS)

truthἀληθείαςalētheiasG0225
truth

ἀλήθεια (alētheia) ἀλήθεια, -ας, ἡ (ἀληθής), [in LXX chiefly for אֱמֶת (on which, see Cremer, 627f.), אֱמוּנָה ;] truth (see DB, iv, 818f.). 1. Objectively, "the reality lying at the basis of an appearance; the manifested, veritable essence of a matter" (Cremer, 86): Rom.9:1, al.; of religious truth, Rom.1:25, al.; esp. of Christian doctrine, Gal.2:5, al.; ἀ. θεοῦ, Rom.15:8. 2. Subjectively, truthfulness, truth, not merely verbal (cl.), but sincerity and integrity of character: Jhn.8:44, 3Jo.3. …

commendingσυνιστάνοντεςsunistanontesG4921
to commend

συνίστημι, συνιστάω (sunistēmi, sunistaō) συν-ίστημι [in LXX for צָוָה pi., קָהַל ni., etc.; 1Ma.12:43, 2Ma.4:24, 3Ma.1:19 (and frequently in these books) ;] 1. trans., (a) to commend, recommend: with accusative of person(s), 2Co.3:1 6:4 10:12 10:18; id. with dative, Rom.16:1 (as frequently at the beginning of a letter; Deiss., LAE, 226), 2Co.5:12; before πρός, 2Co.4:2; pass., before ὑπό, 2Co.12:11; (b) to show, prove, establish: with accusative, Rom.3:5 5:8, 2Co.6:4; dupl. accusative, Gal.2:13; accusative and inf., 2Co.7:11 2. Intrans., pf., συνέστηκα (as also 2 aor. and plpf.); (a) to stand with or near: Luk.9:32; …

ourselvesἑαυτοὺςhe'autousG1438
/him/herself

αὑτοῦ (ahutou) αὑτοῦ, -ῆς, -οῦ = ἑαυτοῦ (which see), Mat.6:34, Luk.12:17, al. (MM, see word) (AS)

toπρὸςprosG4314
to/with

πρός (pros) πρός, prep. with genitive, dative, accusative I. I. C. genitive, of motion from a place, from the side of, hence metaphorically, in the interests of, Act.27:34 (cf. Page, in l.). II. II. C. dative, of local proximity, hard by, near, at: Mrk.5:11, Luk.19:37, Jhn.18:16 20:11, 12 Rev.1:13. III. C. accusative, of motion or direction towards a place or object, to, towards. 1. Of place, …

everyπᾶσανpasanG3956
all

πᾶς (pas) πᾶς, πᾶσα, πᾶν, genitive, παντός, πάσης, παντός, [in LXX chiefly for כֹּל ;] all, every. I. As adj., 1. with subst. anarth., all, every, of every kind: Mat.3:10 4:23, Mrk.9:49, Luk.4:37, Jhn.2:1o, Act.27:20, Rom.7:8, Rev.18:17, al. mult.; pl., all, Act.22:15, Rom.5:12, Heb.1:6, al.; of the highest degree, π. ἐξουσία (προθυμία, χαρά), Mat.28:18, Act.17:11, Phi 2:29, al.; also the whole (though in this sense more frequently with art.), Mat.2:3, Act.2:36, Rom.11:26. …

conscienceσυνείδησινsuneidēsinG4893
conscience

συνείδησις (suneidēsis) συν-είδησις, -εως, ἡ (συνεῖδον), [in LXX: Ecc.10:20 (מַדָּע), Wis.17:11, Sir.42:18 א * ;] 1. consciousness: with genitive obj., Heb.10:2, 1Pe.2:19. 2. In ethical sense, innate discernment, self-judging consciousness, conscience (Stoics and late writers): Rom.2:15 9:1, 1Co.10:29, 2Co.1:12 4:2 5:11, 1Ti.4:2, Heb.9:14; σ. ἀγαθή, Act.23:1, 1Ti.1:5 1:19, 1Pe.3:16 3:21; ἀσθενής, 1Co.8:7 8:10; ἀσθενοῦσα, 1Co.8:12; ἀπρόσκοπος, Act.24:16; καθαρά, 1Ti.3:9, 2Ti.1:3; καλή, Heb.13:18; πονηρά, Heb.10:22; ὁ νοῦς καὶ ἡ σ., Tit.1:15; διὰ τὴν σ., Rom.13:5, 1Co.10:25 10:27-28; κατὰ σ., Heb.9:9; ὑπὸ (τῆς) σ., J …

of menἀνθρώπωνanthrōpōnG0444
a human

ἄνθρωπος (anthrōpos) ἄνθρωπος, -ου, ὁ, [in LXX chiefly for אִישׁ ,אָדָם, also for אֱנוֹשׁ, etc. ;] man: 1. generically, a human being, male or female (Lat. homo): Jhn.16:21; with art., Mat.4:4 12:35, Mrk.2:27, Jhn.2:25, Rom.7:1, al; disting. from God, Mat.19:6, Jhn.10:33, Col.3:23, al.; from animals, etc., Mat.4:19, Luk.5:10, Rev.9:4, al.; implying human frailty and imperfection, 1Co.3:4; σοφία ἀνθρώπων, 1Co.2:5; ἀνθρώπων ἐπιθυμίαι, 1Pe.4:2; κατὰ ἄνθρωπον περιπατεῖν, 1Co.3:3; κατὰ ἄ. λέγειν (λαλεῖν), Rom.3:5, 1Co.9:8; κατὰ ἄ- λέγειν, Gal.3:15 (cf. 1Co.15:32, Gal.1:11); by meton., of man's nature or condition, ὁ …

beforeἐνώπιονenōpionG1799
before

ἐνώπιον (enōpion) ἐνώπιος, -ον (ὤψ), [in LXX for פָּנִים, etc. ;] face to face, in sight (Theocr.; ἄρτοι ἐ., Exo.25:29): neut., ἐνώπιον, in vernacular, with force of prep. with genitive [in LXX for פָּנִים, עַיִן, etc., cf. Dalman, Words, 31 f., 209 f., and Deiss., BS., 213], in NT, most frequently in Lk, Ac, Re, never in Mt, Mk, before, in the presence of: Luk.1:19 Luk.4:7, Act.4:10 Act.6:5, Rev.1:4 2:14, al.; esp. ἐ. Κυρίου (θεοῦ), in the sight of God, or with God as witness or as judge, Rom.14:22, 1Co.1:29, 1Ti.2:3, Jas.4:10, 1Pe.3:4, al. (AS)

God.θεοῦ.theouG2316
God

θεός (theos) θεός, -οῦ, ὁ, ἡ (Act.19:37 only; see M, Pr., 60, 244), late voc., θεέ (Mat.27:46; cf. Deu.3:24, al.), [in LXX chiefly for אֱלֹהִים, also for אֵל and other cognate forms, יהוה, etc. ;] a god or deity, God. 1. In polytheistic sense, a god or deity: Act.28:6, 1Co.8:4, 2Th.2:4, al.; pl., Ac. 14:11 19:26, Gal.4:8, al. 2. Of the one true God; …

Words and meanings from STEPBible data (Tyndale House, Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). The capitalized syllable is the stressed one.