Introductory remarks:
Paul continues in this chapter to comfort the Corinthian believers. "Paul says they have truthfully given God's Word and it is hidden only to those who are lost. They are blinded to its glory. It is the power of God that is displayed through His servants. They are afflicted but not defeated. They don't even fear death because they are looking beyond this life to when they will be raised, and so their lives will bring glory to God" (A Survey of 2 Corinthians - By Brenda). This chapter may be outlined as follows: Treasure in earthen vessels vv. 1-15; living by faith vv. 16-18.
Treasure in Earthen Vessels
Verse 1, "Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not."
LGT "Therefore: having this service, according as we received mercy, we faint not."
Therefore: because the gospel of grace is clear to all. Having this service: this service of apostleship. According as we received mercy: along with his appointment to be an apostle, Gods' grace accompanied it. It was not through any human effort on Paul's part, but completely by the mercy and grace of God. We faint not: we are entrusted with the gospel of grace, and by God's grace we have distributed it, without any deficiency on Paul's part, because God called Paul, and completely outfitted him with all grace to perform his duties.
Verse 2, "But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, not handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God."
LGT "But we renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness, nor falsifying the Word of God, but by manifestation of the Truth commending ourselves to every conscience of men before God."
But we renounced the hidden things of shame: the false apostles were teaching a works salvation, which Paul renounced as shameful. McGee says, that all religions of the world say 'do, do, do; but the gospel of grace says, done.' It isn't until we stop trying to please God, and realize He is already pleased with us, because of Christ's finished work on the cross, that we are able to relax in grace, and get our lives going in the right direction of letting the Holy Spirit accomplish His purpose through us; and this can only happen as we yield to Him, as directed in the Word of God; Everything in our lives depends on who and what Christ is, and what He has accomplished for us in this wonderful Gospel of grace. Not walking in craftiness: the Greek word for "craftiness" is panourgos, which means "a doer of any deed, good or bad." The false apostles were teaching the Church that they must keep the Ten Commandments, which completely contradicted Paul's teaching them the Gospel of Grace. Nor falsifying the Word of God: the false apostles were corrupting the Word of God with deceit, saying that Paul was antinomian, that is, against Moses' Law; Paul was never against the Law of God, but against saying the Law could save them. No man has ever been saved by any work whatsoever. But by manifestation of the Truth: Paul says that he taught the Gospel of Grace exactly as it was given him by the Holy Spirit, that is, faith alone in Christ alone; no more, no less. Commending ourselves to every conscience of men: it is with the conscience that men decide what is true and what is false; they may not like the Gospel of Grace, but in true conscience every man must admit it is true. It is through the conscience that the Holy Spirit must work, convincing men about the Truth. Before God: everything Paul taught he taught with a clear conscience before God that it was exactly as God taught him.
Verse 3, "But if our gospel be hid, it is hid from them that are lost."
LGT "But if also our Glad Tidings be veiled, in those perishing it is veiled."
The Word of God cannot be understood until it is believed. I don't remember who said this, but it describes unbelief very well: "Science is a thing you must understand to be believed; while the Bible must be believed to be understood." Unbelievers cannot see the Gospel of Grace because they refuse to see it, and the result is that they perish.
Verse 4, "In 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."
LGT "In whom the god of this age blinded the thoughts of the unbelieving, so as not to beam forth the brightness of the Glad Tidings of the glory of Christ, Who is the image of God."
In whom the god of this age: Satan is the god of this age, because the world still belongs to our God. The age involves all the sin that abounds, for "that which is not of faith is sin." It is not the world that is corrupt, it is the use of the world that is corrupt, that is how we get the term "worldliness." Blinded the thoughts of the unbelieving: Satan uses all the worldly resources, such as wealth, power, sex, laziness, etc. "Men love darkness rather than light because their evil deeds" (John 3:19). So as not to beam forth the brightness of the Glad Tidings: unbelievers are preoccupied with the love of this world, and what it has to offer, that they refuse to see the free Gospel of Grace. Of the glory of Christ: It is not that the Gospel does not shine toward them, it is that they refuse to allow the Gospel Light to shine unto them; because they enjoy self-interest far above what God may offer. The Gospel of Grace is repulsive to the world, because it says that the world is in need of God's Grace, and that they are perishing in their sins; and the delusion is, no self-respecting person believes that they need a Savior. Who is the image of God: Christ is the image of God in essence, and in His Holy life He lived. When the world rejects the message of free Grace, they are rejecting the very person of Christ, Who is the image of God.
Verse 5, "For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord: and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake."
LGT "For not ourselves do we proclaim, but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves your servant for the sake of Jesus."
