Bible Commentaries
2 Corinthians 4

Introduction

Preaching Christ Jesus The Lord

Second Corinthians Four

In Second Corinthians Four Paul continued to explain about his work and service for God. He went through tough times but he did not allow himself to get discouraged because he knew that he was working for God. There was a very obvious contrast between Paul and some other people. He openly and boldly proclaimed the truth while others were blinded to the obvious paths of right. The gospel is hidden only to those that Satan has blinded.

Paul looked upon himself as simply a servant of God. The result of such thinking was two fold. First, he preached Christ Jesus as Lord. He knew that the treasure of the gospel was in "earthen vessels." Second, he was willing to endure the temporary sufferings of this life in order to receive the eternal weight of glory! While this was difficult for his outward person he did not loses heart because, his "inward man was being renewed day by day." The focus of Paul's life was on the unseen or eternal things that were so powerfully revealed in the New Covenant.

Verses 1-4

Blinded to the truth 2Co_4:1-4 : Paul felt that God had been kind in entrusting him with the work of preaching the gospel. His concept was that what he was doing was a ministry. The ministry of Christ was so much more glorious than that under the Law of Moses. Therefore Paul would not allow himself to become discouraged and to faint with weariness. Paul did not do shameful things that had to be hidden. He only spoke the truth and he did that with simplicity and boldness. The gospel of Christ sustained him. It preserved him and kept him from fainting. This wonderful gospel made him open and honest and kept him from deceit.

If there is anything hidden about the gospel it is hidden only to those that are lost. These are people that could be saved except for the fact that they were blinded to the truth of God's salvation. The god of this world has blinded the unbelievers' minds preventing them from seeing the saving light of the gospel of Christ. Satan is the god of this world. He causes people to be spiritually blind. This spiritual blindness or unbelief causes people to remain in a lost state. They will perish and will be condemned because they refuse to see the truth because it condemns their sins.

Verses 5-7

Preaching Christ as Lord 2Co_4:5-7 : In Paul's preaching he preached Jesus Christ as Lord and he did not exalt himself. The subject of all his preaching was Christ as Lord and Paul as servant. Christ was the head of the one church and Paul was a servant in the one body! Our Creator God was able to dispel the physically darkness in the beginning. "And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. And God said, Let there be light: and there was light." ( Gen_1:2-3 ) Now God is shining in our hearts to let us know the glory of salvation that is seen in Jesus Christ.

Paul said the precious and powerful gospel is stored in frail human vessels. These preachers of the gospel are weak and feeble. They have bodies that are decaying and dying. They are altogether unworthy to hold a treasure so invaluable. This is proof that the real power of the gospel comes from God and not from us. The divine Light of the Gospel is a precious treasure that came form Jehovah. Man is able neither to produce nor give power to the gospel. This could have only been accomplished by God.

Verses 8-15

Overcoming many troubles 2Co_4:8-15 : Bad things come to good people. Paul mentions four bad things that had come his way and four ways that those things could be worse. He said, "We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed." ( 2Co_4:8-9 ) He did not allow his troubles to do even worse things to him. With the help of God Paul did not allow his troubles to destroy him. He stayed strong in the Lord. He never gave up in despair. Paul faced death every day because of Jesus. He was willing to face threats of death in order to show people how to have life in Christ. We can be sure that God will intervene with His mercy and grace and save His people from absolute despair and ruin.

As an evangelist Paul was constantly faced with death. The Corinthians did not face death like he but the dangers he faced helped them to have spiritual life. Paul said it is written in Scriptures saying, "I believed, therefore have I spoken." ( Psa_116:10 ) Paul affirmed that he had the same kind of faith that David had when faced with enemies that might take his life. Paul was willing to face death for the cause of Christ because of his faith in the resurrection. He endured all the things that he did that more and more people might be thankful to God and praise and honor Him.

Verses 16-18

An eternal weight of glory 2Co_4:16-18 : Paul would never give up. He did not just become exhausted and wearied and faint. There was resistance to his message, but he would not faint. He simply did his duty, and committed the result to God. He realized that his body was progressively decaying, yet his inner self was being renewed day after day. Paul understood that man is made up of two parts, body and soul. Though the flesh was getting weaker the real person was being made stronger each day. One part of man is perishing, and the other is part is being renewed. It should be our goal to do all that we can to allow our souls to grow stronger and stronger daily. The things of this life are momentary affliction when compared to the eternal weight of glory in eternity. These little troubles are getting us ready for heaven. Heaven will make all our earthly troubles seem like nothing.

Our focus must be on heaven, not on the temporal things that are so brief and fleeting. We must keep our minds on the things that cannot be seen because they are everlasting. The contrast is between the present physical things that are temporary and the things that cannot be seen that are eternal. Our attention must be on the spiritual reward in the next world. It is an eternal reward that will never end. Our bodies will grow old. They will become weak and feeble under the many trials and hardships of this life. Our bodies and all that pertain to this life will perish. The things that are not seen are eternal and that must be our life's focus! Those that go to heaven have the assurance that their joys will endure.