2Cor 4 | TNotes | STEP | 4:1 This new way (or This new ministry ) shows us God’s mercy . Paul felt privileged to have the ministry of sharing the message of good news (1 Cor 15:9-11 ; 1 Tim 1:12-17 ).

4:1 ^a This new way (or This new ministry) shows us God’s mercy. Paul felt privileged to have the ministry of sharing the message of good news (1 Cor 15:9-11 ^b; 1 Tim 1:12-17 ^c).
4:2 ^d Paul’s ministry was marked by honesty, unlike some other preachers (2:17 ^e).
Summary for 2Cor 4:3-4: 4:3-4 ^f The Good News divides people into two categories: those who remain in darkness and those who are enlightened by God (see Acts 26:18 ^g, cp. John 3:19-21 ^h). God’s action in bringing people to himself is a movement from a realm governed by darkness to the light of God’s presence (Col 1:12-14 ⁱ; 1 Pet 2:9 ^j). The god of this world fights against the change that the Good News brings to people’s hearts and minds.
4:5 ^k We preach that Jesus Christ is Lord: See also Rom 10:9-10 ^l; 1 Cor 12:3 ^m; Col 2:6 ⁿ.
4:7 ^o The message of good news is like great treasure, but it is housed in fragile clay jars—our weak bodies. This insight gives purpose to suffering (4:8–5:10 ^p).
4:11 ^q Believers often share the humiliation of the Lord with confidence that they will also share in his triumphant risen life (4:14 ^r).
4:12 ^s Through his life of danger and exposure to mortal peril (see 1 Cor 15:30 ^t), Paul was reinforcing the faith of the Christians in the churches that he founded (cp. Col 1:24 ^u; 2 Tim 2:10 ^v).
Summary for 2Cor 4:13-14: 4:13-14 ^w The secret of Paul’s resilience was in the same kind of faith the psalmist had, (see Ps 116:10 ^x), which is centered in the living Lord.
Summary for 2Cor 4:16-17: 4:16-17 ^y we never give up: This call to endurance is given with a reminder of what is in store in the future (5:1-10 ^z). The human body is in the process of dying in the normal course of growing old, and Paul was particularly worn away physically and emotionally (4:8-12 ^aa). Yet he was being renewed every day—his spirit’s life was being rejuvenated and revitalized by the power of God.
4:18 ^ab If we look at the troubles we can see now, we grow faint; but when we see our lives in the light of eternal reality, we know that our troubles will soon be gone.