The Light of the Gospel
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But we have renounced 3disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cunning or 4to tamper with God's word, but 5by the open statement of the truth 6we would commend ourselves to everyone's conscience in the sight of God.
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In their case 10the god of this world 11has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing 12the light of 13the gospel of the glory of Christ, 14who is the image of God.
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For what 15we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with 16ourselves as your servantsb for Jesus' sake.
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For God, who said, 17"Let light shine out of darkness,"18has shone in our hearts to give 19the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
Treasure in Jars of Clay
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But we have this treasure in 20jars of clay, 21to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.
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We are 22afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair;
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25always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, 26so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies.
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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.
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So 27death is at work in us, but life in you.
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Since we have 28the same spirit of faith according to what has been written, 29"I believed, and so I spoke," we also believe, and so we also speak,
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knowing that 30he who raised the Lord Jesus 31will raise us also with Jesus and 32bring us with you into his presence.
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For 33it is all for your sake, so that as 34grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, 35to the glory of God.
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So we do not lose heart. 36Though our outer selfc is wasting away, 37our inner self 38is being renewed day by day.
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For 39this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison,
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40as 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.
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.
(English Standard Version - The Holy Bible Online)