(Tap footnote to read it. Old Testament quotations are underlined. "Love" with a caret ("^love") is agapé.1"agapé" The Greek words ἀγάπη (agapé, noun), and ἀγαπάω (agapaó; verb) are typically translated "love". However, unlike our English word "love" – which primarily speaks of affection and feelings – agapé centers on choice and behavior. It’s the "love" based on will, choice, behavior, and action; not feelings. (Feelings-based love is the Greek word φιλέω (phileó), which properly means "brotherly love/affection".) Thus, you could hate someone passionately and still treat him with "agapé". Agapé "love" is best understood as the pursuit of what is most beneficial to someone or something, regardless of the cost to yourself or the type of response received from the person or thing. It can also indicate a preference for someone or something over other things. )
Cost and Reward of the Gospel
- Because of this, we don’t lose heart (just as we received mercy in having this ministry).
- But we renounced the hidden things of shame; not walking in craftiness nor deceitfully corrupting1“deceitfully corrupting” is one word in Greek. It properly refers to using deceptive bait to ensnare, like concealing a fishhook with a worm, and the resulting corruption that results from being ensnared. the word of God, but by the manifestation of the truth are commending ourselves to every conscience of men in the sight of God.
- But even if our gospel is *veiled, it’s *veiled to the men perishing,
- in whom the god of this age blinded the minds of the unbelieving so they won’t clearly see the light of the gospel of the glory of the Anointed, who is the image of God.
- For we don’t preach about ourselves, but about the Anointed Lord Jesus. But we ourselves are your slaves for the sake of Jesus.
- For God is the One who said, “Out of darkness, light will shine”, who shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of God’s glory in the face of Jesus the Anointed.
- And we have this treasure in earthen vessels so the surpassing power is God’s and not from us.
- We’re being hard-pressed in everything, but not being crushed; being perplexed, but not despairing;
- Being persecuted, but not being abandoned; being struck down, but not being destroyed;
- Always carrying the death of Jesus in our body, so the life of Jesus might also be apparent in our body.
- For we – the men living – are continually delivered to death for Jesus’ sake, so the life of Jesus might also be apparent in our mortal flesh.
- So then death works in us, but life in you.
- But having the same spirit of faith according to what is *written, “I believed, therefore I spoke“2quotation/allusion to Psalm 116:10 we also believe, therefore we also speak,
- *knowing that the One who raised the Lord Jesus will also raise us with Jesus and will present us with you.
- For all things are for your sake, so the grace which overflowed through more men might result in thanksgiving which overflows to the glory of God.
- Therefore, we don’t lose heart. And also, if our outward man decays, yet our inner man is renewed day by day.
- For our momentary, light persecution is producing for us the weight of the glory of ages, which is abundantly beyond measure.
- We aren’t keeping our eyes on the things seen, but on the things not seen. For the things being seen only last for a season; but the things not seen last for ages.
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