Lesson 7 – 2 Corinthians Chapter 4:2-9
We ended last time at the beginning of chapter 4, reflecting on the superiority of the new covenant over the old covenant; both were given by God for His plans and purposes. The new covenant built off the old, resulting in a perfect covenant, sealed through the blood of Christ.
In the new covenant, God’s grace and mercy can be found for everyone who claims Jesus to be their Lord and Savior. God sovereignly chooses and irresistibly draws people to Himself, through the Spirit’s conviction, which requires a willing human response from the heart.
In verse 1, Paul mentions that he has a ministry because of God’s mercy. This is something all Christians can lay hold of, every bond-servant of Jesus Christ has a ministry. The problem is, too many of us think ministry is just for pastors, teachers, and leaders. This is a false premise, because every believer within the body of Christ has their own important function to perform, making the body whole.
Eph. 4:7:
“But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift.”
As we’ve talked about in the past, all believers have been given a spiritual gift, and are duty-bound to discover and exercise their gift. The false premise that ministry is only for the “professionals” has sidelined many believers who are meant to be active participants in God’s mission. Paul took this seriously and so should we.
Just imagine if Paul received his salvation and left it at that, as so many Christians do. But Paul grew in Christ, and devoted his life to Christ… then he adds, “we do not lose heart.”
Like Paul, we’ve been entrusted with a calling. God uses every one of us, and yes, it can get hard at times, but remember, we don’t carry this burden alone. The same Spirit who strengthened Paul lives in us, and the same mercy that held him up, now holds us up.
2 Cor. 4:2:
“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.”
Renounced… it simply means “to give up.” What should we give up? We need to give up our past as Paul did.
The moment Paul had his eyes opened and he saw the glory of Jesus, he renounced his former hidden life of shame. We all have a “past” before we gave our life to Christ, some are more dramatic than others, but we all have something that we need to let go.
Whether our past was outwardly disgraceful or quietly self-righteous, coming to Christ means turning from it… not just in our behavior, but the very core of who we are in Christ.
Paul hated who he was and the sins he had committed, he cries out to God in Romans 7:24:
“O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?”
The answer is found in verse 25:
“Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. So you see how it is: In my mind I really want to obey God’s law, but because of my sinful nature I am a slave to sin.” (NLT)
The beauty is that God doesn’t just forgive our past, He redeems it, often using the very areas of our brokenness as platforms for ministry. Paul’s former zeal against the church became a zeal to spread the gospel.
Not walking in craftiness nor handling the word of God deceitfully…
This is how the false teachers were behaving, and not Paul.
Walking in craftiness… (pan-oor-gee’-ah) it means “cunning” and has to do with “trickeration” (yes, it’s football season).
Within the text, it’s about someone who is unscrupulous, and perhaps having the heart of a sociopath, where they could care less about hurting others.
This was the profile that described the false teachers, and ironically, they would accuse Paul of what they were guilty of. We can see that unscrupulous people haven’t changed through the centuries.
John MacArthur, “It was in part because of his plain, clear approach to the ministry that the false teachers attacked Paul. They preferred a subtler, more veiled approach, one more appealing, palatable, and less offensive to unbelievers.”
God help the people handling the word of God deceitfully, there will be a heavy price to pay.
Gal. 1:8-9:
“But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed.”
The “heavy price” one will pay isn’t just loss of credibility, it’s standing before the Judge who entrusts His Word to us.
The misuse of God’s Word for personal gain, or to twist it through manipulation is spiritual fraud, and God takes it seriously.
But by manifestation of the truth…
To paraphrase Paul; “We tell the truth before God, and all who are honest know this.”
1 Tim. 4:6 (NLT):
“If you explain these things to the brothers and sisters, Timothy, you will be a worthy servant of Christ Jesus, one who is nourished by the message of faith and the good teaching you have followed.”
By studying the Word of God, you are exposed to God’s truth. This gives the believer an advantage to be able to discern the truth over any false teaching.
When you know the truth intimately, falsehood becomes obvious, not because you’ve studied every possible lie, but because you’ve spent so much time with the real thing, thus you will know a counterfeit when you see it.
John 16:13:
“However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.”
When we make the effort, the Holy Spirit will teach us and guide us.
Commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God…
When Paul says, they were commending themselves to every man’s conscience, it means “to bring or to band together,” in other words, there was a oneness that came about through the truth.
