1Když tedy máme tuto službu podle milosrdenství, kterého se nám dostalo, neochabujeme, 2ale odřekli jsme se věcí ukrývaných kvůli hanbě a nepočínáme si chytrácky ani nepřekrucujeme slovo Boží, nýbrž zjevováním pravdy se představujeme každému lidskému porozumění před Bohem. 3Je-li však naše evangelium zahaleno, je zahaleno těm, kteří hynou. 4Jim, nevěřícím, bůh tohoto věku oslepil myšlení, aby jim nevzešlo světlo evangelia slávy Krista, jenž je obrazem Božím. 5Neboť nehlásáme sami sebe, nýbrž Ježíše Krista, Pána, a sebe jako vaše otroky pro Ježíše. 6Neboť Bůh, který řekl: ‚Z temnoty ať zazáří světlo,‘ zazářil v našich srdcích, aby osvítil lidi poznáním Boží slávy v osobě Ježíše Krista. 7Tento poklad máme však v hliněných nádobách, aby přemíra té moci byla z Boha, a ne z nás. 8Ve všem jsme sužováni, ale nejsme vháněni do úzkých; býváme v nejistotě, ale nejsme zoufalí; 9jsme pronásledováni, ale nejsme opouštěni; jsme sráženi, ale nejsme ničeni. 10Stále nosíme na svém těle Ježíšovo umírání, aby byl na našem těle zjeven i Ježíšův život. 11Neboť my, kteří žijeme, jsme pro Ježíše stále vydáváni na smrt, aby i život Ježíšův byl zjeven na našem smrtelném těle. 12Takže v nás působí smrt, kdežto ve vás život. 13Protože však máme téhož Ducha víry podle toho, co je napsáno: ‚Uvěřil jsem, proto jsem mluvil,‘ i my věříme, proto také mluvíme, 14a víme, že ten, který vzkřísil Pána Ježíše, také nás s Ježíšem vzkřísí a postaví spolu s vámi. 15Vždyť to všechno je kvůli vám, aby milost, rozhojněná skrze mnohé lidi, rozmnožila vděčnost ke slávě Boží. 16Proto neochabujeme; i když náš vnější člověk chátrá, ten vnitřní se však den ze dne obnovuje. 17To naše nynější lehké soužení nám totiž působí nesmírně veliké břímě věčné slávy, 18když nehledíme na věci viditelné, ale na neviditelné; neboť viditelné věci jsou dočasné, neviditelné však věčné.
Jamieson Fausset Brown Bible Commentary 1 HIS PREACHING IS OPEN AND SINCERE, THOUGH TO MANY THE GOSPEL IS HIDDEN. (2Co. 4:1-18)
Therefore--Greek, "For this cause": Because we have the liberty-giving Spirit of the Lord, and with unveiled face behold His glory (
2Κορ. 3:17-18).
seeing we have this ministry--"The ministration of the Spirit" (
2Κορ. 3:8-9): the ministry of such a spiritual, liberty-giving Gospel: resuming
2Κορ. 3:6,
2Κορ. 3:8.
received mercy--from God, in having had this ministry conferred on us (
2Κορ. 3:5). The sense of "mercy" received from God, makes men active for God (
1Τιμ. 1:11-13).
we faint not--in boldness of speech and action, and patience in suffering (
2Κορ. 4:2,
2Κορ. 4:8-16, &c.).
2 renounced--literally, "bid farewell to."
of dishonesty--rather, "of shame." "I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ" (
Ρωμ. 1:16). Shame would lead to hiding (
2Κορ. 4:3); whereas "we use great plainness of speech" (
2Κορ. 3:12); "by manifestation of the truth." Compare
2Κορ. 3:3, "manifestly declared." He refers to the disingenuous artifices of "many" teachers at Corinth (
2Κορ. 2:17;
2Κορ. 3:1;
2Κορ. 11:13-15).
handling . . . deceitfully--so "corrupt" or adulterate "the word of God" (
2Κορ. 2:17; compare
1Θεσ. 2:3-4).
commending--recommending ourselves: recurring to
2Κορ. 3:1.
to--to the verdict of.
every man's conscience-- (
2Κορ. 5:11). Not to men's carnal judgment, as those alluded to (
2Κορ. 3:1).
in the sight of God-- (
2Κορ. 2:17;
Γαλ. 1:10).
