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Treasure in Clay Jars

4Therefore, since it is by God’s mercy that we are engaged in this ministry, we do not lose heart. ²We have renounced the shameful things that one hides; we refuse to practise cunning or to falsify God’s word; but by the open statement of the truth we commend ourselves to the conscience of everyone in the sight of God. ³And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. ⁴In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. ⁵For we do not proclaim ourselves; we proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord and ourselves as your slaves for Jesus’ sake. ⁶For it is the God who said, ‘Let light 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.

7 But we have this treasure in clay jars, so that it may be made clear that this extraordinary power belongs to God and does not come from us. ⁸We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; ⁹persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; ¹⁰always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be made visible in our bodies. ¹¹For while we live, we are always being given up to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus may be made visible in our mortal flesh. ¹²So death is at work in us, but life in you.

13 But just as we have the same spirit of faith that is in accordance with scripture—‘I believed, and so I spoke’—we also believe, and so we speak, ¹⁴because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus, and will bring us with you into his presence. ¹⁵Yes, everything is for your sake, so that grace, as it extends to more and more people, may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God.

Living by Faith

16 So we do not lose heart. Even though our outer nature is wasting away, our inner nature is being renewed day by day. ¹⁷For this slight momentary affliction is preparing us for an eternal weight of glory beyond all measure, ¹⁸because we look not at what can be seen but at what cannot be seen; for what can be seen is temporary, but what cannot be seen is eternal.

5For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. ²For in this tent we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling— ³if indeed, when we have taken it off^* we will not be found naked. ⁴For while we are still in this tent, we groan under our burden, because we wish not to be unclothed but to be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. ⁵He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.

6 So we are always confident; even though we know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord— ⁷for we walk by faith, not by sight. ⁸Yes, we do have confidence, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. ⁹So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him. ¹⁰For all of us must appear before the judgement seat of Christ, so that each may receive recompense for what has been done in the body, whether good or evil.

The Ministry of Reconciliation

11 Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we try to persuade others; but we ourselves are well known to God, and I hope that we are also well known to your consciences. ¹²We are not commending ourselves to you again, but giving you an opportunity to boast about us, so that you may be able to answer those who boast in outward appearance and not in the heart. ¹³For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. ¹⁴For the love of Christ urges us on, because we are convinced that one has died for all; therefore all have died. ¹⁵And he died for all, so that those who live might live no longer for themselves, but for him who died and was raised for them.

16 From now on, therefore, we regard no one from a human point of view;^* even though we once knew Christ from a human point of view,^* we know him no longer in that way. ¹⁷So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new! ¹⁸All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation; ¹⁹that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself,^* not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting the message of reconciliation to us. ²⁰So we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us; we entreat you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. ²¹For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

6As we work together with him,^* we urge you also not to accept the grace of God in vain. ²For he says,
‘At an acceptable time I have listened to you,
   and on a day of salvation I have helped you.’
See, now is the acceptable time; see, now is the day of salvation! ³We are putting no obstacle in anyone’s way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry, ⁴but as servants of God we have commended ourselves in every way: through great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities, ⁵beatings, imprisonments, riots, labours, sleepless nights, hunger; ⁶by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, holiness of spirit, genuine love, ⁷truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left; ⁸in honour and dishonour, in ill repute and good repute. We are treated as impostors, and yet are true; ⁹as unknown, and yet are well known; as dying, and see—we are alive; as punished, and yet not killed; ¹⁰as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing everything.

11 We have spoken frankly to you Corinthians; our heart is wide open to you. ¹²There is no restriction in our affections, but only in yours. ¹³In return—I speak as to children—open wide your hearts also.

The Temple of the Living God

14 Do not be mismatched with unbelievers. For what partnership is there between righteousness and lawlessness? Or what fellowship is there between light and darkness? ¹⁵What agreement does Christ have with Beliar? Or what does a believer share with an unbeliever? ¹⁶What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we^* are the temple of the living God; as God said,
‘I will live in them and walk among them,
   and I will be their God,
   and they shall be my people.
¹⁷ Therefore come out from them,
   and be separate from them, says the Lord,
and touch nothing unclean;
   then I will welcome you,
¹⁸ and I will be your father,
   and you shall be my sons and daughters,
says the Lord Almighty.’

Psalm 109

Prayer for Vindication and Vengeance

To the leader. Of David. A Psalm.
¹ Do not be silent, O God of my praise.
² For wicked and deceitful mouths are opened against me,
   speaking against me with lying tongues.
³ They beset me with words of hate,
   and attack me without cause.
⁴ In return for my love they accuse me,
   even while I make prayer for them.^*
5 So they reward me evil for good,
   and hatred for my love.

⁶ They say,^* ‘Appoint a wicked man against him;
   let an accuser stand on his right.
⁷ When he is tried, let him be found guilty;
   let his prayer be counted as sin.
⁸ May his days be few;
   may another seize his position.
⁹ May his children be orphans,
   and his wife a widow.
¹⁰ May his children wander about and beg;
   may they be driven out of^* the ruins they inhabit.
¹¹ May the creditor seize all that he has;
   may strangers plunder the fruits of his toil.
¹² May there be no one to do him a kindness,
   nor anyone to pity his orphaned children.
¹³ May his posterity be cut off;
   may his name be blotted out in the second generation.
¹⁴ May the iniquity of his father^* be remembered before the Lord,
   and do not let the sin of his mother be blotted out.
¹⁵ Let them be before the Lord continually,
   and may his^* memory be cut off from the earth.
¹⁶ For he did not remember to show kindness,
   but pursued the poor and needy
   and the broken-hearted to their death.
¹⁷ He loved to curse; let curses come on him.
   He did not like blessing; may it be far from him.
¹⁸ He clothed himself with cursing as his coat,
   may it soak into his body like water,
   like oil into his bones.
¹⁹ May it be like a garment that he wraps around himself,
   like a belt that he wears every day.’

²⁰ May that be the reward of my accusers from the Lord,
   of those who speak evil against my life.
²¹ But you, O Lord my Lord,
   act on my behalf for your name’s sake;
   because your steadfast love is good, deliver me.
²² For I am poor and needy,
   and my heart is pierced within me.
²³ I am gone like a shadow at evening;
   I am shaken off like a locust.
²⁴ My knees are weak through fasting;
   my body has become gaunt.
²⁵ I am an object of scorn to my accusers;
   when they see me, they shake their heads.

²⁶ Help me, O Lord my God!
   Save me according to your steadfast love.
²⁷ Let them know that this is your hand;
   you, O Lord, have done it.
²⁸ Let them curse, but you will bless.
   Let my assailants be put to shame;^* may your servant be glad.
²⁹ May my accusers be clothed with dishonour;
   may they be wrapped in their own shame as in a mantle.
³⁰ With my mouth I will give great thanks to the Lord;
   I will praise him in the midst of the throng.
³¹ For he stands at the right hand of the needy,
   to save them from those who would condemn them to death.