2 CORINTHIANS—NOTE ON 2 CORINTHIANS 4:1 Paul explains why he does
not become discouraged in his ministry, despite his many afflictions
(2 Corinthians 4:1, 2 Corinthians 4:16; 2 Corinthians 5:6). He then
goes on to discuss further the message and character of the new
covenant ministry itself (2 Corin... [ Continue Reading ]
2 CORINTHIANS—NOTE ON 2 CORINTHIANS 4:2 Paul is not motivated by
money (2 Corinthians 2:17). He does not crave human approval
(Galatians 1:10). Thus, Paul refused to TAMPER WITH GOD’S WORD by
watering it down or changing it to suit what people want to hear
(compare 2 Timothy 4:3). (The Greek word fo... [ Continue Reading ]
2 CORINTHIANS—NOTE ON 2 CORINTHIANS 4:3 IF OUR GOSPEL IS VEILED
refers to the hardened heart that makes it impossible for some to
recognize Jesus as the Messiah (see 2 Corinthians 3:12). THE GOD OF
THIS WORLD refers to Satan. THE LIGHT OF THE GOSPEL OF THE GLORY OF
CHRIST. The gospel shows how Chris... [ Continue Reading ]
2 CORINTHIANS—NOTE ON 2 CORINTHIANS 4:6 Paul uses the creation of
LIGHT in Genesis 1:3 to picture conversion as the dawning of the new
creation in this fallen world. THE GLORY OF GOD IN THE FACE OF JESUS
CHRIST. To know the glory of Christ (2 Corinthians 4:4) is to
encounter the life-transforming gl... [ Continue Reading ]
2 CORINTHIANS—NOTE ON 2 CORINTHIANS 4:7 TREASURE. A reference to the
“knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ” (v. 2
Corinthians 4:6) as the content of the gospel (v. 2 Corinthians 4:4).
JARS OF CLAY. A common metaphor in the ancient world for human
weakness (see Psalms 31:12; Isaiah 30:... [ Continue Reading ]
2 CORINTHIANS—NOTE ON 2 CORINTHIANS 4:11 Paul’s suffering and
endurance are intended to bring about resurrection LIFE among the
Corinthians as they learn to trust God during difficulty (see 2
Corinthians 1:6).
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2 CORINTHIANS—NOTE ON 2 CORINTHIANS 4:13 THE SAME SPIRIT OF FAITH.
Most interpreters have understood “spirit” to refer not to the
Holy Spirit but to the attitude of trust in spite of affliction that
Paul shared with David (see Psalms 116:10).
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2 CORINTHIANS—NOTE ON 2 CORINTHIANS 4:16 OUTER SELF... INNER SELF
describes the contrast between Paul’s life of suffering in this
present evil age (his outer self) and the moral and spiritual
transformation of his life into the image of God (his inner self; see
2 Corinthians 3:18). See Romans 6:5; E... [ Continue Reading ]
2 CORINTHIANS—NOTE ON 2 CORINTHIANS 4:17 Earlier, Paul’s suffering
was a burden too heavy to carry (2 Corinthians 1:8). Now it is a LIGHT
MOMENTARY AFFLICTION in view of the ETERNAL WEIGHT OF GLORY BEYOND ALL
COMPARISON (see Romans 8:18). Far from harming him permanently, the
difficulty IS PREPARING... [ Continue Reading ]