3 But if--Yea, even if (as I grant is the case).
hid--rather (in reference to
2Κορ. 3:13-18), "veiled." "Hid" (Greek,
Κολ. 3:3) is said of that withdrawn from view altogether. "Veiled," of a thing within reach of the eye, but covered over so as not to be seen. So it was in the case of Moses' face.
to them--in the case only of them: for in itself the Gospel is quite plain.
that are lost--rather, "that are perishing" (
1Κορ. 1:18). So the same cloud that was "light" to the people of God, was "darkness" to the Egyptian foes of God (
Έξ. 14:20).
4 In whom--Translate, "In whose case."
god of this world--The worldly make him their God (
Φιλ. 3:19). He is, in fact, "the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that ruleth in the children of disobedience" (
Εφεσ. 2:2).
minds--"understandings": "mental perceptions," as in
2Κορ. 3:14.
them which believe not--the same as "them that are lost" (or "are perishing"). Compare
2Θεσ. 2:10-12. SOUTH quaintly says, "when the malefactor's eyes are covered, he is not far from his execution" (
Εσθ. 7:8). Those perishing unbelievers are not merely veiled, but blinded (
2Κορ. 3:14-15): Greek, not "blinded," but "hardened."
light of the glorious gospel of Christ--Translate, "The illumination (enlightening: the propagation from those already enlightened, to others of the light) of the Gospel of the glory of Christ." "The glory of Christ" is not a mere quality (as "glorious" would express) of the Gospel; it is its very essence and subject matter.
image of God--implying identity of nature and essence (
Ιωάν. 1:18;
Κολ. 1:15;
Εβρ. 1:3). He who desires to see "the glory of God," may see it "in the face of Jesus Christ" (
2Κορ. 4:6;
1Τιμ. 6:14-16). Paul here recurs to
2Κορ. 3:18. Christ is "the image of God," into which "same image" we, looking on it in the mirror of the Gospel, are changed by the Spirit; but this image is not visible to those blinded by Satan [ALFORD].
5 For--Their blindness is not our fault, as if we had self-seeking aims in our preaching.
preach . . . Christ . . . the Lord--rather, "Christ as Lord," and ourselves as your servants, &c. "Lord," or "Master," is the correlative term to "servants."
6 For--proof that we are true servants of Jesus unto you.
commanded the light--Greek, "By speaking the word, commanded light" (
Γέν. 1:3).
hath shined--rather, as Greek, "is He who shined." (It is God) who commanded light, &c., that shined, &c., (
Ιώβ 37:15): Himself our Light and Sun, as well as the Creator of light (
Μαλ. 4:2;
Ιωάν. 8:12). The physical world answers to the spiritual.
in our hearts--in themselves dark.
to give the light--that is, to propagate to others the light, &c., which is in us (compare Note, see on
2Κορ. 4:4).
the glory of God--answering to "the glory of Christ" (see on
2Κορ. 4:4).
in the face of Jesus Christ--Some of the oldest manuscripts retain "Jesus." Others omit it. Christ is the manifestation of the glory of God, as His image (
Ιωάν. 14:9). The allusion is still to the brightness on Moses' "face." The only true and full manifestation of God's brightness and glory is "in the face of Jesus" (
Εβρ. 1:3).
7 "Lest any should say, How then is it that we continue to enjoy such unspeakable glory in a mortal body? Paul replies, this very fact is one of the most marvellous proofs of God's power, that an earthen vessel could bear such splendor and keep such a treasure" [CHRYSOSTOM, Homilies, 8.496, A]. The treasure or "the light of the knowledge of the glory of God." The fragile "earthen vessel" is the body, the "outward man" (
2Κορ. 4:16; compare
2Κορ. 4:10), liable to afflictions and death. So the light in Gideon's pitchers, the type (
Κρ. 7:16-
Κρ. 7:20,
Κρ. 7:22). The ancients often kept their treasures in jars or vessels of earthenware. "There are earthen vessels which yet may be clean; whereas a golden vessel may be filthy" [BENGEL].
