1Paul declareth his unwearied zeal and integrity in preaching the gospel; 3so that if any see not the truth of it, it must be owing to their corrupt hearts, not to want of clear light. 7The weakness and sufferings he was exposed to redounded to the praise of God's power. 12That which animated him in undergoing them for the church's sake was the assurance of a more exceeding and eternal reward.
1THEREFORE seeing we have 1this ministry, as we have received mercy, we 2faint not;
1 Namely, not of the letter, nor of death, but of the spirit and of life, of which is spoken in 2 Cor. 3:6, etc.
2 Or, grow slack, or, remain not wanting, namely, notwithstanding all the troubles which come upon us in this administration, as appears from verse 10. See of this word also, Luke 18:1.
2But have 3renounced 4the hidden things of dishonesty, nota walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth 5commendingb ourselves 6to every man's conscience in the sight of God.
3 Gr. cast away, or denied.
4 Or, the covered shamefulness; whereby he understands the evasions, garnishes and deceits of the false apostles, who would frame their sermons according to human wisdom or according to the inclinations of men to please them, and in the meantime to promote their own ease and honor by such cloaks, as the following words declare.
a 2 Cor. 2:17.
5 Gr. recommending, namely, that we deal in simplicity therein.
b 2 Cor. 6:4.
6 Namely, who judge uprightly and with understanding.
3But if our gospel 7be hid, it is hid to them thatc are lost:
7 That is, being dark and seeming strange.
c 2 Cor. 2:15; 2 Thes. 2:10.
4In whom 8the god of this world hath blinded thed minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, whoe is 9the image of God, should 10shine unto them.
8 That is, Satan, who by a righteous judgment of God obtains such dominion over unbelieving men, as if he were a god of them, and whom they serve as their god. See John 12:31; Eph. 2:2; 6:12.
d Isa. 6:10; John 12:40.
e John 14:9; Philip. 2:6; Col. 1:15; Heb. 1:3.
9 Namely, not only in respect of His Divine nature, being the eternal Word, and Wisdom of the Father, but also in respect that He is God manifested in the flesh, by Whom God’s glory, righteousness, grace, wisdom and power is, as it were, expressed in a mirror unto us in the Gospel. See Col. 1:15; Heb. 1:3.
10 Or, give light.
5For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake.
6For God, whof11commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath 12shined 13ing our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God 14in the face of Jesus Christ.
f Gen. 1:3.
11 That is, said, namely, in the beginning of creation, when darkness covered the earth, Gen. 1:3.
12 Namely, by His Holy Spirit.
13 Namely, who were also dark and ignorant by nature. He speaks here especially of the apostles, by whom afterwards this light must be spread abroad among all nations.
g 2 Peter 1:19.
14 That is, the glory of God, which shined in the face of Moses and was covered by him, shines now much more gloriously in the face of Christ and is not covered by us, but held forth uncovered before all, to enlighten them thereby.
7But we have this 15treasure inh16earthen vessels, that the excellency 17of the power may 18be ofi God, and not of us.
15 Namely, of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.
h 2 Cor. 5;1.
16 That is, we are weak, despised and tender instruments in the midst of all persecutions.
17 Namely, of this word of the Gospel.
18 That is, may be ascribed to God alone, as it is of God alone, and not of us. See 2 Cor. 3:5, 6.
i 1 Cor. 2:5.
8We are troubled on every side, yet not 19distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;
19 Namely, so that there is no relief. Otherwise this distressing is also affirmed of believers, Rom. 8:35; 2 Cor. 6:4.
9Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;
10Alwaysj bearing about in the body 20the dying of the Lord Jesus, that 21the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.
j Rom. 8:17; Gal. 6:17; Philip. 3:10; 2 Tim. 2:11, 12; 1 Peter 4:13.
20 That is, danger of death for Christ’s sake. Or, persecutions and distresses even unto death for Christ’s sake, and after the example of Christ, and which Christ also accounts to befall Himself, Acts 9:4, as is declared in the following verse.
21 That is, the quickening power of Christ and of His Spirit, which manifest itself here in our ministry, and hereafter shall fully manifest itself for our deliverance, as also the following verse declares. See Rom. 8:10, 11.
11Fork we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that thel life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.
k Psalm 44:22; Mat. 5:11; Rom. 8:36; 1 Cor. 4:9.
l 1 Cor. 15:49; Col. 3:4.
12So then 22death worketh in us, but 23life in you.
22 That is, the danger of death hangs continually over our heads, and works in us by the power of Christ unto greater zeal for the diligent execution of our ministry.
23 That is, but you, by our ministry and all our tribulations and dangers of death, are more and more strengthened in the life of the Spirit; in order that even all these distresses, which fall upon us, make for your good, and do prosper unto life.
13We having 24the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, 25Im believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore 26speak;
24 That is, the same faith by the same Spirit, of Whom all believers, both of the Old and New Testament, are partakers, 1 Peter 1:11.
25 This David speaks in Psalm 116:10, when, being in many troubles, he testified his confidence in God of his deliverance, or, when being in many troubles, he confessed before everyone the confidence which he had in God also for time to come.
m Psalm 116:10.
26 That is, confess and proclaim before everyone what we believe.
14Knowingn that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, 27and shall present us with you.
n Rom. 8:11; 1 Cor. 6:14.
27 Namely, at the last day, when Christ shall appear on His judgment seat, Eph. 5:27.
15For 28all things are for your sakes, thato29the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redoundp to the glory of God.
28 Namely, which I have related of the dangers of death upon us, and of the wonderful deliverances which God gives upon it.
o 2 Cor. 1:11.
29 Namely, which He shows in our wonderful deliverances for your comfort and edification, and for the spreading abroad of God’s honor by your thanksgivings for us.
p overflow, surge up.
16For which cause we faint not; but though our 30outward man perish, yet the 31inward man is renewed day by day.
30 Gr. the man outside, that is, our body with our bodily strength, health and outward welfare.
31 Gr. the man within, that is, the soul, being renewed by the Spirit of God, is daily more and more renewed and strengthened in the midst of these troubles.
17Forq our 32light affliction, 33which is but for a moment, 34worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;
q Psalm 30:5; Mat. 5:12; Rom. 8:18; 1 John 3:2.
32 Gr. the light, or the lightness of our affliction. This the apostle does not say because affliction is light in itself, but because the Lord, by the strengthening and comfort of His Spirit, makes it light to us. See Rom. 5:3; 8:37.
33 Namely, as our life is not long. For, after this life all tears are washed from our eyes, Rev. 7:16, 17.
34 That is, brings forth, not of any merit, but of mere grace for Christ’s sake, Rom. 8:17, 18. Gr. an eternal weight of glory according to excellency unto excellency.
18While we 35look not at the things 36which are seen, but at the things 37which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.
35 Namely, as a mark at which we aim, as the Greek word properly implies.
36 That is, worldly honor or dishonor, conveniences and inconveniences of this life, which we see daily before our eyes.
37 Namely, through the eyes of the body, that is, the spiritual and heavenly glory and joy which is promised, and for which we believe and hope, of which he treats further in the following chapter. See Heb. 11:1.