For not ourselves do we proclaim: Robertson says that no topic could be more disgusting to preach than for a preacher to talk about himself. Paul says that he does not preach about himself as being a lord over the people. But Christ Jesus as Lord: Paul says that he preaches Christ Jesus as Lord, and that necessarily leaves himself out of his preaching, for the subject is so great, there is no room left for self. And ourselves your servant for the sake of Jesus: Paul says that in regard to himself, he is a servant to the body of Christ in spiritual things, and that the edification of the church is uppermost in his thoughts, because it is for Christ's sake that he is an apostle; Paul never thought of himself as lord over the people, but as a called apostle to serve all of God's family.
Verse 6, "For 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."
LGT "Because [it is] God who said, out of darkness light shall shine, who shone in our hearts, for [the] illumination of the knowledge of the glory of God in [the] face of Jesus Christ."
Because it is God who said, out of darkness light shall shine: Paul refers back to creation, saying that God the creator is the Great Planner of our great salvation, Who shone in our hearts: just as God caused the light to shine in the beginning, He has turned the light on in our hearts, by the illumination from the Holy Spirit. For the illumination of the knowledge of the glory of God: Paul says the purpose of this illumination is that men may recognize God's perfect character, and give Him His due honor and glory. In the face of Jesus Christ: the glory of God is reflected in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ. If we are ever to know God, we must first be vitally related to the Lord Jesus through our conversion; then we must study His Word to fully understand the character of God, as the Holy Spirit illumines us from the inspired pages of the Word.
Verse 7, "But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the Excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us."
LGT "But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the pre-eminence of the power of God, and not from us."
But we have this treasure: the guiding light of the glorious gospel of grace for the ministry of the apostle. In earthen vessels: this refers to the human frailty of the apostle's body. That the pre-eminence of the power of God: the unexplainable power of God is manifest in the apostles teaching Bible Doctrine, and the supernatural gifts that accompanied his preaching. And not from us: Paul always gives God all the praise and glory for his inspired ministry. "The purpose of God in (Paul's) ministry, as in everything else, is to 'stain the pride of all human glory,' and to show that God is all in all" (Barnes).
Verse 8, "We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair."
LGT "In every [way] we are pressed on every side, yet not straitened; perplexed, yet not unto despair."
Paul describes here the persecutions and human suffering that he and his fellow-workers had endured, but because of the power of God, they could not despair. The human suffering never reached their souls, that is, it never rendered them unfit psychologically, by way of mental stress, that we so often fold under.
Verse 9, "Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed."
LGT "Pursued but not forsaken; smitten down, but not destroyed."
McGee describes Paul's situation from this verse: "Paul seems to be fighting a loosing battle. Can't you sense that this man is very weak? And yet, in his weakness, he is strong. If we could have seen this little crippled, weak, sick Jew up against the mighty juggernaut of Roman power, we would have concluded that he was nothing. But, my friend, the fact is he brought a message that withered the Roman Empire. Even the historian Gibbon said that the Roman Empire could not stand up against the preaching of the gospel of Christ. (May I say that the gospel of Christ still continues to topple thrones.) Paul seemed to be so weak, and yet God delivered him again and again. He used miraculous means and He also used natural means. God will never forsake His servants."
Verse 10, "Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body."
LGT "Always the mortification of Jesus in the body bearing about, that also the life of Jesus in our body may be manifest."
Always the dying of Jesus in the body bearing about: Paul is saying that the persecution he and the other apostles face every day is an identification with the mortification Christ suffered on the cross, and that they carried this every day, as he said in 1 Cor. 15:31: "I die daily." That also the life of Jesus in our body may be manifest: That his life for Christ, and the sufferings he underwent, others would see Christ in him. He made this very clear in Phil. 3:8-11: "Yea, doubtless, and I count all things but loss, for the excellency of the knowledge of Jesus Christ my Lord; for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ. That I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being made conformable unto His death; if by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead." Now Paul knew that in the resurrection he would be like Christ, but this was the hope that was ever before him; Paul never thought he was worthy of being made like Christ, but he did know that it did not depend on his good works, but upon the finished work of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Verse 11, "For we which live are always delivered unto death for Jesus; sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh."
LGT "For we who live to death are always delivered on account of Jesus, in order that also the life of Jesus may be manifest in our mortal flesh."
For we who live to death are always delivered: Paul and the other apostles are always subject to be killed. On account of Jesus: because they preach the Gospel of Grace, which ended the dictates of the Law. In order that also the life of Jesus may be manifest in our mortal flesh: this explains verse 10. These apostles bore about the life of Christ in their mortal bodies.
Verse 12, "So then death worketh in us, but life in you."
LGT "So that death works in us, and life in you."