Romans 1:20:
“For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse,”
Everyone, even if they’ve never heard about Jesus, has a built‑in sense of right and wrong from God. When they hear the gospel, it stirs their conscience, confirming deep inside that the message is true… even if they choose not to accept it.
When the message of Christ is preached, the Spirit works to “convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment” (John 16:8). This is why the gospel resonates deep inside, even for those who resist it. The false teachers may have been trying to sway the Corinthians down the wrong path, but the Word of God’s truth always prevails.
In the sight of God…
Paul knew that everything he said and did was laid bare before God… God sees all and knows all.
Hebrews 4:13:
“And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.”
This same reality applies to us; God’s omniscience is both a warning and a comfort for us. It warns us against falling into hypocrisy, but it also comforts us that He sees our faithfulness, even when others don’t.
Eph. 4:21-23 (NLT):
“Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from Him, throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes.”
God sees everything about us, but the thing that matters most is He sees the intention of our heart.
When we read about letting the Spirit renew our thoughts and attitudes, and we cry out to God and say, “Yes Lord, that’s what I want, I want my mind and heart transformed to be more Christlike” …it is in the sight of God.
1 Samuel 16:7:
“The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
God isn’t just looking at our outward actions, but at the posture of our heart. Even if we stumble along the way, God sees the longing for Christlikeness and delights in it.
2 Cor. 4:3:
“But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing,”
(NLT) “If the Good News we preach is hidden behind a veil, it is hidden only from people who are perishing.”
Just because people reject God’s “free gift of salvation” doesn’t invalidate the truth of God’s Word. The gospel’s truth is not diminished by human rejection; it remains the unchanging Word of God.
There are some believers who have a hard time sharing the gospel with someone because they’re afraid of people turning them down. This is no reflection on the person speaking God’s truth, because when they say no to the gospel, they’re saying no to God, not the person delivering the message. Our job is to be faithful messengers, not to control the outcome.
Luke 10:16 (NIV):
“Whoever listens to you listens to Me; whoever rejects you rejects Me; but whoever rejects Me rejects Him who sent Me.”
When fear of rejection creeps in, it helps to remember:
• You’re not alone — God promises to be with you as you speak (Matthew 28:20).
• You’re planting seeds — Some may sprout later, long after your conversation.
• You’re in good company — The prophets, apostles, and even Jesus Himself faced rejection.
The pressure is off you to “close the deal” when it comes to the gospel. Your calling is to speak truth in love, then trusting the Holy Spirit to work in hearts in His timing.
It is veiled to those who are perishing…
Paul is describing those who are fallen, the ones dead in their sins, and spiritually blinded… there’s a veil over their heart.
John 3:18-19:
“He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.”
We should remember to pray for those with veil covered hearts.
2 Cor. 4:4:
“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.”
Who is the god of this world? That would be satan, and satan just loves it when fallen souls are attracted to his depraved world. This title doesn’t mean satan is equal to God; far from it, but it does point to his temporary, limited influence over the fallen systems of this world.
Satan’s influence shows up in worldly ideologies that oppose God’s truth, and in cultural decay that normalizes sin, resulting in a spiritual blindness that keeps people from recognizing Christ.
For those who belong to Christ, they need to make Scripture their primary input. Read, meditate, and memorize verses so truth is always ready to counter satan’s lies. Also, replace worldly noise with worship, sermons, and Christ-centered conversations with believing friends.
Lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them…
Satan will do anything he can to diminish the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ. Satan’s strategy is deliberate and multi-layered, and he has been working his schemes since man’s fall in the garden.
He will try blinding minds, keeping people spiritually unaware so they can’t recognize truth. His objective is distorting truth, twisting God’s Word, or replacing it with half-truths and lies that people will believe. Satan is in the business of distracting hearts, filling lives with noise, busyness, and worldly desires so there’s no room for the gospel. However, his main focus is devaluing Christ, making Jesus seem irrelevant, optional, or less than who He truly is. (i.e. Jesus was a good teacher and a prophet).
