Dārgumi māla traukos
1 Tādēļ mēs, kam šī kalpošana ir dota Dieva žēlastībā, nezaudējam drosmi. 2 Mēs esam atteikušies no slepeniem kauna darbiem, rīkojamies bez viltus, nesagrozām Dieva vārdu, bet parādām sevi atklātā patiesībā ikviena cilvēka sirdsapziņai Dieva priekšā. 3 Ja arī mūsu evaņģēlijs ir apslēpts, tad tiem, kas iet pazušanā, 4 kuriem šā laikmeta dievs ir darījis aklu neticīgo prātu, ka viņi nespēj saskatīt Dieva attēla – Kristus godības evaņģēlija – spožumu. 5 Ne jau sevi mēs sludinām, bet Kungu Jēzu Kristu, un mēs esam jūsu kalpi Jēzus dēļ. 6 Jo Dievs, kas sacījis: no tumsas atspīdēs gaisma, – ir iespīdējis mūsu sirdīs, lai apgaismotu Dieva godības atzīšanu Jēzus Kristus vaigā. 7 Šis dārgums mūsos ir kā trauslos māla traukos, lai būtu redzams, ka spēka pārpilnība pieder Dievam, nevis nāk no mums pašiem: 8 mēs visādi tiekam spaidīti, bet neesam salauzti; mēs esam neziņā, bet neesam izmisuši; 9 mēs tiekam vajāti, bet neesam pamesti; mūs notriec pie zemes, bet mūs nevar pazudināt. 10 Mēs nesam savā miesā Jēzus nāvi, lai arī Jēzus dzīvība atspīdētu mūsu miesā. 11 Mēs, kamēr vien dzīvojam, pastāvīgi tiekam nodoti nāvē Jēzus dēļ, lai arī Jēzus dzīvība atspīdētu mūsu mirstīgajā miesā. 12 Tādējādi nāve darbojas mūsos, bet dzīvība – jūsos. 13 Ir rakstīts: es ticu, tādēļ es runāju. – Tādā pašā ticības garā arī mēs ticam, tādēļ arī runājam, 14 zinādami, ka viņš, kas uzmodinājis Kungu Jēzu, augšāmcels arī mūs līdz ar Jēzu un nostatīs savā priekšā līdz ar jums. 15 Tas viss ir jūsu dēļ, lai žēlastība, kas aug plašumā, sasniegdama daudzus, vairotu lielāku pateicību Dieva godībai. 16 Tādēļ mēs nezaudējam cerību; kaut arī ārējais cilvēks mūsos iznīkst, iekšējais – atjaunojas no dienas dienā. 17 Šābrīža ciešanas, kas ir vieglas, mums sagādā pārpārēm lielu godības smagumu mūžībā, 18 jo mūsu skatiens nav pievērsts redzamajam, bet neredzamajam; redzamais ir tikai uz brīdi, bet neredzamais – mūžīgs.
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.
