1Since God, in his mercy, has given us this ministry, we do not give up.
2Instead, we have put aside all shameful and hidden ways. We don't use trickery or twist God’s word. But by clearly stating the truth, we commend ourselves to everyone's conscience in the sight of God.
3If our Good News is hidden, it is hidden only to those who are perishing.
4The god of this world has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe, so they cannot see the light of the Good News, which is the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
5For we don't preach about ourselves, but about Christ Jesus as Lord, and we preach about ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake.
6For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” is the one who made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory in the face of Jesus Christ.
7But we have this treasure in fragile clay jars, so it is clear that this extraordinary power belongs to God and not to us.
8We are hard-pressed on all sides, 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 the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our mortal bodies.
12So death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.
13We have the same spirit of faith. As the Scriptures say, “I believed, so I spoke.” We also believe, so we also speak,
14because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus will also raise us with Jesus, and will bring us and you together before him.
15All these things are for your benefit. As grace spreads to more and more people, it will cause thanksgiving to overflow, bringing glory to God.
16Therefore, we do not give up. Even though our outer body is decaying, our inner self is being renewed day by day.
17Our present troubles are small and won't last long. But they are producing for us an eternal glory that is much greater and lasts forever.
18We don't focus on what we can see, but on what we can't see. What we see will last only a short time, but what we can't see will last forever.