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Nazarene Commentary 2000©

21^st Century Paraphrase of the Hebrew Scriptures© –
21^st Century Version of the Christian Scriptures© [NCMM]

THE SECOND LETTER TO THE CORINTHIANS

CHAPTER FOUR:
ILLUMINATED TREASURES
MANIFEST GLORIOUS TRUTH

[“Shining Gloriously”]
Key word: Glory
Theme Verse: 7

2 Corinthians 4:1-6 – Let the Light Shine

2CO4:1 And so, having this ministry 64 – just as we were shown mercy – we do not behave badly by giving up. 65

64	This ministry: That is, the ministry or service of the New Covenant.

65	We do not behave badly by giving up: Or, KJV: we faint not; KNX: do not play the coward; NEB: we never lose heart; CON: no faint-hearted fears; WMS: never give up; BER: are not despondent; PME: nothing can daunt us.

2CO4:2 But instead, we have renounced secret shamefulness 66 – not conducting ourselves in craftiness 67 – nor handling the Word of The God deceitfully 68 – we make the Truth manifest 69 – and before The God we commend ourselves to every human conscience. 70

66	We have renounced secret shamefulness: Or, KJV: hidden things of dishonesty; CON: secret dealings of shame; MOF: those practices which very shame conceals from view; WMS: underhanded, disgraceful methods. [Romans 6:21] Those who have been “transformed” have stopped any form shameful conduct.

67

Not conducting ourselves in craftiness: Or, cunning, trickery, no clever tricks. Paul is accused of this and perhaps here he anticipates it. [2 Corinthians 12:16] Those, like the original Serpent, who wish to deceive as their agenda, use methods and tactics to blind their victims to their real intent.

68

Nor handling the Word of The God deceitfully: Or, CON: not adulterate; TCN: tamper with God’s message; MOF: falsify the word of God; PME: dishonest manipulations of the Word of God; NEB: distort. A much quoted verse. Before the Christian canon was even completed dishonest persons were already “twisting the Scriptures.” [2 Peter 3:16] Compare 2 Corinthians 2:17; 6:3; 8:20; Galatians 1:9. There is a difference between honest misinterpretation due to bias or ignorance of the Word, and knowing and willful manipulation of the Bible. One glaring example is the removal of the Divine Name from most Bible translations. The prophet declares: “They try to make my people forget my name.” [Jeremiah 23:27] Others are the Trinity, soul-immortality, hell-fire torment, speaking with the dead, prophetic dates for the Return of Christ, observance of the Law of Moses, and others.

69	We make the Truth manifest: Or, manifestation, setting forth, openly, publicly.

70

Before The God we commend ourselves to every human conscience: Upon a little meditation, this statement makes the knees go weak. For it declares that the Christian attitude and life-style must be something that the “universal human conscience” can easily comprehend and respond to. [2 Corinthians 6:4] On the “conscience” compare notes on Romans 2:15, 16 and 1 Corinthians chapters 8 and 10.

2CO4:3 Now if our Gospel is veiled, it is veiled only to the self-destructive, 71

71	Now if our Gospel is veiled, it is veiled only to the self-destructive: Or, lost, perishing, on the way to destruction. [2 Corinthians 2:15]

2CO4:4 among whom the god of this time period has blinded the minds of the unbelievers 72 so that the Gospel’s illumination 73 – Christ’s glory, who is the image of The God 74 – does not radiate [to them].

72

The god of this time period has blinded the minds of the unbelievers: Many versions use “world” here though KOSMOS is absent, and AIONOS is used instead. It is worthy of note that Satan is called HO THEOS, the God. How does Satan do this? [2 Corinthians 11:14] Compare John 14:30; Ephesians 2:2; 1 John 5:19; Revelation 12:9.

73

The Gospel’s illumination: Or, KJV: the glorious gospel. It is because of the Gospel that Satan wishes to blind humankind. There may be a play on the previous words 2 Corinthians 3:7-11 where the glory of the Law Covenant is compared to that of the New Covenant. The veil over the Law at its reading to Jews was also the result of Satanic blindness. [John 8:12; 9:39-41] Compare 1 Timothy 1:11.

