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). ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length,... [ Continue Reading ]
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). ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img");... [ Continue Reading ]
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 ]