The Light of the Gospel
Since God has given them this ministry by mercy, Paul says, they do not lose heart. Instead they renounce hidden shame, refuse deceit and distortion of God's word, and commend themselves by openly setting forth the truth before every conscience in God's sight.
T1herefore, since God in His mercy has given us this ministry, we do not lose heart. 2Instead, we have renounced secret and shameful ways. We do not practice deceit, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by open proclamation of the truth, we commend ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.
If their gospel is veiled, Paul says, it is veiled only to the perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded so they cannot see Christ's glory. The apostles do not preach themselves but Jesus Christ as Lord, and God, who once called light out of darkness, has shone in their hearts to give the knowledge of his glory in Jesus' face.
3And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. 4The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 5For we do not proclaim ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. 6For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made His light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.