Spiritual Treasure in Clay Pots
1 God in his mercy has given us this work to do, and so we do not become discouraged. 2 We put aside all secret and shameful deeds; we do not act with deceit, nor do we falsify the word of God. In the full light of truth we live in God's sight and try to commend ourselves to everyone's good conscience. 3 For if the gospel we preach is hidden, it is hidden only from those who are being lost. 4 They do not believe, because their minds have been kept in the dark by the evil god of this world. He keeps them from seeing the light shining on them, the light that comes from the Good News about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God. 5 For it is not ourselves that we preach; we preach Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake. 6 The God who said, “Out of darkness the light shall shine!” is the same God who made his light shine in our hearts, to bring us the knowledge of God's glory shining in the face of Christ.
7 Yet we who have this spiritual treasure are like common clay pots, in order to show that the supreme power belongs to God, not to us. 8 We are often troubled, but not crushed; sometimes in doubt, but never in despair; 9 there are many enemies, but we are never without a friend; and though badly hurt at times, we are not destroyed. 10 At all times we carry in our mortal bodies the death of Jesus, so that his life also may be seen in our bodies. 11 Throughout our lives we are always in danger of death for Jesus' sake, in order that his life may be seen in this mortal body of ours. 12 This means that death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.
13 The scripture says, “I spoke because I believed.” In the same spirit of faith we also speak because we believe. 14 We know that God, who raised the Lord Jesus to life, will also raise us up with Jesus and take us, together with you, into his presence. 15 All this is for your sake; and as God's grace reaches more and more people, they will offer to the glory of God more prayers of thanksgiving.
Living by Faith
16 For this reason we never become discouraged. Even though our physical being is gradually decaying, yet our spiritual being is renewed day after day. 17 And this small and temporary trouble we suffer will bring us a tremendous and eternal glory, much greater than the trouble. 18 For we fix our attention, not on things that are seen, but on things that are unseen. What can be seen lasts only for a time, but what cannot be seen lasts forever.
1 Tādēļ, šinī kalpošanā būdami, kas mums uzticēta no žēlastības, mēs nepiekūstam, 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 šīs pasaules dievs ir apstulbojis neticīgo sirdi, 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, ir atspīdējis mūsu sirdīs, lai dotu Dieva godības atziņas gaismu Kristus vaigā. 7 Bet mēs glabājam šo mantu māla traukos, lai spēka pārpilnība būtu no Dieva un ne no mums. 8 Mēs visur topam spaidīti, bet tomēr neesam nomākti; esam bez padoma, bet tomēr neesam izmisuši. 9 Mēs topam vajāti, tomēr neesam atstāti; esam satriekti, tomēr neesam pazuduši. 10 Mēs visur nesam Jēzus miršanu savā miesā, lai arī Jēzus dzīvība parādītos mūsu miesā. 11 Jo, kamēr dzīvojam, vienmēr topam nodoti nāvē Jēzus dēļ, lai arī Jēzus dzīvība parādītos mūsu mirstīgajā miesā. 12 Tātad 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 iekšējais dienu 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.
