2 Corinthians 4:1

Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not; The human vessel is frail, that God may have the glory; yet, though frail, faith and the hope of future glory sustain him amidst the outward man's decay. THEREFORE - `for this cause;' because we have the liberty-giving Spirit of the Lord, and with unveiled face behold His glory (2 Corinthians 3:17). SEEING WE HAVE THIS MINISTRY - "the ministration of the spirit" - of such a spiritual, liberty-giving Gospel: resuming ; , RECEIVED MERCY - from God, without desert on our part, in having this ministry conferred on us ...

1._Having this ministry. _He now returns to a commendation of himself personally, from which he had digressed into a general discussion, in reference to the dignity of the gospel. As, therefore, he has been treating of the nature of the gospel, so he now shows how faithful and upright a minister of it he is. He has previously shown, what is the true gospel of Christ. He now shows what he preaches to be such. _“Having,” _says he, “_this ministry” _— that _ministry, _the excellence of which he had extolled in terms so magnificent, and the power and usefulness of which he had so abundantly shown forth. Hence, in order that he may not seem to extol himself too much, he premises that it was not by his own efforts, or by his own merits, that he had reached such a pinnacle of honor, but had been led forward by the mercy of God exclusively. Now there was more implied in making the _mercy _of God...

1-7 The best of men would faint, if they did not receive mercy from God. And that mercy which has helped us out, and helped us on, hitherto, we may rely upon to help us even to the end. The apostles had no base and wicked designs, covered with fair and specious pretences. They did not try to make their ministry serve a turn. Sincerity or uprightness will keep the favourable opinion of wise and good men. Christ by his gospel makes a glorious discovery to the minds of men. But the design of the devil is, to keep men in ignorance; and when he cannot keep the light of the gospel of Christ out of the world, he spares no pains to keep men from the gospel, or to set them against it. The rejection of the gospel is here traced to the wilful blindness and wickedness of the human heart. Self was not the matter or the end of the apostles' preaching; they preached Christ as Jesus, the Saviour and De...

CHAPTER IV. _St. Paul shows the integrity with which he had preached the_ _Gospel of Christ_, 1, 2. _And that, if it was unprofitable to any who had heard it, it_ _was because their unbelieving hearts were blinded_, 3, 4. _How he preached, and how he was qualified for the work_, 5-7. _The troubles and difficulties he met with in his labours, and_ _the hope and consolations by which he was supported_, 8-15. _And the prospect he had of eternal blessedness_, 16-18. NOTES ON CHAP. IV. Verse...

THEREFORE - Διὰ τοῦτο Dia touto. On account of this. That is, because the light of the gospel is so clear; because it reveals so glorious truths, and all obscurity is taken away, and we are permitted to behold as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, 2 Corinthians 3:18. Since the glories of the gospel dispensation are so great, and its effects on the heart are so transforming and purifying. The object is, to show the “effect” of being entrusted with such a ministry, on the character of his preaching. SEEING WE HAVE THIS MINISTRY - The gospel ministry, so much more glorious than that of Moses 2 Corinthians 3:6; which is the ministry by which the Holy Spirit acts o

EXPOSITION The glory of the gospel ministry (2 Corinthians 4:1), which sustains the hearts of Christ's ministers among all weaknesses and trials (2 Corinthians 4:7), especially by the faith in things unseen (2 Corinthians 4:16). 2 CORINTHIANS 4:1 THEREFORE. Because of the freedom and open vision of the gospel. AS WE HAVE RECEIVED MERCY. Gratitude for a mercy so undeserved (1 Timothy 1:13) makes us fearless and vigorous in a minis

THEREFORE SEEING WE HAVE THIS MINISTRY,.... The apostle having largely insisted on the difference between the law and the Gospel, the ministration of the one and of the other, proceeds to give an account of his own conduct, and that of his fellow apostles and ministers: "we", says he, "faint not"; under all the reproaches cast upon us, persecutions raised against us, and tribulations that attend us; we do not sink in our spirits, or give out from the ministry; we go on cheerfully in our work, in the thee of all opposition, encouraged by the consideration of the excellency of the ministry, which they had from the Lord, were put into, and continued in; which was so valuable in itself, and so useful in its effects; being the ministration of the Spirit and of righteousness, having in it such an excelling glory to the law, and attended with so much light and liberty: to which he adds the cons...

2 Corinthians 4:1. _Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not;_ It is a very high privilege to be called to the work of the Christian ministry, and when the minister remembers what great mercy he has himself received, what sins have been forgiven, what favors have been bestowed, he has the very best incentives in all the world to pursue his ministry with diligence and with zeal. «We faint not,» says the apostle. We do not hang our harps upon the willows. We do not pray to be allowed to retire from the battle, and give up the strife; but, feeling how great has been the mercy of God to our own souls, we are stirred up to press forward with holy zeal to win the victory. We long that others may taste of the same good things on which we have feasted....

5. THE CHARACTER OF THE TRUE MINISTRY. CHAPTER 4 _ 1. The Gospel of the Glory of Christ. (2 Corinthians 4:1)_ 2. The Treasure in Earthen Vessels; Weakness and Power. (2 Corinthians 4:7) 3. Resurrection and Coming Glory. (2 Corinthians 4:13 .) This ministry which the apostle mentions is the ministry of the Gospel. And those who know it by having received mercy are to be the witnesses. Every Christian who has obtained mercy, who is saved by grace, is called to witness to this blessed fact in some way. “We faint not”--we are not discouraged, but encouraged to go on in its proclamation, knowing that it is a sweet savor unto God and the power of God unto salv

In this paragraph the apostle recurs to the thought of 2 Corinthians 3:12; 2 Corinthians 2:16; 2 Corinthians 1:12; a ministry of such surpassing splendour demanded in himself and his comrades unflinching courage, and a life that commended itself by uprightness and straightforwardness to the judgment of other men. There were those who were still blind to the truth. They were blinded by the god of this world, _i.e._ by Satan. This striking phrase calls attention to the practical dualism of Paul's view of the world. It had fallen under the dominion, into the grasp (1 John 5:19) of the Evil One. The present age (or