One of the most famous lines from “The Screwtape Letters” that captures Wormwood’s (via his uncle Screwtape’s) strategy of getting believers to delay obedience is: “Indeed the safest road to Hell is the gradual one… the gentle slope, soft underfoot, without sudden turnings, without milestones, without signposts…”
In context, Screwtape is coaching Wormwood to encourage the “patient” to enjoy the idea of doing good, thinking about prayer, service, and repentance without ever actually doing it. Over time, this habit of inaction dulls both will and desire, leaving the person spiritually stagnant.
When you think about it, unbelievers and immature believers are puddy in satan’s hands. The antidote, of course, is allowing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ to come in, exercising deliberate growth in our faith by developing deep roots, tested convictions, and spiritual habits that make it harder for satan to get his hooks into us.
At the end of verse 4 it says, “should shine on them,” and this is speaking about people being exposed to the light of the gospel. The good news of the gospel is for everyone; it is the reason God demonstrated His love for us, by having His only begotten Son suffer and die for our sins.
Paul is painting a vivid contrast between spiritual blindness and the illuminating power of the gospel. The phrase “should shine on them” points to God’s desire for the light of Christ to break through the darkness that satan has used to blind unbelievers’ minds.
When the gospel “shines,” it exposes sin, it reveals truth, and invites transformation.
2 Cor. 4:5:
“For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus’ sake.”
In other words, Paul is saying, “We’re not preaching programs, principles, or any kind of procedures. We’re not signing you up for twelve steps, or fifteen ideas on how to make your life better. We’re just preaching Jesus, and only Jesus.”
For we do not preach ourselves… Paul is stating what should be obvious to the Corinthians. Paul was the complete opposite of the false teachers. The false teachers were the ones who were into self-promotion, power, and prestige.
Phil. 1:15-18 (NIV):
“It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. The latter do so out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains. But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice,”
While the false teachers sought recognition, influence, and personal gain, Paul’s ministry was centered on Christ alone.
Bible commentary states, “The heart of new covenant preaching is communicating the truth about Jesus Christ, since “faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ” (Rom. 10;17). True preaching about Christ includes the truth that He is both Savior and Lord.”
Last in this verse Paul declares that they are your bondservants for Jesus’ sake. He points this out in many of his letters. This is a true sign of humility on Paul’s part, and if you dig in just a little bit on the word bondservant (doulos), you’ll find it means to be a slave, which in the first‑century world meant far more than just a “helper” or “assistant.”
Paul was a slave to Jesus, and a slave to all in his ministry. In Paul’s mind, this wasn’t a degrading label by any means, it was a badge of honor. To be Christ’s slave was to be truly free from sin’s bondage, and to serve others in love was the natural overflow of that freedom.
Gal. 5:13 (NLT):
“For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love.”
What is our take-away from this? The first thing would be to see yourself as owned by Christ. Just as slaves belonged entirely to their master, we belong to Jesus… our time, talents, resources, and decisions are all His. Then serve people as an act of serving Jesus. Paul didn’t just serve Christ in isolation; he served people for Christ’s sake.
Today, that could mean putting others’ needs ahead of your own comfort, which isn’t always easy. Other ways could be mentoring a younger believer, caring for someone in crisis, or quietly meeting a need without recognition, where only the Father sees what you’re doing.
A life lived well is a life lived for Jesus’ sake!
2 Cor. 4:6:
“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.”
(NLT) “For God, who said, ‘Let there be light in the darkness,’ has made this light shine in our hearts so we could know the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ.”
The very same God who spoke the world, creation, and light into existence, put His light of hope and salvation in our hearts.
Paul is deliberately linking Genesis 1 to when God spoke physical light into existence, with the miracle of spiritual light in the believer’s heart. Just as creation began with God’s word piercing the darkness, new life in Christ begins when His truth pierces the darkness of our hearts. The same power that created the universe is at work in you, bringing us hope, peace, and new life through Christ.
The light Paul is talking about isn’t meant to be hidden… it’s meant to reflect God’s glory to a darkened world.
Matthew 5:14–16:
“You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”
Remember that our salvation isn’t just being saved from the slavery of sin, it’s the gift of God’s own light and presence within us. God Himself shines His sovereign light into the darkness of sinful hearts, and through the gospel, He opens our eyes to see Jesus for who He really is.
Romans 10:13-15:
“For ‘whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.’ How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, who bring glad tidings of good things!’”
Paul was a preacher… we can all be a preacher.
When God’s sovereign light breaks into the midnight of the soul through the song of the gospel, the true face of Christ is unveiled.
