2 Corinthians 4:13 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Since we have the same spirit of faith according to what has been written, “I believed, and so I spoke,” we also believe, and so we also speak,

NIV: It is written: 'I believed; therefore I have spoken.' Since we have that same spirit of faith, we also believe and therefore speak,

NASB: But having the same spirit of faith, according to what is written: 'I BELIEVED, THEREFORE I SPOKE,' we also believe, therefore we also speak,

CSB: And since we have the same spirit of faith in keeping with what is written, I believed, therefore I spoke, we also believe, and therefore speak.

NLT: But we continue to preach because we have the same kind of faith the psalmist had when he said, 'I believed in God, so I spoke.'

KJV: We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak;

NKJV: And since we have the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, “I believed and therefore I spoke,” we also believe and therefore speak,

Paul has just described how deeply he and his friends have suffered as messengers of the gospel. This proclamation is the good news that all who trust in Christ for the forgiveness of their sin can be included in God's glory forever. He has also made clear that, by God's power, they have endured this suffering without being finally or fully defeated. God's choice to use fragile, limited people to proclaim a powerful message is part of His glory.

Now Paul quotes from Psalm 116. This connects the psalmist's declaration of faith that God has delivered his soul from death. Specifically, Paul quotes from Psalm 116:10, saying "I believed, and so I spoke." He and his co-workers for the gospel of Jesus also believe and also continue to speak of their faith in Christ in spite of their suffering. In the following verse, Paul points to his own future resurrection from the dead as the motivation behind his faith and ongoing proclamation of the gospel.

Second Corinthians 4:7–18 explains that the priceless treasure of knowing God's glory through faith in Christ is kept in the fragile containers of human beings. In this case, this refers to Paul and his co-workers who preach the gospel. Their suffering is enormous, but God keeps them from being wiped out. They don't quit because even after they die, they know they will be resurrected, as Christ was. Then they will spend eternity with Him in a glory that will far outweigh and outlast the comparatively lightweight and momentary suffering of this life.

Paul insists that he and his co-workers for Christ would never act in a way that is disgraceful or dishonest, though he knows some are blinded by Satan from believing their message about Jesus. They cannot see the light of knowing Christ as God. That knowledge is a priceless treasure stored in the fragile containers of Paul and his friends. No matter how difficult their suffering in this work, Paul refuses to quit. He is confident that he will be resurrected after his death and then all his pain on this side of eternity won't even be worth comparing with the glory there.

Second Corinthians 4 follows Paul's teaching in the previous chapter about the transformation that happens for those who see God's glory in Christ. Some are blinded to it by sin and by the god of this world. Paul knows that he and his co-workers are fragile containers for the priceless message of God's grace through faith in Jesus. They won't quit, though, because God sustains them and will eventually resurrect them. Once in eternity, all the suffering in this life won't be worth comparing with sharing God's glory forever. Chapter 5 expands on the idea that believers in Christ look forward to something much better than this life.

Second Corinthians returns to similar themes as those Paul mentioned in his first letter to this church. Paul is glad to hear that the church in Corinth has heeded his advice. At the same time, it is necessary for Paul to counter criticisms about his personality and legitimacy. Most of this text involves that subject. The fifth chapter, in contrast, contains comforting words which Christians have quoted often in times of hardship. Paul also details his expectations that the church in Corinth will make good on their promise to contribute to the needs of suffering believers in Jerusalem.

Accessed 4/29/2024 4:08:20 AM