1Protož majíce toto přisluhování, jakž jsme milosrdenství došli, neoblevujeme. 2Ale odmítáme ukrývání neslušnosti, nechodíce v chytrosti, aniž se lstivě obírajíce s slovem Božím, ale zjevováním pravdy v příjemnost uvodíce sebe u každého svědomí lidského před oblíčejem Božím. 3Pakliť zakryté jest evangelium naše, před těmi, kteříž hynou, zakryté jest. 4V nichž Bůh světa tohoto oslepil mysli, totiž v nevěrných, aby se jim nezasvítilo světlo evangelium slávy Kristovy, kterýž jest obraz Boží. 5Neboť ne sami sebe kážeme, ale Krista Ježíše Pána, sebe pak služebníky vašimi pro Ježíše. 6Bůh zajisté, kterýž rozkázal, aby se z temností světlo zablesklo, tenť se osvítil v srdcích našich k osvícení známosti slávy Boží v tváři Ježíše Krista. 7Mámeť pak poklad tento v nádobách hliněných, aby důstojnost té moci byla Boží, a ne z nás, 8Když se všech stran úzkost míváme, ale nebýváme cele potlačeni; býváme vrtkáni, ale nebýváme docela zvrtkáni; 9Protivenství trpíme, ale nebýváme opuštěni; býváme opovrženi, ale nehyneme. 10Vždycky mrtvení Pána Ježíše na těle nosíme, aby i život Ježíšův na těle našem zjeven byl. 11Vždycky zajisté my, kteříž živi jsme, na smrt býváme vydáváni pro Ježíše, aby i život Ježíšův zjeven byl na smrtelném těle našem. 12A tak smrt v nás moc provodí, ale v vás život. 13Majíce tedy téhož ducha víry, podlé toho, jakž psáno jest: Uvěřil jsem, protož jsem mluvil, i myť věříme, protož i mluvíme, 14Vědouce, že ten, kterýž vzkřísil Pána Ježíše, i nás skrze Ježíše vzkřísí, a postaví s vámi. 15Nebo to všecko děje se pro vás, aby ta přehojná milost skrze díků činění od mnohých rozmohla se k slávě Boží. 16Protož neoblevujeme, ale ačkoli ten zevnitřní člověk náš ruší se, však ten vnitřní obnovuje se den ode dne. 17Nebo toto nynější lehoučké ssoužení naše převelmi veliké věčné slávy břímě nám působí, 18Když nepatříme na ty věci, kteréž se vidí, ale na ty, kteréž se nevidí. Nebo ty věci, kteréž se vidí, jsou časné, ale které se nevidí, jsou 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 (
2Кор 3:17-18).
seeing we have this ministry--"The ministration of the Spirit" (
2Кор 3:8-9): the ministry of such a spiritual, liberty-giving Gospel: resuming
2Кор 3:6,
2Кор 3:8.
received mercy--from God, in having had this ministry conferred on us (
2Кор 3:5). The sense of "mercy" received from God, makes men active for God (
1Тим 1:11-13).
we faint not--in boldness of speech and action, and patience in suffering (
2Кор 4:2,
2Кор 4:8-16, &c.).
2 renounced--literally, "bid farewell to."
of dishonesty--rather, "of shame." "I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ" (
Рим 1:16). Shame would lead to hiding (
2Кор 4:3); whereas "we use great plainness of speech" (
2Кор 3:12); "by manifestation of the truth." Compare
2Кор 3:3, "manifestly declared." He refers to the disingenuous artifices of "many" teachers at Corinth (
2Кор 2:17;
2Кор 3:1;
2Кор 11:13-15).
handling . . . deceitfully--so "corrupt" or adulterate "the word of God" (
2Кор 2:17; compare
1Фес 2:3-4).
commending--recommending ourselves: recurring to
2Кор 3:1.
to--to the verdict of.
every man's conscience-- (
2Кор 5:11). Not to men's carnal judgment, as those alluded to (
2Кор 3:1).
in the sight of God-- (
2Кор 2:17;
Гал 1:10).
3 But if--Yea, even if (as I grant is the case).
hid--rather (in reference to
2Кор 3:13-18), "veiled." "Hid" (Greek,
Кол 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" (
1Кор 1:18). So the same cloud that was "light" to the people of God, was "darkness" to the Egyptian foes of God (
Исх 14:20).