74	Who is the image of The God: Compare notes on Colossians 1:15. The Son is not “The God” but an image of Him. [Hebrews 1:2, 3]

2CO4:5 For we are not proclaiming ourselves, but rather [the] Master Christ Jesus, and ourselves as your slaves through Jesus. 2CO4:6 Because The God 75 [Genesis 1:1 LXX] is the One who said: “Let light shine out of darkness.” 76 [Genesis 1:3] [He] is the One who has shined in our hearts for the purpose of illuminating [them] 77 with the glorious knowledge of The God by Christ’s face. 78

75	The God: HO THEOS as it is in Genesis 1:1 of the 3rd Century BC Jewish Greek Septuagint.

76	Let light shine out of darkness: Paul quotes Genesis 1:3 and declares that the One who speaks is “The God” not the Master Jesus Christ.

77	The One who has shined in our hearts for the purpose of illuminating [them]: Or, NEB: to give light of revelation. It is “The God” of Genesis 1:3 who causes this spiritual illumination to drive the darkness from hearts. He does this through the agency of the knowledge of Jesus Christ. [1 Peter 2:9]

78

By Christ’s face: Or, LAM: person of. [2 Peter 1:3] The Father is the sun – the source of light; the Son is the moon, reflecting that Light. While one cannot stare at the sun, the full moon is a constant delight to continually behold. No human being can behold the face of God. [Exodus 33:20; John 6:46; 1 John 4:12] Compare notes on John 1:18 in Nazarene Commentary 2000 2000©.

2 Corinthians 4:7-12 – Treasure in Clay Vessels

2CO4:7 But, we possess this treasure in vessels of baked clay, 79 so that the surpassing greatness may be the power of The God and not our own. 80

79	We possess this treasure in vessels of baked clay: Or, CON: a body of fragile clay; MOF: frail vessels of earth; GDS: a mere earthen jar. [Genesis 2:7; Isaiah 64:8; 1 Corinthians 15:47]

80	May be the power of The God and not our own: Paul gives the glory to God, the source of power and strength. It was the Christian “clay” that destroyed the Roman “iron.” [Daniel 2:43]

2CO4:8 Continually pressured, but not completely restricted. 81 Continually perplexed, but not without direction. 82

81

Continually pressured, but not completely restricted: Or, KJV: troubled on every side, yet not straitened; CON: hard pressed, yet not crushed; TCN: hard pressed on every side, we are never hemmed in; BAS: troubles are round us on every side, but we are not shut in; KNX: we are being hampered everywhere, yet still have room to breathe. Paul begins to give examples of this “weakness” in earthen vessels. It is a miracle in itself that the Nazarene movement resisted and conquered every effort to destroy it. [2 Corinthians 7:5]

82	Continually perplexed, but not without direction: That is, Often confused but never misdirected. Or, KJV: perplexed, but not forsaken.

2CO4:9 Continually persecuted, but not abandoned. 83 Continually suppressed, but not destroyed. 84

83	Continually persecuted, but not abandoned: RHM: pursued, but not abandoned; NEB: hunted, we are never abandoned to our fate. [Psalm 7:1; 1 Corinthians 10:13]

84	Continually suppressed, but not destroyed: Or, KJV: cast down, but not destroyed; WMS: always getting a knockdown, but never a knockout.

2CO4:10 Constantly enduring the death of Jesus in our body, 85 so that the life of Jesus may be manifest in our body. 86

85	Constantly enduring the death of Jesus in our body: Compare notes on Romans 6:3-5. [Philippians 3:10; 1 Peter 4:13] That is, constantly enduring a course of self-sacrifice leading to death. Compare notes on 1 Peter 2:20, 21.

86	So that the life of Jesus may be manifest in our body: Or, KNX: so that the living power of Jesus may be manifested in our bodies. Paul may echo his thoughts at Romans 6:3-5. Or, he may encourage carrying the example of Christ into our daily lives.

2CO4:11 For we, the living, are constantly being exposed to death 87 in behalf of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus might also be manifest in our mortal flesh.

87	We the living are constantly being exposed to death: Compare notes on 2 Corinthians 11:23-27. [1 Corinthians 4:9; 15:31]

2CO4:12 As a result, death is working within us, 88 but the Life in you [Corinthians].

