1 Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we do not lose heart. 2 But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, 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 even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, 4 whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them. 5 For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus’ sake. 6 For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
Commentary
Vs. 1 "Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we do not lose heart."
Having been entrusted with the ministry of the New Covenant (which brings remission of sins to every person who believes in the Lord Jesus Christ crucified and risen from dead; and thus brings Holy Spirit regeneration and everlasting life to all who call upon Christ's Name). And so the Apostle Paul having received mercy through Christ, did not lose heart to the at times overwhelming opposition to His preaching the Gospel, and thus making disciples through the New Covenant. For Paul himself had already received God's mercy through Christ, and so the Apostle Paul now lived his new life through that same grace and mercy, extending the same to one and to all, so that they too might repent and believe, and thus receive Christ Jesus for themselves (consider Titus 3:3-7). And so the Apostle Paul did not lose heart when faced with tribulations, or opposition to his preaching the Gospel. Instead Paul remained faithful to the ministry which the Lord Jesus Christ entrusted to him, after He first saved him, and sanctified him, for the expressed purpose of preaching Him everywhere through the Gospel, so as to make disciples in His Name and establish His church in the New Covenant (1 Cor. 11:23-26). Something which the Apostle Paul came to understand was God's purpose for his person and life (Gal 1:15-17), to be Christ's minister everywhere, so as to turn people from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God (Acts 26:16-18). And thus the Apostle Paul knew God's plans would not be thwarted by the hostility or opposition of either Satan or man, but all things that we pass through in this life are working together for our good (Rom. 8:28).
Vs. 2 "But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, 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."
In further defense of his person and ministry the Apostle now says that "we (meaning himself and those who were faithfully ministering the Gospel with him) have renounced the hidden things of shame". Meaning both he and they were not only living lives of Godliness, righteousness, and integrity, but they themselves always strove to be absolutely honest and transparent in their preaching. And so unlike the false apostles, prophets, and teachers whose persons and lives are marked by "craft" and duplicity, by lust and by greed, and thus who only misuse and misrepresent the Word of God for their own ends. The Apostle Paul says of himself and those with him that through their lives and preaching, the manifestation of the truth, was being made known to one and to all. And so the Apostle Paul could rightly and confidently assert that they could commend themselves to every mans conscience in the sight of God. Because they had no secret lives, nor hidden agendas, everything they did and were was easily read and understood by one and by all.
Vs. 3-4 3 But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, 4 whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.
Here the Apostle Paul makes it clear that if the Gospel is veiled to some, it is only veiled to those who are perishing, 4 whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.
Vs. 5 "For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus’ sake."
Unlike the false preachers and teachers who are all about themselves, the Apostle makes it clear that he does not preach himself; that is what he is, or what he has, or what he has done. Paul preached Christ, just as every true minister of God does. For it is Christ alone that saves and brings to life everyone who believes in Him through the Gospel. Now to forward that end the Apostle Paul made himself a servant to not only the church, but to all men, that he might save some (1 Cor 9:22).
Vs. 6 "For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ."
Just as God commanded light to shine out of darkness at the pre-creation (Gen 1:3-5), so now it is God who has commanded that His light should first shine in the hearts of His Apostles so that the whole world should be illuminated with the glory of His Son Jesus Christ through the Gospel. Thus it is God who has shone in our hearts the light and knowledge and glory of His Person through the Person of His Son the Lord Jesus Christ, so that we ourselves are not only partakers of His promises with them, but we have become His people through whom His light and knowledge and glory is made known to one and to all. And so it is God who takes people who were once bound in darkness and brings them to light and life through His Son the Lord Jesus Christ (consider Matt. 4:16; Luke 1:77-79). The Only question then is have you seen the light of the world, the Lord Jesus Christ (John 8:12), and have you received Him as your Lord and Savior (John 1:12). If you have not then please do that now! If you believe, invite the Lord Jesus Christ into your heart and life to be your Lord and Savior, so that by believing in Him crucified, buried, and then risen from the dead three days later for the remission of all our sins and everlasting life (John 3:16; Acts 10:43) you too might have the reconciliation with God that Jesus brings to everyone who believes in Him and confesses Him as Lord (Rom 10:9-10, 13). Don't delay, have peace with God, and begin a new life with Christ today!
