Treasure in Clay Jars
1 God has been kind enough to trust us with this work. This is why we never give up. 2 We don't do shameful things that must be kept secret. And we don't try to fool anyone or twist God's message around. God is our witness that we speak only the truth, so others will be sure we can be trusted. 3 If there is anything hidden about our message, it is hidden only to someone who is lost.
4 The god who rules this world has blinded the minds of unbelievers. They cannot see the light, which is the good news about our glorious Christ, who shows what God is like. 5 We are not preaching about ourselves. Our message is that Jesus Christ is Lord. He also sent us to be your servants. 6 The Scriptures say, “God commanded light to shine in the dark.” Now God is shining in our hearts to let you know that his glory is seen in Jesus Christ.
7 We are like clay jars in which this treasure is stored. The real power comes from God and not from us. 8 We often suffer, but we are never crushed. Even when we don't know what to do, we never give up. 9 In times of trouble, God is with us, and when we are knocked down, we get up again. 10-11 We face death every day because of Jesus. Our bodies show what his death was like, so his life can also be seen in us. 12 This means that death is working in us, but life is working in you.
13 In the Scriptures it says, “I spoke because I had faith.” We have this same kind of faith. So we speak 14 because we know that God raised the Lord Jesus to life. And just as God raised Jesus, he will also raise us to life. Then he will bring us into his presence together with you. 15 All of this has been done for you, so more and more people will know how kind God is and will praise and honor him.
Faith in the Lord
16 We never give up. Our bodies are gradually dying, but we ourselves are being made stronger each day. 17 These little troubles are getting us ready for an eternal glory that will make all our troubles seem like nothing. 18 Things that are seen don't last forever, but things that are not seen are eternal. This is why we keep our minds on the things that cannot be seen.
1 Tādēļ, šinī amatā stāvēdami, kas mums uzticēts no žēlastības, mēs nepiekustam,
2 Bet mēs, atraisījušies no slepenām kauna lietām, nedzīvojam viltībā, nedz viltojam Dieva vārdu, bet pauzdami patiesību, nostājamies nevainojami katra cilvēka sirdsapziņai Dieva priekšā.
3 Ja mūsu evaņģēlijs ir aizsegts, tad tas ir aizsegts tiem, kas pazūd,
4 Kuriem šās pasaules dievs ir apstulbojis neticīgās sirdis, ka tiem nespīd Kristus godības evaņģēlija gaišums, kas ir Dieva attēls.
5 Jo mēs nesludinām paši sevi, bet Kristu Jēzu, to Kungu, mēs paši esam jūsu kalpi, Jēzus sūtīti.
6 Jo Dievs, kas ir sacījis, lai gaisma aust no tumsības, tas ir atspīdējis mūsu sirdīs, lai dotu Dieva godības atziņas gaismu Kristus vaigā.
7 Bet mēs glabājam šo mantu māla traukos, iai spēka pārpilnība būtu no Dieva, un ne no mums.
8 Mēs visur topam spaidīti, bet tomēr neesam nomākti; esam bez padoma, un tomēr neesam izmisuši.
9 Mēs topam vajāti, tomēr neesam atstāti; esam satriekti, tomēr neesam pazuduši.
10 Mēs visur nesam Jēzus nāves zīmi savās miesās, lai arī Jēzus dzīvība parādītos mūsu miesā.
11 Jo, kamēr dzīvojam, vienmēr topam nodoti nāvē Jēzus dēļ, lai ari Jēzus dzīvība parādītos mūsu mirstīgajā miesā.
12 Tā tad nāve darbojas mūsos, bet dzīvība jūsos.
13 Bet mums ir tas pats ticības gars, kā ir rakstīts: „Es ticēju, tāpēc es runāju,“ arī mēs ticam, tāpēc mēs arī runājam,
14 Zinādami, ka tas, kas uzmodinājis Kungu Jēzu, uzmodinās arī mūs ar Jēzu un nostatīs savā priekšā kopā ar jums.
15 Jo viss tas notiek jūsu dēļ, lai žēlastība, vairodamās, pieaugot ticīgo skaitam, vairotu arī pateicību Dievam par godu.
16 Tāpēc mēs nepiekūstam, bet, lai gan mūsu ārīgais cilvēks sadilst, mūsu iekšķīgais dien’ no dienas atjaunojas.
17 Jo tagadējās grūtības, kas ir vieglas, dod mums neizsakāmi lielu mūžīgu godību,
18 Ja mēs neņemam vērā to, kas ir redzams, bet to, kas nav redzams. Jo redzamais ir laicīgs, bet neredzamais mūžīgs.
