2 Corinthians 4

1 Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not;

In Christ, we have strength.

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.

We've changed the way we live. Those "hidden things" are things of the world, those things we didn't see as wrong. The Word opens our eyes to the evil of it.

3 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:

If you ignore The Word, you ignore good and love evil. Without The Word you walk in death, you're 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.

satan, this god of the worldly and want's nothing more than to fool you. he will even use what some would call a "bible" making those ignorant of The Truth fall into his lies. he's goal is to take as many as he can with him so it's up to us to seek out The True Gospel. The Holy Spirit will help you find it. Doing nothing will keep you blind. I Thessalonians 5:5 Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.

5 For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake.

As for me, I've studied for over 20 years. I once took humans words for truth until I chose to picked up The Word and study it for myself. Today, it's my goal to help others understand. Look at 2 Tim. 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. It's not about me but about The Truth. It's about Christ Jesus my Lord and Savor and those that seek THE TRUTH, bring them to Jesus.

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.

Those who have The Truth are commanded to spread it. What good are we if we keep it to ourselves. It doesn't even matter if they hate you for it. Remember, it's not about you. Its about lifting that veil that they may see. You don't know until you try and they won't see unless you try. Believe me, I'm hated more now than when I was a bad person. I praise God for it because now I can see.

7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.

When The Holy Spirit enters your body is when you have light. He is our treasure. He is our power over darkness.

8 We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;

Real Christians are hated, that's just a fact. If you teach Truth, the attacks will come. But if you teach Truth, you already know the power that is with you keeps you. You're persecuted, but He is with you.

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.

I've got it easy compared to Paul. He was threaten by death for teaching the cross of Christ.

11 For we which live are always 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.

They hate you enough to kill you if you teach Truth, but the goal is never changing. The goal is to bring as many as possible out of darkness and into The Light. To make known The Way to life everlasting.

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;

Paul is talking about Psalms 116. Where we believe in Christ Jesus and all the things He said and did for us, so we tell the world about Him. We do as He has done making us Christians.

14 Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you.

Christ Jesus is The ONLY Way.

15 For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God.

If anyone suffers in bringing The Word, it's for the listener that they suffer. Its for the glory of God, the hearer has the chance to hear The Word of Truth. The Way to life everlasting.

16 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.

This flesh will turn to dust, "perish", but in Christ our souls live forever. Don't ever worry about those evil people around you because; 1 John 4:4
Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
Matthew 10:28 And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;

There is no comparison to this flesh life and eternal life. What's to come is beyond comprehension for our fleshly brains. Those that have truly given their lives to Christ and seek His Word daily know the feeling of Truth is very exciting, it's an inner change of their lives that only The Holy Spirit gives. This is as close to heaven as you can get until you're there. You feel such joy in Him. The flesh alone just can't feel that, but your soul does. What happens to this flesh has no concern to us that live in Christ.

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.

Study! Then you can see the spiritual things that these flesh minds can't with Him leading you to it. A babe loves milk until they grow up. When you're ready and are feeding on The Word as you should, The Holy Spirit will open your eyes to things you couldn't have imagined. All this earthly stuff is already gone, you might see it, you might not. What's most important is your soul, you might see it, you might not. Christ Jesus The Word will be The Only source in which to gain sight.