Scripture passages from Berean Standard Bible available online:
https://biblehub.com/bsb/2_corinthians/4.htm
Emphasis is mine to help you focus on the key terms/points of the passages. Images created using Night Cafe Studio A.I. and modified using Canva Pro for your enjoyment.
Spiritual journey toward God’s Mountain–theme of going to mountain to commune with God.
The Gospel Light
1Therefore, since God in His mercy has given us this ministry, we do not lose heart. 2Instead, we have renounced secret and shameful ways. We do not practice deceit, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by open proclamation of the truth, we commend ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God. 3And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing.
God graciously gives us the ministry of proclaiming His Gospel! We are His ambassadors (2 Corinthians Chapter 5 [upcoming post]. Because of this ministry, we persevere even in the cold, dark seasons of our spiritual journeys. For example, Paul openly proclaimed the truth (consider Acts 17 when he preaches at the Areopagus (also known as Mars Hill) in Athens, Greece. The significance of this event is explained:
https://www.gotquestions.org/Mars-Hill.html
Paul speaks truth to those present when he becomes troubled by the “lost-ness” and spiritual darkness of Athens. https://www.bibleref.com/Acts/17/Acts-17-16.html
He proclaims the Gospel. Paul speaks truth openly because God of God’s call–not to enrich himself or profit from the Good News. Does seeing others lost move you to proclaim the truth of God’s Good News with grace, truth, and hope that people will respond to God’s invitation? As the world is dark, recall that God calls us to be the salt and light.
God’s light (Truth & Grace) illuminates the path for those who walk with Him seeking a better home. Hebrews 11 & 12
Be the Salt and Light in this World!
Matthew 5:13-16
13You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its savor, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.
14You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. 15Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a basket. Instead, they set it on a stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
Jesus desires for His followers to be the salt: a preservative, flavoring, and healing agent. Light in this context refers to “good deeds.” This is our witness! Christ shines through us as Holy Spirit moves in and through our life.
https://www.gotquestions.org/salt-and-light.html
Sin and darkness obscures the path of the spiritual pilgrim. Unbelief brings a fog of despair and confusion.
The Veil of Unbelief/Spiritual Darkness
The veil Paul mentions is the veil of unbelief, the refusal to repent, and follow the narrow path of God’s Gospel:
https://wordsofencouragementinchrist.com/2024/01/10/walking-the-narrow-path/
4The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers so they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 5For we do not proclaim ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. 6For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made His light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
Paul mentions the darkness/blindness and coming into God’s Light in Ephesians 2, 5, and Romans 1:18-32). Satan has dominion over this world and actively blinds people to the truth of the Gospel. Bible reference explains:
The Devil actively participates in blinding the minds of those who don’t believe in Jesus, to keep them from coming to faith in Christ. His purpose is to keep them from seeing the light.
https://www.bibleref.com/2-Corinthians/4/2-Corinthians-4-4.html accessed 1/18/2024
Jesus explains this darkness in John 3:18-21:
18Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever has already been condemned, because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.
The refusal to believe in Jesus brings condemnation. Consider Romans 1 as well. God reveals Himself, yet many refuse to accept and recognize God’s revelation. Jesus explains why people reject Him as God’s Son and God’s Revelation:
19And this is the verdict: The Light has come into the world, but men loved the darkness rather than the Light because their deeds were evil. 20Everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come into the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. 21But whoever practices the truth comes into the Light, so that it may be seen clearly that what he has done has been accomplished in God.”
God offers grace and redemption, but some prefer the world and it’s temporary “happiness” in following their own path. That’s the tragedy of the wide road–it leads to spiritual death and separation from God. It’s a decision on what a person will follow: God’s path or the world’s.
Apostle Paul proclaims the Gospel Good News to the men of the local synagogue.
Paul’s Testimony: Strength in being fragile
7Now we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this surpassingly great power is from God and not from us. 8We are hard pressed on all sides, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; 9persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed.
Clay jars were used to store and preserve various items in the 1 st century. Mark Wilson explains how that people would use clay jars to store valuable coins. These jars would be buried and archaeologists have recovered these “jars” with hoards of coins. This article from Biblical Archaeology Society explains:
The size of these hoards ranges from fifty to fifty thousand coins. The coins were buried in clay jars for safe keeping, often in times of warfare or instability. Coins were also hoarded for ritual purposes as votive offerings.
The phenomenon was so well known that Jesus told a parable about a man who found such a hoard and sold all his possessions to buy the field (Matthew 13:44). The Greek word for “treasure” (thesaurus) used by Jesus is the same word that Paul used in 2 Corinthians 4:7. So they seem to be talking about the same thing!
https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/biblical-artifacts/artifacts-and-the-bible/treasures-in-clay-jars/ Mark Wilson, “Treasures in Clay Jars” accessed 1/18/24
The Gospel truth is a great treasure! Paul uses the Greek word hyperbolē translate as surpassing to describe God’s power. This word means “a throwing beyond, excess, superiority.” See for explanation: https://biblehub.com/greek/5236.htm
God’s power is excessively powerful in us when we treasure His Gospel and work (as Paul did) to proclaim this Amazing Grace through the Gospel!
Rays of sun light represent God’s power, even the brightest of sun rays are dim compared to His Radiant Glory
God’s Surpassing Power at Work
Paul explains how that this surpassing power works in his tribulations by using a series of situations and but not statements (verses 8-9). I use Bible Hub’s Strong Greek Text Analysis to explain these terms. I find that the Greek words are typically more descriptive than our English translations. The text analysis is helpful to facilitate reading the original Greek. Posting the links to Strong’s Reference for you.
Verse 8
https://biblehub.com/text/2_corinthians/4-8.htm
1.hard pressed on every side–thlibó think about visiting the deep ocean where the water pressure is tons per square inch!
https://biblehub.com/greek/2346.htm
But not crushed-stenochóreó-narrow space, to hem in–Paul’s not trapped by the pressure!
https://biblehub.com/greek/4729.htm
2.perplexed aporeó-at a loss, in doubt
https://biblehub.com/greek/639.htm
But not exaporeó-utterly without resource, am in despair–though facing doubt, loss Paul has hope in Christ.
https://biblehub.com/greek/1820.htm
Verse 9
https://biblehub.com/text/2_corinthians/4-9.htm
3.diōkomenoi– being actively persecuted, pursued–consider the U.S. Marshals chasing after a wanted fugitive
https://biblehub.com/greek/dio_komenoi_1377.htm
but not egkataleipó–not deserted/abandoned–God is with Paul, he isn’t alone.
https://biblehub.com/greek/1459.htm
4. kataballomenoi–struck down–roots kata–down, against and balló to throw, cast–spear throwing contest/or wrestling match
https://biblehub.com/greek/2598.htm
Paul is using this verb form of the word as a metaphor from athletics and combat–violent, throwing down.
But not apollymenoi–destroy fully, utterly
https://biblehub.com/greek/622.htm
Paul explains that though he is thrown down violently, he isn’t destroyed! God’s Mighty Power holds him and his companions in ministry up! It’s all about God’s power being on display–not Paul’s greatness, wisdom, or strength.
Words of Grace & Hope 