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since we have this ministry through God’s mercy, we do not lose heart. 2 Rather, we have renounced the shameful things done in secret, not walking in deceit or distorting the word of God, but by the open display of truth we commend ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God. 3 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. 4 In their case the god of this age has blinded the minds of those who do not believe, so they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 5 For we do not proclaim ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your slaves for Jesus’ sake. 6 For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness”—He has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay, so that it may be made clear that this extraordinary power is from God and not from us. 8 We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; 9 we are persecuted, but not forsaken; we are struck down, but not destroyed. 10 We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. 11 For we who are alive are always being given to death for Jesus’ sake, so that Jesus’ life may also be manifested in our mortal flesh. 12 So death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.
13 And since we have the same spirit of faith that is in accordance with what is written: “I believed, therefore I have spoken”, we also believe and therefore speak, 14 because we know that the One who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will raise us also with Jesus, and will present us with you. 15 All this is for your sake, so that the grace that is spreading to more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.
16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward person is wasting away, our inner person is being renewed day by day. 17 For our light and momentary afflictions are achieving for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all measure. 18 So we do not fix our eyes on what is seen, but on what is not seen. For the things that are seen are temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.