Scripture Quotation
The New King James Version. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982.
Vs. 1 "Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we do not lose heart."
Having been entrusted with the ministry of the New Covenant (which brings remission of sins to every person who believes in the Lord Jesus Christ crucified and risen from dead; and thus brings Holy Spirit regeneration and everlasting life to all who call upon Christ's Name). And so the Apostle Paul having received mercy through Christ, did not lose heart to the at times overwhelming opposition to His preaching the Gospel, and thus making disciples through the New Covenant. For Paul himself had already received God's mercy through Christ, and so the Apostle Paul now lived his new life through that same grace and mercy, extending the same to one and to all, so that they too might repent and believe, and thus receive Christ Jesus for themselves (consider Titus 3:3-7). And so the Apostle Paul did not lose heart when faced with tribulations, or opposition to his preaching the Gospel. Instead Paul remained faithful to the ministry which the Lord Jesus Christ entrusted to him, after He first saved him, and sanctified him, for the expressed purpose of preaching Him everywhere through the Gospel, so as to make disciples in His Name and establish His church in the New Covenant (1 Cor. 11:23-26). Something which the Apostle Paul came to understand was God's purpose for his person and life (Gal 1:15-17), to be Christ's minister everywhere, so as to turn people from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God (Acts 26:16-18). And thus the Apostle Paul knew God's plans would not be thwarted by the hostility or opposition of either Satan or man, but all things that we pass through in this life are working together for our good (Rom. 8:28).
Vs. 2 "But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, 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."
In further defense of his person and ministry the Apostle now says that "we (meaning himself and those who were faithfully ministering the Gospel with him) have renounced the hidden things of shame". Meaning both he and they were not only living lives of Godliness, righteousness, and integrity, but they themselves always strove to be absolutely honest and transparent in their preaching. And so unlike the false apostles, prophets, and teachers whose persons and lives are marked by "craft" and duplicity, by lust and by greed, and thus who only misuse and misrepresent the Word of God for their own ends. The Apostle Paul says of himself and those with him that through their lives and preaching, the manifestation of the truth, was being made known to one and to all. And so the Apostle Paul could rightly and confidently assert that they could commend themselves to every mans conscience in the sight of God. Because they had no secret lives, nor hidden agendas, everything they did and were was easily read and understood by one and by all.
Vs. 3-4 3 But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, 4 whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.
Here the Apostle Paul makes it clear that if the Gospel is veiled to some, it is only veiled to those who are perishing, 4 whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.
Vs. 5 "For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus’ sake."
Unlike the false preachers and teachers who are all about themselves, the Apostle makes it clear that he does not preach himself; that is what he is, or what he has, or what he has done. Paul preached Christ, just as every true minister of God does. For it is Christ alone that saves and brings to life everyone who believes in Him through the Gospel. Now to forward that end the Apostle Paul made himself a servant to not only the church, but to all men, that he might save some (1 Cor 9:22).
Vs. 6 "For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ."
Just as God commanded light to shine out of darkness at the pre-creation (Gen 1:3-5), so now it is God who has commanded that His light should first shine in the hearts of His Apostles so that the whole world should be illuminated with the glory of His Son Jesus Christ through the Gospel. Thus it is God who has shone in our hearts the light and knowledge and glory of His Person through the Person of His Son the Lord Jesus Christ, so that we ourselves are not only partakers of His promises with them, but we have become His people through whom His light and knowledge and glory is made known to one and to all. And so it is God who takes people who were once bound in darkness and brings them to light and life through His Son the Lord Jesus Christ (consider Matt. 4:16; Luke 1:77-79). The Only question then is have you seen the light of the world, the Lord Jesus Christ (John 8:12), and have you received Him as your Lord and Savior (John 1:12). If you have not then please do that now! If you believe, invite the Lord Jesus Christ into your heart and life to be your Lord and Savior, so that by believing in Him crucified, buried, and then risen from the dead three days later for the remission of all our sins and everlasting life (John 3:16; Acts 10:43) you too might have the reconciliation with God that Jesus brings to everyone who believes in Him and confesses Him as Lord (Rom 10:9-10, 13). Don't delay, have peace with God, and begin a new life with Christ today!
Scripture Quotation
The New King James Version. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982.
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