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Paul's Apostolic Ministry

¹ Therefore, since we have this ^(C1)ministry, as we ^(C2)received mercy, we ^(C3)do not lose heart,² but we have renounced the ^(C1)things hidden because of shame, not walking in craftiness or ^(C2)adulterating the word of God, but by the manifestation of truth ^(C3)commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God.³ And even if our ^(C1)gospel is ^(C2)veiled, it is veiled ^(F1)to ^(C3)those who are perishing,⁴ in whose case ^(C1)the god of ^(C2)this ^(F1)world has ^(C3)blinded the minds of the unbelieving ^(F2)so that they might not see the ^(C4)light of the gospel of the ^(C5)glory of Christ, who is the ^(C6)image of God.⁵ For we ^(C1)do not preach ourselves but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your bond-servants ^(F1)for Jesus' sake.⁶ For God, who said, "^(C1)Light shall shine out of darkness," is the One who has ^(C2)shone in our hearts to give the ^(C3)Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.

⁷ But we have this treasure in ^(C1)earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of ^(C2)the power will be of God and not from ourselves;⁸ we are ^(C1)afflicted in every way, but not ^(C2)crushed; ^(C3)perplexed, but not despairing;^9 (C1)persecuted, but not ^(C2)forsaken; ^(C3)struck down, but not destroyed;^10 (C1)always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that ^(C2)the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.¹¹ For we who live are constantly being delivered over to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.¹² So death works in us, but life in you.

¹³ But having the same ^(C1)spirit of faith, according to what is written, "^(C2)I BELIEVED, THEREFORE I SPOKE," we also believe, therefore we also speak,¹⁴ knowing that He who ^(C1)raised the Lord Jesus ^(C2)will raise us also with Jesus and will ^(C3)present us with you.¹⁵ For all things are ^(C1)for your sakes, so that the grace which is ^(F1)(C2)spreading to more and more people may cause the giving of thanks to abound to the glory of God.

¹⁶ Therefore we ^(C1)do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our ^(C2)inner man is ^(C3)being renewed day by day.¹⁷ For momentary, ^(C1)light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison,¹⁸ while we ^(C1)look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.