2 Corinthians 4

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).

4:2 Paul’s ministry was marked by honesty, unlike some other preachers (2:17).

4:3-4 The Good News divides people into two categories: those who remain in darkness and those who are enlightened by God (see Acts 26:18, cp. John 3:19-21). 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; 1 Pet 2:9). The god of this world fights against the change that the Good News brings to people’s hearts and minds.

4:5 We preach that Jesus Christ is Lord: See also Rom 10:9-10; 1 Cor 12:3; Col 2:6.

4:7 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).

4:11 Believers often share the humiliation of the Lord with confidence that they will also share in his triumphant risen life (4:14).

4:12 Through his life of danger and exposure to mortal peril (see 1 Cor 15:30), Paul was reinforcing the faith of the Christians in the churches that he founded (cp. Col 1:24; 2 Tim 2:10).

4:13-14 The secret of Paul’s resilience was in the same kind of faith the psalmist had, (see Ps 116:10), which is centered in the living Lord.

4:16-17 we never give up: This call to endurance is given with a reminder of what is in store in the future (5:1-10). 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). Yet he was being renewed every day—his spirit’s life was being rejuvenated and revitalized by the power of God.

4:18 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.