The sincerity of his preaching. His comfort in his afflictions.

¹ Therefore, since we have this ministry, and in as much as we have obtained mercy for ourselves, we are not inadequate.¹

1. 4:1Paul is discussing his adequacy or perceived inadequacy for the ministry given to him by God. The word ‘deficimus’ in this context is not so much ‘to fail’ as to be insufficient or inadequate for a task.(Conte)

² For we renounce dishonorable and hidden acts, not walking by craftiness, nor by adulterating the Word of God. Instead, by the manifestation of truth, we commend ourselves to the conscience of each man before God.

³ But if our Gospel is in some way hidden, it is hidden to those who are perishing.

⁴ As for them, the god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that the light of the Gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, would not shine in them.

⁵ For we are not preaching about ourselves, but about Jesus Christ our Lord. We are merely your servants through Jesus.

⁶ For God, who told the light to shine out of darkness, has shined a light into our hearts, to illuminate the knowledge of the splendor of God, in the person of Christ Jesus.

⁷ But we hold this treasure in earthen vessels, so that what is sublime may be of the power of God, and not of us.

⁸ In all things, we endure tribulation, yet we are not in anguish. We are constrained, yet we are not destitute.

⁹ We suffer persecution, yet we have not been abandoned. We are thrown down, yet we do not perish.

¹⁰ We ever carry around the mortification of Jesus in our bodies, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies.

¹¹ For we who live are ever handed over unto death for the sake of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our mortal flesh.

¹² Therefore, death is at work in us, and life is at work in you.

¹³ But we have the same Spirit of faith. And just as it is written, “I believed, and for that reason I spoke,” so we also believe, and for that reason, we also speak.

¹⁴ For we know that the One who raised up Jesus will raise us up also with Jesus and will place us with you.

¹⁵ Thus, all is for you, so that grace, abounding through many in thanksgiving, may abound to the glory of God.

¹⁶ For this reason, we are not insufficient. But it is as though our outer man is corrupted, while our inner man is renewed from day to day.

¹⁷ For though our tribulation is, at the present time, brief and light, it accomplishes in us the weight of a sublime eternal glory, beyond measure.

¹⁸ And we are contemplating, not the things that are seen, but the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are temporal, whereas the things that are not seen are eternal.