2 Corinthinans 4: 1-2, Commitment to truth and honesty
Therefore, since through God's mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart. Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God.
Paul emphasizes honest, sincere proclamation, without deceit! (Hallelujah!) If only the gospel were always communicated in this way!
2 Corinthinans 4: 3-6, A veil over mankind
And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For we do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake. For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.
Again Paul references "the veil", a blinding of our world that has occurred since the Fall of humankind in Genesis. His solution is to preach Christ (and to allow the Holy Spirit to break through.) Paul then uses God's creative statement ("Let there be light" from Genesis 1: 3-4) to describe a breakthrough in human hearts.
The "god of this age" is surely the same being as the Serpent in the Genesis account.
2 Corinthinans 4: 7-12, Jars of clay
But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.
We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that his life may be revealed in our mortal body. So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.
In a series of four phrases, each containing "but not", Paul details struggles and conflicts, each of them successfully endured. Like jars in a storeroom, they are under pressure but haven't broken. Paul and his party are mere "jars of clay", frail and easily shattered (but potent when filled with new wine!) experiencing the possibility of death at every turn ... but still reflecting Jesus.
2 Corinthinans 4: 13-15, Hope amidst affliction
It is written: "I believed; therefore I have spoken." With that same spirit of faith we also believe and therefore speak, because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you in his presence. All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.
Facing death regularly, Paul relies ultimately on the Resurrection, a place where all believers will meet together with Jesus. That eternal meeting in the New Country is Paul's ultimate goal.
The quote in verse 13 is from Psalm 116:10 (but closer to the Septuagint version of this verse.) Psalm 116 is about hope in the midst of death and affliction.
Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
Focusing on an unseen eternity, Paul obviously has a "long-term" approach to his ministry!
Paul continues to describe that future life in the next chapter.
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