Present Weakness and Resurrection Life
1Therefore, since through God’s mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart. 2Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God. 3And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. 4The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 5For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. 6For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,”4:6 Gen. 1:3 made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.
7But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. 8We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; 9persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. 10We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. 11For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may also be revealed in our mortal body. 12So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.
13It is written: “I believed; therefore I have spoken.”4:13 Psalm 116:10 (see Septuagint) Since we have that same spirit of4:13 Or Spirit-given faith, we also believe and therefore speak, 14because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you to himself. 15All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.
16Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 17For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
瓦器中的宝贝
1我们既蒙怜悯，接受了这传福音的职分，就决不气馁。 2我们弃绝了见不得人的可耻行为，不用狡诈的手段，不曲解上帝的道，而是把真理讲解明白，好让大家的良心在上帝面前为我们作证。
3然而，即使我们所传的福音被遮蔽，也是在那些灭亡的人当中被遮蔽。 4那些不信的人是被这世界的神弄瞎了心眼，以致看不见基督荣耀的福音之光。基督是上帝的真像。 5我们并非传扬自己，而是传扬耶稣基督是主，并且为耶稣的缘故做你们的奴仆。 6因为那吩咐光从黑暗中照射出来4:6 创世记1:3。的上帝光照了我们的心，为要让我们认识上帝在耶稣基督脸上所彰显的荣耀之光。
7我们不过是瓦器，里面却有这宝贝，要显明这莫大的能力是上帝的，而不是我们自己的。 8我们压力重重，却没有崩溃；心里困惑，却不绝望； 9遭受迫害，却没有被遗弃；被打倒了，却没有死亡。 10我们身上常常带着耶稣的死，好使耶稣的生命也彰显在我们身上。 11因为我们这些活着的人常常为耶稣的缘故而面临死亡的威胁，好使耶稣的生命在我们这终有一死的身体上彰显出来。 12因此，死亡笼罩着我们，而生命却运行在你们身上。
13圣经上说：“我相信，所以才说。”4:13 诗篇116:10。我们有同样的信心，我们也相信，所以才这样说。 14我们知道，使主耶稣复活的上帝必使我们与耶稣一同复活，并且使我们和你们一起站在祂面前。 15其实一切都是为了你们，好叫恩典临到更多的人，有更多人向上帝感恩，使上帝得荣耀。
16所以，我们不气馁。身体虽然日渐衰残，内在的生命却日日更新。 17我们这短暂轻微的苦难正在为我们成就极大无比、永远的荣耀。 18我们注重的，并非看得见的事物，而是看不见的事物，因为看得见的事物都是暂时的，看不见的事物才是永恒的。
