And who is sufficient for these things?
[17] For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but
as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ.
2Cor.3
[1] Do we begin again to commend ourselves? or need we, as some others, epistles of commendation
to you, or letters of commendation from you?
[2] Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and
read of all men:
[3] Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us,
written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the
heart.
[4] And such trust have we through Christ to God-ward:
[5] Not that we are sufficient of ourselves
to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God;
[6] Who also hath made us able ministers
of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.
[7] But
if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel
could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be
done away:
[8] How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious?
[9] For if the ministration of
condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory.
[10] For even
that which was made glorious had no glory in this respect, by reason of the glory that excelleth.
[11] For
if that which is done away was glorious, much more that which remaineth is glorious.
[12] Seeing then
that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech:
[13] And not as Moses, which put a vail over
his face, that the children of Israel could not stedfastly look to the end of that which is abolished:
[14] But
their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the
old testament; which vail is done away in Christ.
[15] But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail
is upon their heart.
[16] Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away.
[17] Now
the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.
[18] But we all, with open face
beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even
as by the Spirit of the Lord.
2Cor.4
[1] Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not;
[2] But have renounced
the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but
by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God.
[3]
But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:
[4] In whom the god of this world hath blinded the
minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God,
should shine unto them.
[5] For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your
servants for Jesus' sake.
[6] For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in
our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
[7] But we
have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.
[8]
We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;
[9] Persecuted,
but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;
[10] Always bearing about in the body the dying of the
Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.
[11] For we which live are
alway delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our
mortal flesh.
[12] So then death worketh in us, but life in you.
[13] We having the same spirit of faith,
according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak;
[14]
Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us
with you.
[15] For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving
of many redound to the glory of God.
[16] For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man
perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.
[17] For our light affliction, which is but for a moment,
worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;
[18] While we 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.