2 Cor. 4:7:
“But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.”
Paul’s use of the word “but” signals a shift. In verse 6, he’s been describing the limitless glory of the eternal God revealed in Christ, but now he’s about to contrast that with something very different.
The word treasure means “the place in which good and precious things are collected and laid up,” but in this context, it describes the glorious gospel message. Something infinitely valuable, not because of the vessel that holds it, but because of its divine origin and power.
Col. 2:2-3 (NLT):
“I want them to be encouraged and knit together by strong ties of love. I want them to have complete confidence that they understand God’s mysterious plan, which is Christ himself. In him lie hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.”
The gospel is the greatest revelation the world has ever received, and it unleashes eternal power that changes lives forever… it is a treasure beyond belief. It is the gospel that transforms souls into the image of Christ.
Eph. 4:22-24:
“That you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.”
When we receive the treasure, we take off the old ways and put on the new man.
We have this treasure in earthen vessels…
The priceless treasure of the gospel is carried in ordinary earthen vessels… so all the glory goes to God.
Earthen vessels, or we could say, “jars of clay” …these phrases refer to mankind. As earthen vessels, we’re on the bottom of the shelf… cheap, breakable, easily replaced. It’s good that Paul uses this phraseology because it puts us in our place, so we don’t think too highly of ourselves.
By likening believers to these fragile vessels, Paul is making two powerful points:
• It humbles us… We’re not the source of the gospel’s power; we’re simply the carriers. This keeps us from pride and self‑exaltation.
• It magnifies God… The contrast between the priceless treasure (the gospel) and the weakness of the vessel (us) makes it clear that the “all‑surpassing power” is from God, not from us.
That the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us…
In other words, our frailty isn’t a flaw in God’s plan, it’s part of His design. The more obvious our weakness is seen, the more clearly His power shines through us… and what a privilege that is. We are fragile jars of clay holding an eternal treasure, so the glory is God’s, not ours.
There are too many prideful preachers who try to steal God’s glory and take credit for themselves. When preachers grasp for God’s glory, they step onto dangerous ground… for the power is His, the praise is His, and the credit is God’s alone!
Paul and Barnabas, by contrast, had the opposite reaction in Acts 14:8‑15. When the people of Lystra tried to worship them after a miracle, they tore their clothes in grief and cried out, “We are only human like you… turn to the living God!” Paul and Barnabas were clay pots, they refused to let the spotlight stay on them… all glory goes to God.
1 Chronicles 29:11:
“Yours, O Lord, is the greatness, the power and the glory, the victory and the majesty; for all that is in heaven and in earth is Yours; Yours is the kingdom, O Lord, and You are exalted as head over all.”
In our next few verses, Paul will reveal a fraction of what he and his fellow servants went through doing God’s work.
It seems there’s always a price to pay when serving God, but it never goes unnoticed or unrewarded. Paul pulls back the curtain just enough for us to see the cost of carrying the gospel. There are three sections in 2 Corinthians where Paul does this.
2 Cor. 4:8-9:
“We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed.”
2 Cor. 1:5 [a reminder from chapter1]:
“For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ.”
In verse 8 and 9 we see hardship and optimism. You can knock Paul down, but he will always get right back up. He doesn’t sugarcoat the reality of ministry: hard‑pressed… perplexed… persecuted… struck down. These are the bruises and battle scars of a life spent carrying the gospel, but every blow is met with a “yet” or a “but.” Paul’s speaking the language of hope: not crushed… not in despair… not forsaken… not destroyed.
I think if Paul were a young man today, he would make a perfect college running back in football. Paul as a relentless, never‑quit running back, lowering his shoulder and plowing through defenders. It actually fits his personality and ministry style perfectly.
Think about what he’s expressing:
Hard‑pressed but not crushed… he takes the hit but keeps moving forward.
Persecuted but not in despair… even when the crowd is against him, his Coach is still on the sidelines.
Struck down but not destroyed… he might get knocked to the turf, but he’s right back on his feet for the next play.
Paul keeps his eye on the goal… like a running back who refuses to be distracted, Paul kept pressing toward “the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:14).
It’s a great modern‑day metaphor for resilience in the Christian race; we’re not running for yardage, but like Paul we’re running for an eternal crown.
We will continue with this champion next week!