88	Death is working within us: Paul refers to Timothy and likely other close associates. This “death” would finally be complete in Paul’s own martyrdom. In contrast, the Corinthians as a congregation would continue to live and grow, and Christian churches exist in that area to this day.

2 Corinthians 4:13-15 – I Believed and So Spoke

2CO4:13 Now, possessed of the same believing attitude 89 – just as it has been written: “I believed, and because of this, I spoke” 90 [Psalm 116:10] – we also continue to believe, and because of this, we continue to speak. 91

89	Possessed of the same believing attitude: Or, KJV: the same spirit of faith.

90	I believed, and because of this, I spoke: Or, KNX: I spoke my mind… with full confidence. Paul quotes the Hallel. [Psalm 116:10] The next phrase in Psalm 116:10 is “I myself was very much afflicted.” [NWT] The context with Paul here is most fitting.

91	We continue to speak: True faith will move one to speak about what is in the heart. Those who remain silent suffer from weak or little faith. The greater the faith the more the speech as both Jesus and Paul demonstrate.

2CO4:14 Realizing that the One who raised up the Master Jesus, will also raise us up together with Jesus, 92 and we will all stand alongside one another [before Him] together with you [Corinthians]. 93

92	Will also raise us up together with Jesus: Compare 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17.

93

We will all stand alongside one another [before Him] together with you [Corinthians]: Or, PME: we shall all stand together before him; CON: shall call me into His presence together with you; NEB: bring us to his presence, and you with us. Compare notes on 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17 and 1 John 2:28. [1 Corinthians 6:14] Paul later writes that all Christians will stand before Christ at the parousia-judgment. [2 Corinthians 5:10] Compare notes on 1 Corinthians 4:5.

2CO4:15 Because everything is in your behalf, 94 so that the unmerited favor, having increased, might abound even more in thanksgiving unto the glory of The God.

94	Everything is in your behalf: Or, MOF: it is all in your interests; GDS: it is all for your benefit; BEC: all this is to help you. [1 Corinthians 3:21]

2 Corinthians 4:16-18 – Daily Inner Renewal

2CO4:16 As a result we never lose heart and give up 95 – even if our exterior person is wasting away 96 – because the inner person is being renewed day after day. 97

95	We never lose heart and give up: See 2 Corinthians 4:1.

96	Even if our exterior person is wasting away: Or KJV: though our outward men perish; PME: the outward man does indeed suffer wear and tear.

97

The inner person is being renewed day after day: Or, inwardly; KNX: our inner life is refreshed from day to day; BAR: spiritually we are renewed every day. [Romans 7:22; Colossians 3:10] The New Person in Christ is daily being made new with spiritual strength and understanding. Of course, this is not automatic but depends on the application of God’s power. [Hebrews 5:13, 14; 1 Peter 1:23-2:3]

2CO4:17 For though our oppression is momentary and trivial, 98 it works out on us – in a manner more and more excelling – an ageless glory of greater significance –

98

Our oppression is momentary and trivial: Or, RHM: the momentary lightness of the tribulation; TCN: the light burden of our momentary trouble; MOF: the light trouble of the passing hour; NEB: our troubles are slight and short-lived; BAR: we have our troubles. Paul looks at the long view of eternity. Compare Romans 8:18.

2CO4:18 so long as we do not fix our attention on the visible things, 99 but rather on the invisible things. For the visible things are temporary, 100 but the invisible things are ageless. 101

99

So long as we do not fix our attention on the visible things: Or, KNX: if only we will fix our eyes on what is unseen. Compare notes on Colossians 3:2. [Romans 8:5, 6; 2 Corinthians 5:7] The previous “everlasting glory” is qualified and dependent on a vision fixed, not on earthly things, but those that are heavenly and spiritual.

100	For the visible things are temporary: Or, pass away, transitory; BAR: last only for their brief moment. Compare notes on James 1:11. [See also notes in Nazarene Commentary 2000© on Hebrews 1:11, 12]

101	The invisible things are ageless: Or, imperishable, permanent, last forever.

Review Questions on Chapter Four