Глава IV

The Apostle's remark about his activities (1–6). The greatness of the Apostle's ministry and his disastrous external situation (7-12). Reconciling this contradiction (13–18). 2 Cor.4:1–6. His enemies said about the Apostle Paul that he was a cowardly man, that he could act only by cunning, that he distorted the Word of God, that he did not complete his explanations about the essence of his Gospel. In a word, the Apostle was considered some kind of dreamer who preached not the true Gospel, but what was imagined in his imagination. All these accusations by Ap. he indignantly refutes and says that, on the contrary, his opponents - the Judaizers - are blinded by the prince of this age to the point that they do not see the truth at all. 2Cor.4:1. Therefore, having such a ministry by the grace of God, we do not lose heart; “Having... such a ministry,” that is, helping Christians achieve freedom and glorification, about which Ap. said in 17-18 v. III chapter. – “Let us not be discouraged,” that is, we do not lose heart when we encounter various difficulties along the way. 2Cor.4:2. but having rejected hidden, shameful deeds, without resorting to cunning or distorting the word of God, but by revealing the truth, we present ourselves to the conscience of every person before God. By distortion of the word of God, the Judaizing opponents of the Apostle understood the incorrect, in their opinion, interpretation of the Old Testament and, mainly, the Law of Moses. 2 Cor.4:3. But if our gospel is hid, it is hid to those who are perishing, Paul's opponents said that he deliberately did not reveal the consequences to which his Gospel leads, namely, he did not indicate that his teaching allegedly encourages all moral laxity. Ap. To this he replies that only people who have already taken the direct path leading to destruction can bring such accusations against him. 2 Cor.4:4. for the unbelievers, whose minds the god of this age has blinded, so that the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of the invisible God, should not shine for them. “The God of this age”, i.e. Satan (cf. John 8:44, 12:31, 14:30). - “So that it does not shine for them,” that is, so that they are not able to call on and assimilate the bright truth of the Gospel. - “About the glory of Christ” - about the greatness of Christ who ascended into heaven (cf. 2 Cor. 3:18), which the preachers of the Gospel spoke about. - “Which is the image of the invisible God.” Christ in the state of His glorification is fully in the image of God and in equal standing with God (Phil. 2:6). Therefore He, in His glorified body, is the visible image of the invisible God (cf. Col. 1:15; Heb. 1:3). Although in the state of His humiliation He also had divine glory, as the bearer of divine “grace and truth” (John 1:14) and made it known in His miracles (John 2:11), however, the manifestation of this glory was limited to the state of humiliation in which Christ was before His resurrection. 2 Cor.4:5. For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and we are your servants for Jesus, Opponents of Ap. pointed out that he did not know the Lord Jesus Christ and therefore his preaching about Christ did not correspond to reality. They wanted to say by this that he was striving to elevate himself. To this Ap. objects that he does not want to exalt himself, but only the Lord Jesus Christ. There is nothing selfish in his preaching - he is far from any self-aggrandizement. On the contrary, he is a slave of believers for Christ's sake, to do His will. 2 Cor.4:6. because God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. In fact, who called the Apostle to preach? Almighty God Himself, the Creator of the primordial light, also sent new light to the Apostle. Here Ap. obviously makes an allusion to the vision he had during his calling on the road to Damascus (cf. Gal 1:15) and contrasts himself with his Judaizing opponents. Those are under the influence of Satan (v. 4), he is under the influence of God: those are in blindness, but he clearly sees everything in the light of Christ. – “The glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ” – more correctly: on (εν) the face of Jesus Christ. The Apostle, therefore, asserts here that God gave him to know or see the face of Christ, illuminated with Divine glory. That is why he called Christ (v. 4) the image of the invisible God. Christ appeared to him in glory, in a glorified state, and in this case appeared as the true image of God. 2 Corinthians 4:7–12. After depicting his apostolic greatness, Paul begins to talk about the sharp contradiction with this greatness of the outward humiliated position of the Apostle, and first of all he talks about the purpose for which God allowed this in relation to His faithful servant. 2 Cor.4:7. But we carry this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the superabundant power may be attributed to God, and not to us. “This treasure”, that is, inner greatness. - “We”, i.e. Ap. Paul. - “In clay vessels,” that is, in a body that, in appearance, was weak and fragile. And the whole appearance of Ap. Paul was not distinguished by his representativeness (cf. 2 Cor. 12:7 et seq.; Gal. 6:14). - “So that exceeding strength” - that is, that tireless energy with which Paul carried out his ministry. - “It was attributed to God, not to us.” The whole world needs to know that this spiritual energy comes from God and not from Paul. 2 Cor.4:8. We are oppressed on every side, but not constrained; we are in desperate circumstances, but we do not despair; 2 Cor.4:9. we are persecuted, but not abandoned; we are cast down, but we do not perish. But since this power that Paul possesses is from God, it can never be suppressed by any persecution. 