that the excellency of the power, &c.--that the power of the ministry (the Holy Spirit), in respect to its surpassing "excellency," exhibited in winning souls (
1Κορ. 2:4) and in sustaining us ministers, might be ascribed solely to God, we being weak as earthen vessels. God often allows the vessel to be chipped and broken, that the excellency of the treasure contained, and of the power which that treasure has, may be all His (
2Κορ. 4:10-11;
Ιωάν. 3:30).
may be of God . . . not of us--rather, as Greek, "may be God's (may be seen and be thankfully [
2Κορ. 4:15] acknowledged to belong to God), and not (to come) from us." The power not merely comes from God, but belongs to Him continually, and is to be ascribed to him.
8 Greek, "BEING hard pressed, yet not inextricably straitened; reduced to inextricable straits" (nominative to "we have,"
2Κορ. 4:7).
on every side--Greek, "in every respect" (compare
2Κορ. 4:10, "always";
2Κορ. 7:5). This verse expresses inward distresses;
2Κορ. 4:9, outward distresses (
2Κορ. 7:5). "Without were fightings; within were fears." The first clause in each member of the series of contrasted participles, implies the earthiness of the vessels; the second clause, the excellency of the power.
perplexed, but not in despair--Greek, "not utterly perplexed." As perplexity refers to the future, so "troubled" or "hard pressed" refers to the present.
9 not forsaken--by God and man. Jesus was forsaken by both; so much do His sufferings exceed those of His people (
Ματθ. 27:46).
cast down--or "struck down"; not only "persecuted," that is, chased as a deer or bird (
1Σαμ. 26:20), but actually struck down as with a dart in the chase (
Εβρ. 11:35-
Εβρ. 11:38). The Greek "always" in this verse means, "throughout the whole time"; in
2Κορ. 4:11 the Greek is different, and means, "at every time," "in every case when the occasion occurs."
10 bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus--that is, having my body exposed to being put to death in the cause of Jesus (the oldest manuscripts omit "the Lord"), and having in it the marks of such sufferings, I thus bear about wheresoever I go, an image of the suffering Saviour in my own person (
2Κορ. 4:11;
2Κορ. 1:5; compare
1Κορ. 15:31). Doubtless, Paul was exposed to more dangers than are recorded in Acts (compare
2Κορ. 7:5;
2Κορ. 11:26). The Greek for "the dying" is literally, "the being made a corpse," such Paul regarded his body, yet a corpse which shares in the life-giving power of Christ's resurrection, as it has shared in His dying and death.
that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body--rather, "may be." The name "Jesus," by itself is often repeated here as Paul seems, amidst sufferings, peculiarly to have felt its sweetness. In
2Κορ. 4:11 the same words occur with the variation, "in our mortal flesh. The fact of a dying, corpse-like body being sustained amidst such trials, manifests that "the (resurrection) life also," as well as the dying, "of Jesus," exerts its power in us. I thus bear about in my own person an image of the risen and living, as well as of the suffering, Saviour. The "our" is added here to "body," though not in the beginning of the verse. "For the body is ours not so much in death, as in life" [BENGEL].
11 we which live--in the power of Christ's "life" manifested in us, in our whole man body as well as spirit (
Ρωμ. 8:10-
Ρωμ. 8:11; see on
2Κορ. 4:10; compare
2Κορ. 5:15). Paul regards his preservation amidst so many exposures to "death," by which Stephen and James were cut off, as a standing miracle (
2Κορ. 11:23).
delivered unto--not by chance; by the ordering of Providence, who shows "the excellency of His power" (
2Κορ. 4:7), in delivering unto DEATH His living saints, that He may manifest LIFE also in their dying flesh. "Flesh," the very element of decay (not merely their "body"), is by Him made to manifest life.
12 The "death" of Christ manifested in the continual "perishing of our outward man" (
2Κορ. 4:16), works peculiarly in us, and is the means of working spiritual "life" in you. The life whereof we witness in our bodily dying, extends beyond ourselves, and is brought by our very dying to you.
13 Translate as Greek, "BUT having," &c., that is, not withstanding the trials just mentioned, we having, &c.
the same spirit of faith, according as it, &c.--Compare
Ρωμ. 8:15, on the usage of "spirit of faith." The Holy Spirit acting on our spirit. Though "death worketh in us, and life in you" (
2Κορ. 4:12), yet as we have the same spirit of faith as you, we therefore [believingly] look for the same immortal life as you [ESTIUS], and speak as we believe. ALFORD not so well translates, "The same . . . faith with that described in the Scriptures" (
Ψαλ. 116:10). The balance of the sentence requires the parallelism to be this, "According to that which is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak," namely, without fear, amidst "afflictions" and "deaths" (
2Κορ. 4:17).
14 Knowing--by faith (
2Κορ. 5:1).
shall raise up us also--at the resurrection (
1Κορ. 6:13-14).
by Jesus--The oldest manuscripts have "with Jesus."
present us--vividly picturing the scene before the eyes (
Ιούδ. 1:24).
with you-- (
2Κορ. 1:14;
1Θεσ. 2:19-20;
1Θεσ. 3:13).
15 For--Confirming his assertion "with you" (
2Κορ. 4:14), and "life . . . worketh in you" (
2Κορ. 4:12).
all things--whether the afflictions and labors of us ministers (
2Κορ. 4:8-11), or your prosperity (
2Κορ. 4:12;
1Κορ. 3:21-22;
1Κορ. 4:8-13).
for your sakes-- (
2Τιμ. 2:10).
abundant grace, &c.--rather, "That grace (the grace which preserves us in trials and works life in you), being made the greater (multiplied), by means of the greater number (of its recipients), may cause the thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God." [CHRYSOSTOM] (
2Κορ. 1:11;
2Κορ. 9:11-12). The Greek is susceptible also of this translation, "That grace, being made the greater (multiplied) on account of the thanksgiving of the greater number (for grace already received), may abound (abundantly redound) to," &c. Thus the Greek for "abound" has not to be taken in an active sense, but in its ordinary neuter sense, and so the other Greek words. Thanksgiving invites more abundant grace (
2Χρ. 20:19-22;
Ψαλ. 18:3;
Ψαλ. 50:23).
16 we faint not--notwithstanding our sufferings. Resuming
2Κορ. 4:1.
outward man--the body, the flesh.
perish--"is wearing away"; "is wasted away" by afflictions.
inward man--our spiritual and true being, the "life" which even in our mortal bodies (
2Κορ. 4:11) "manifests the life of Jesus."
is renewed--"is being renewed," namely, with fresh "grace" (
2Κορ. 4:15), and "faith" (
2Κορ. 4:13), and hope (
2Κορ. 4:17-18).
17 which is but for a moment--"Our PRESENT light (burden of) affliction" (so the Greek; compare
Ματθ. 11:30), [ALFORD]. Compare "now for a season . . . in heaviness" (
1Πέτ. 1:6). The contrast, however, between this and the "ETERNAL weight of glory" requires, I think, the translation, "Which is but for the present passing moment." So WAHL. "The lightness of affliction" (he does not express "burden" after "light"; the Greek is "the light of affliction") contrasts beautifully with the "weight of the glory."
worketh--rather, "worketh out."
a far more exceeding and--rather, "in a surpassing and still more surpassing manner" [ALFORD]; "more and more exceedingly" [ELLICOTT, TRENCH, and others]. Greek, "in excess and to excess." The glory exceeds beyond all measure the affliction.
18 look not at--as our aim.
things . . . seen--"earthly things" (
Φιλ. 3:19). We mind not the things seen, whether affliction or refreshment come, so as to be seduced by the latter, or deterred by the former [CHRYSOSTOM].
things . . . not seen--not "the invisible things" of
Ρωμ. 1:20, but the things which, though not seen now, shall be so hereafter.
temporal--rather, "for a time"; in contrast to eternal. English Version uses "temporal" for temporary. The Greek is rightly translated in the similar passage, "the pleasures of sin for a season."