So death works in us: Paul says that they were constantly exposed to death as they preached the Gospel of grace. And life in you: This phrase means, "that the sufferings and self-denials of the apostles were for the good of others, and would result in their benefit and salvation; and the design of Paul here is to remind them of his sufferings in their behalf, in order to conciliate (pacify) their favor and bind them more closely to him by the remembrance of his sufferings on their benefit" (Barnes).
Verse 13, "We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak."
LGT "And having the same spirit of faith, according as to that which is written: I believed, therefore I spoke, also we believe, therefore we speak."
And having the same spirit of faith: faith as the gift of God, the same faith that has been taught throughout the entire Word of God. Paul taught this faith to the Corinthian believers, and their outcome will be eternal life the same as for Paul. According as to that which is written, I believed, therefore I spoke: Paul is quoting Psalm 116:10. The true witness of a person's faith is what they have to say. Paul imitates David in that he must speak out because of the faith within. Also we believed, therefore we speak: As David responded with the Scriptures, so does Paul. Paul said that he would die before he kept silent, and he did, that is, speak, and was martyred.
Verse 14, "Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you."
LGT "Knowing that He who raised up the Lord Jesus, also us through Jesus will raise up, and will present [us] with you."
How Paul encourages the Corinthian believers with the assurance of their salvation, that they would be raised up the same as the apostles. This verse also puts to rest the mistaken notion that is taught by some theologians that Paul expected to be alive when Christ returns. Paul says that he will be raised up the same as they would be raised up to eternal salvation.
Verse 15, "For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God."
LGT "For all things [are] for the sake of you, in order that the grace, having abounded through the many, may cause thanksgiving to exceed to the glory of God."
For all things are for the sake of you: everything Paul has done and taught was for the eternal benefit of the believers. Paul had no other motive than to edify and strengthen the Churches. In order that the grace: all the grace that God has provided in their salvation, that is, the riches of divine grace. Having abounded through the many: the grace abounding to them from the ministry of the apostle Paul, through his teaching and through his labor of love. May cause thanksgiving to exceed to the glory of God: this is the reason we were created in the first place; that we should glorify God. Paul says that all that he has done for the church will be worth his labors by the exceeding glory they give to God. "By this Paul means, that it was nor confined to himself personally, so that he alone enjoys it, but it extends itself farther - namely, to the Corinthians, to whom it was of great advantage. When he makes the overflowing of God's gift consist in gratitude, tending to the glory of its Author, he admonishes us, that every blessing that God confers upon us perishes through our carelessness, if we are not prompt and active in rendering thanks" (Calvin). This is my personal definition of prayer: "God speaks to us through His Word, and we respond with praises to Him directly."
Living by Faith
Verse 16, "For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day."
LGT "Wherefore, we faint not, but if indeed our outward man is being brought to decay, yet our inward [man] is being renewed day by day."
Thank God for this verse. Even though we are growing old and weak bodily, we are growing strong spiritually. "Time does not depress your spirit, but it grows young again: your body, however, is weak" (Vincent). How depressing it must be for the weak unbeliever who has trusted this life for their salvation. What a dead-end road they are on; however, we who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, have eternal youth to look forward to, when we can turn in these old bodies for new ones, that is, "this mortal shall take on immortality".
Verse 17, "For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory."
LGT "For the momentary lightness of our tribulation, an eternal surpassing weight of glory works out for us."
For the momentary lightness of our tribulation: though they seem insurmountable to us, in the light of the Word, they are light afflictions, and for a brief moment. An eternal surpassing weight of glory works out for us: surpassing weight of glory, "is the Hebrew form of denoting the highest superlative [matchless adjectives], and it means, that all hyperboles [exaggeration] fail of expressing that external glory which remains for the just. It is infinity and boundless. You may pass from one degree to another; from one sublime height to another; but still infinity remains beyond. Nothing can describe the uppermost height of that glory, nothing can express its full finitude" (Barnes).
Verse 18, "While 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."
LGT "We consider not the things seen, but the things not seen; for the things seen [are] temporary, but the things not seen [are] eternal."
All the misery of this world will come into focus if we apply the divine viewpoint to this world. Paul says we should keep our eyes fastened on the Word of God, and for the hope of eternal salvation, in order to be able to remain stable in an unstable and passing temporal world. The moment we take our eyes off God's Word we stumble around as a drunken bum. To lust for anything this world has to offer is to tell the Lord to take a back seat, and that you will get around to Him in due time. Daily Bible study with a good regimen of conservative exposition, that teaches the "historical, Literal, grammatical" exegesis, and not this tripe authored by Rick Warren, that tells us to do, do, do, and not what Paul teaches in his grace Gospel, that it is DONE! Christ has finished the work, all we are to do is wait on Him, and be willing to let the Holy Spirit use us; but first we must prepare with the intake of Bible Doctrine on a daily basis.
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