4 In whom--Translate, "In whose case."
god of this world--The worldly make him their God (
Фил 3:19). He is, in fact, "the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that ruleth in the children of disobedience" (
Еф 2:2).
minds--"understandings": "mental perceptions," as in
2Кор 3:14.
them which believe not--the same as "them that are lost" (or "are perishing"). Compare
2Фес 2:10-12. SOUTH quaintly says, "when the malefactor's eyes are covered, he is not far from his execution" (
Есф 7:8). Those perishing unbelievers are not merely veiled, but blinded (
2Кор 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 (
Ин 1:18;
Кол 1:15;
Евр 1:3). He who desires to see "the glory of God," may see it "in the face of Jesus Christ" (
2Кор 4:6;
1Тим 6:14-16). Paul here recurs to
2Кор 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" (
Быт 1:3).
hath shined--rather, as Greek, "is He who shined." (It is God) who commanded light, &c., that shined, &c., (
Иов 37:15): Himself our Light and Sun, as well as the Creator of light (
Мал 4:2;
Ин 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
2Кор 4:4).
the glory of God--answering to "the glory of Christ" (see on
2Кор 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 (
Ин 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" (
Евр 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" (
2Кор 4:16; compare
2Кор 4:10), liable to afflictions and death. So the light in Gideon's pitchers, the type (
Суд 7:16-
Суд 7:20,
Суд 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 (
1Кор 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 (
2Кор 4:10-11;
Ин 3:30).
may be of God . . . not of us--rather, as Greek, "may be God's (may be seen and be thankfully [
2Кор 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,"
2Кор 4:7).
on every side--Greek, "in every respect" (compare
2Кор 4:10, "always";
2Кор 7:5). This verse expresses inward distresses;
2Кор 4:9, outward distresses (
2Кор 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 (
Мф 27:46).
cast down--or "struck down"; not only "persecuted," that is, chased as a deer or bird (
1Цар 26:20), but actually struck down as with a dart in the chase (
Евр 11:35-
Евр 11:38). The Greek "always" in this verse means, "throughout the whole time"; in
2Кор 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 (
2Кор 4:11;
2Кор 1:5; compare
1Кор 15:31). Doubtless, Paul was exposed to more dangers than are recorded in Acts (compare
2Кор 7:5;
2Кор 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
2Кор 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 (
Рим 8:10-
Рим 8:11; see on
2Кор 4:10; compare
2Кор 5:15). Paul regards his preservation amidst so many exposures to "death," by which Stephen and James were cut off, as a standing miracle (
2Кор 11:23).
delivered unto--not by chance; by the ordering of Providence, who shows "the excellency of His power" (
2Кор 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" (
2Кор 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
Рим 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" (
2Кор 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" (
Псал 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" (
2Кор 4:17).
14 Knowing--by faith (
2Кор 5:1).
shall raise up us also--at the resurrection (
1Кор 6:13-14).
by Jesus--The oldest manuscripts have "with Jesus."
present us--vividly picturing the scene before the eyes (
Иуд 1:24).
with you-- (
2Кор 1:14;
1Фес 2:19-20;
1Фес 3:13).
15 For--Confirming his assertion "with you" (
2Кор 4:14), and "life . . . worketh in you" (
2Кор 4:12).
all things--whether the afflictions and labors of us ministers (
2Кор 4:8-11), or your prosperity (
2Кор 4:12;
1Кор 3:21-22;
1Кор 4:8-13).
for your sakes-- (
2Тим 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] (
2Кор 1:11;
2Кор 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 (
2Пар 20:19-22;
Псал 18:3;
Псал 50:23).
16 we faint not--notwithstanding our sufferings. Resuming
2Кор 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 (
2Кор 4:11) "manifests the life of Jesus."
is renewed--"is being renewed," namely, with fresh "grace" (
2Кор 4:15), and "faith" (
2Кор 4:13), and hope (
2Кор 4:17-18).
17 which is but for a moment--"Our PRESENT light (burden of) affliction" (so the Greek; compare
Мф 11:30), [ALFORD]. Compare "now for a season . . . in heaviness" (
1Пет 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" (
Фил 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
Рим 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."