2 Cor.4:10. We always carry in our body the death of the Lord Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. Ap. says in another place that Christ dwells in him - spiritually (Gal. 2:20). Here he claims that in his body he bears the suffering and death of Christ, as if he continues them: to such an extent Ap. imbued with a feeling of unity with Christ! – On the other hand, the “life of Jesus” is also manifested in the Apostle, that is, the power that Christ possesses in the state of His glorification. This power is reflected in the exploits that the Apostle performed during his apostolic ministry. 2 Cor.4:11. For we who are alive are continually being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our mortal flesh, Ap. repeats the thought of verse 10, clarifying its first half and strengthening the second. The strengthening is that instead of the expression “body” Ap. uses the expression “mortal flesh.” In this sinful, death-prone flesh, the great and invincible power of Christ is manifested, the power of the life of Jesus: so great is this power! 2 Cor.4:12. so that death works in us, and life in you. From death or from the bodily suffering that brings Paul to death, life flows - of course, spiritual life - for the Church as a society of believers. His self-sacrifice brings new strength to life for believers. 2 Cor.4:13–18. Such a contradiction between his inner greatness and outer humiliation, however, does not bother the Apostle. He hopes for the glorification that awaits him in the future together with Christ, and therefore takes his sufferings calmly. 2 Cor.4:13. But having the same spirit of faith, as it is written: I believed, and therefore I spoke, 4 and we believe, therefore we speak, Ap. has the same “spirit of faith” as the Corinthians, i.e. the Holy Spirit, which is given to every believer upon receiving baptism (cf. Gal. 3: 1 et seq.), when a person confesses and expresses his faith in Christ. The Apostle, undoubtedly, also has faith (this the Apostle speaks in an ironic tone, to shame the Corinthians who were too proud of their Christian state - 1 Cor. 4: 7-8). In the words of Psalm 115 (according to the translation of the 70), Ap. points to his preaching, which was the result of his strong faith. He believed in Christ - that’s why he could not remain silent, but constantly spoke about Him. 2 Corinthians 4:14. Knowing that He who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us through Jesus and place us before Him with you. But why Ap. said that he has the Holy Spirit? By this he wants to indicate how solid his hope is for future glorification. This Spirit is the guarantee of this glorification (cf. 2 Cor. 1:22). As for the glorification itself, Ap. attributes it to God. Who will call to Himself not only the Corinthians (irony again), but also Paul along with them. – For the expression “He who raised the Lord,” see Rom 8:10–11. 2 Cor.4:15. For everything is for you, so that the abundance of grace may produce greater gratitude in many to the glory of God. If at the present time the external state of the Apostle is very unfavorable, then the Corinthians should not be embarrassed by this: after all, the Lord allows this for their own well-being. The Corinthians will see how great the grace of God is manifested in the works of an Apostle so insignificant in appearance, and this will prompt them to glorify God with a great sense of gratitude. This remark, however, is not in direct connection with the flow of thoughts, and further Ap. again turns to speech about his confidence in future glorification. 2 Cor.4:16. Therefore we do not lose heart; but if our outer man is decaying, then our inner man is being renewed day by day. According to the Russian translation, this is a concession period. But it is more correct to see here the relationship of cause and effect. It is necessary to translate not: “if... and” (i.e. although), but: “since” or: “due to the fact that”. Ap. imbued with the thought that our body in its present state does not provide room for the activity of the human spirit (cf. 1 Cor 15:44), and speaks because the gradual weakening and destruction of the body makes it possible for the spirit to manifest itself with greater strength. “Here, undoubtedly, there is a basis for ascetic deeds, for fasting, abstinence, which, depleting the strength of the body, its gross inclinations, gives more space for spiritual activity, for contemplative life. However, ep. Theophan quite rightly notes that this “decay”, i.e., the ascetic feat of the outer man, renews the inner man not unconditionally, but under the condition of grace, faith and life by faith. 2 Corinthians 4:17. For our momentary light affliction produces eternal glory in abundance, The original text here gives the idea that future glorification, if placed in one side of the scale, will outweigh the generally small suffering of this life that is placed in the other side of the scale. Wed. 1 Peter 1:6–7. 2 Cor.4:18. when we look not at the visible, but at the invisible: for the visible is temporary, but the invisible is eternal. Here is Ap. explains that seeing this advantage of future glorification is not given to everyone. Only a particularly enlightened gaze can see the “invisible,” that is, what awaits people in the afterlife. Anyone who can do this understands that everything visible soon ends and that only the invisible is eternal, that is, what will happen in another life. You might be interested in: