Chapter 4
Being Ministers of the Light that Outshines the Darkness
4:1 Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God, we do not lose heart.
Paul tells us that being a believer can be an uphill battle, that though we may feel defeated at times, we have this ministry by the mercy of God. In other words we are on God’s side and he wants everyone to accept His free offer of salvation. While He won’t violate our free will, He will provide the resources and people (we are the ministers) to present the gospel message. So, we should not lose heart when things get more difficult or painful.
4:2 But we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God’s word, but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God.
In the process of carrying on the ministry of preaching the gospel, Paul notes that they have rejected shameful practices, even those dishonest things that are hidden. They also don’t employ any trickery or deception. Paul then adds that they do not tamper with God’s Word. I wish this applied to all churches today. It is astonishing to see so many Christian-based books and websites that tout a new way to read the Bible, discover the hidden meaning, read about the long-lost secret, etc. It seems as if the Word of God isn’t interesting enough or has become passé.
Paul says by an open statement of faith, which is something stated and understood by all, that they have been telling the truth, as witnessed by God.
4:3 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. 4 In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
If the gospel message is blocked by some form of barrier, it is only blocked for those that are heading for eternal condemnation. While that sounds harsh, it is the truth, Paul explains that their minds have been blinded by Satan. Note that Paul refers to Satan as “the god of this world” (Jesus made similar claims, see John 12:31; 14:30, see also Matthew 13:19; Ephesians 2:2; 6:12; 1 John 4:4; 5:19), and that he (Satan) is responsible for keeping the light of the gospel from being seen by them. This is quite a statement, as Paul is identifying Satan as the one who has blinded the minds of unbelievers (see below). Paul adds that the light of the gospel is the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
4:5 For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. 6 For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
Paul tells them that they don’t preach about themselves or about something they came up with, they only teach Jesus, the Christ, as Lord, they are nothing more than His servants. Possibly referring to Genesis 1:3, Paul says that the same God who brought into existence light, shines in our hearts the light of the knowledge of the glory of God as seen in the face of Jesus.
Considerations
Barriers that Prevent Acceptance of the Gospel Message
In broad terms we can categorize these barriers into three types: ‘Spiritual’, ‘Intellectual’ and the ‘Human Element’, but they can and often do overlap. Under the heading of Spiritual there is to some degree a dichotomy, 1) that is the understanding of the Bible, which requires the Holy Spirit for discernment, compared to that which, 2) intentionally obfuscates the truth which comes from the devil. Paul is referring to the intentional effort of Satan to make God’s Word, especially the gospel message, as unpalatable as possible to unbelievers. These barriers can seem to come from nearly any source, peer pressure, emotional instability, unexplained anger, unfounded hatred, irrational thinking or behavior, etc. Prayer is your best tool and weapon in these scenarios, actually one should always pray before presenting the gospel message and follow the Holy Spirit’s lead.
Some argue that Intellectual barriers fall under the Spiritual heading, which some are (remember I said there was some overlap). But I believe there are some barriers that are strictly intellectual. Those could include creation versus evolution, intelligent design, evidence there is a God, etc. Each one of these have an abundance of proof, but instead of processing the data for themselves they stay close to their presuppositions and deny the truth (Click here for a review of Christian Apologetics). Of course there is a Human Element to that way of thinking, but its more self-absorbed, some refuse to accept the truth because that would require accepting the fact that they are accountable to a higher authority.
Fragile Vessels
4:7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.
Paul calls believers “jars of clay” in which we carry a great treasure that demonstrates that the extraordinary power belongs to God, not us. Unlike God, we are fragile in every way, just like a jar made of clay. I can’t help but to compare this reference to the earthen vessels Gideon’s men used to hide their lamps when they surrounded the Midianite camp (see Judges 7:1-25). They carried lamps inside their jars and we have the light that shines in our hearts with the knowledge of the glory of God (see verse six above). Both vessels need to be ‘broken’ before any of the light can be seen. The power of the gospel to change lives is not from any human messenger but made possible through the power of God.
4:8 We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; 10 always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. 11 For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. 12 So death is at work in us, but life in you.
Paul admits they have been afflicted (Greek ‘thilbomenoi’, pressed together, compressed, in context used figuratively to be oppressed) in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted by Romans and Jews alike, but not abandoned by God; struck down with injuries and insults, but not destroyed (he will review these ‘setbacks’ later, see 2 Corinthians 6:4-5), and that they always carry with them the death of Jesus. They were willing to accept suffering as a way of life (see Romans 6:5; 8:36; 1 Corinthians 15:31) so that the message of eternal life through Jesus was more than words, but something real as they were willing to suffer to present it to others. Being a believer does not in any way slow down or prevent suffering, actually Jesus warned us that the opposite would be true (see Matthew 10:16-24; John 15:18-21). Paul essentially states that they are willing to expend the energy, resources, and time, even to the point of death, so that the people there in Corinth can be saved (see 2 Corinthians 12:15).
Knowledge of Eternal Life
4:13 Since we have the same spirit of faith according to what has been written, “I believed, and so I spoke,” we also believe, and so we also speak, 14 knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into his presence. 15 For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God.
Paul notes that since we have the same kind of faith the psalmist had when he wrote, “I believed, and so I spoke,” (from Psalm 116:10, LXX), that we also believe and therefore preach. Paul then uses the Greek ‘eidotes’, translated here as ‘knowing’, suggesting the fullness or absolute of knowledge as opposed to the Greek ‘ginōskō’, which refers to knowing from experience. That we know that He who raised Jesus from the dead, will also with Jesus, bring all believers into His presence. Paul adds, “All of this is for your benefit. And as God’s grace reaches more and more people, there will be great thanksgiving, and God will receive more and more glory.” (2 Corinthians 4:15, NLT) All the efforts of evangelism made on their behalf ultimately leads to God receiving greater glory.
4:16 So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. 17 For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, 18 as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.
Because God receives the glory, they do not lose heart. Paul notes that even though the “outer self” (the body) is wasting away as we grow older, our “inner self” (our spirit) is being renewed every day. We become closer to God when we read His Word, pray, sing praises, and do the things He calls us to do. Paul calls our lives on this side of heaven a “light momentary affliction” (see also Psalm 30:5; Isaiah 54:7; Romans 8:18; 1 Peter 1:6; 5:10) but when compared to the eternal weight (Greek ‘baros’, pressure, burden, load, can also imply importance and value) of glory beyond comparison as we look forward not to those things we can see in this world, but to those things that are invisible to us now. What we see today will disappear, but what we cannot see will last forever.