Second Corinthians 4:1-18
II Corinthians 4:1 and 2:
4:1Because-of-this having this ministry
according as we were shown-mercy, we do not despond .2but
we renounced-from-ourselves the hidden-things of shame, not walking
in every-working nor deceiving (towards) the word of God
but with the manifestation of the truth commending ourselves
towards every conscience of men before God.
The word “ministry” here refers to the service of the righteousness to
benefit others, not 'being-subject' to them but doing work to bring
profit to others, the day-by-day ministerial-duties, the functions of
service pertaining to the new covenant of spirit (refer to II
Corinthians chapter 3).
Continuing with his teaching, Paul writes: on this account (for the
reason) of having/holding this ministry according as we (myself and
those with me) were shown mercy (merited judgment was withheld by God
from us, we did not deserve this ministry), we are not despondent (we do
not lose-courage, give-up as a coward would give-up when faced with
trial or evil, we do not lose-heart).
But contrary to desponding, we renounced from ourselves (we spoke
ourselves away from, repudiated, disowned, and thus rejected the
approach of) the hidden-things of shame (the things which are concealed,
hidden from open view, which are shameful and cause the feeling or
emotion of disgrace and guilt bringing reproach having recognized and
being sorry for one's own performance of an improper, ignominious or
dishonorable deed from God's point of view).
We are not walking (literally: moving the feet around, going on foot; but
figuratively: walking during the everyday living of life, behaving
ourselves, conducting ourselves) within the sphere of action of
every-working. The word translated “every-working” is used here in the
bad sense of being prepared and ready to do anything considered to be
needed towards and for the purpose of attaining our own personal goals
and ambitions. We are not unscrupulous in all our workings, in
craftiness that is contrary to God's will.
Neither are we being deceitful towards or with God's Word (we are not
baiting or using guile by stratagem or subterfuge towards the revealed
word of God, catching or ensnaring it and mixing it with falsities). We
are not deceitfully-handling and misrepresenting the truth of the
spoken-account of the inner thoughts of the only true God, our Father.
But on the contrary, we are commending ourselves (we are causing
ourselves to stand in conjunction together, in the sense of favorably
introducing ourselves) with/by the manifestation of the truth (the
evidence, bringing to light, showing-forth in the physical realm of the
truth which is what God says, etc) for the purpose of every conscience
belonging-to men (mankind) before God (in the sight and presence of
God). The word “conscience” means: the knowing-awareness, the perception
of what is right which men put together for themselves in their minds as
a result of all that they have already been taught and learned in
relation to the one whom they recognize as their ruler, the one who has
authority, ultimately this authority should be the only true God.
Every person who heard God's Word which Paul and those with him spoke did
not accept and believe what was said and so these unbelievers would not
think that they were favorably introducing themselves! But nevertheless,
Paul and those with him continued to do what God and the Lord Jesus
Christ wanted them to do and therefore, from God's point of view, they
were commending themselves with the manifestation of the truth towards
every conscience of men. They did this in God's sight. They knew that
God knew what they were doing because they were communicating with Him
and did everything before Him; they were not trying to do something
different behind His back when He wasn't looking!
In this letter Paul continues teaching the Corinthian church and all the
holy-people in the whole of Achaia regarding the truth (which issues
originally from God, and includes the words God speaks, the Lord Jesus
Christ, the gift of holy spirit, etc), and regarding how he and those
with him lived their lives preaching that truth. Thus he was refuting
accusations which may have been made against them.
[Reference: Luke 18:1, and 20:20-23; John 17:17; Acts 13:10; Romans 1:29,
and 6:21; I Corinthians 3:19, 4:5, and 12:7; II Corinthians 3:6, and
11:3; Galatians 6:9; Ephesians 4:14; Philippians 3:18 and 19; II
Thessalonians 3:13; Hebrews 12:2.]
Verses 3-6:
.3But if our good-message also is having been
covered2 it is having been covered2 among the
(people) being destroyed .4among whom the god of
this age blinded the mindful-devices of the unbelievers
with-a-view-for the lightness of the good-message of the glory of
Christ who is (the) image of God not to light (among them),
.5for we do not herald-forth ourselves but Jesus
Christ (who is) Lord, but ourselves your slaves by means of
Jesus, .6because God, the (One) having said,
"Light will shine out-from darkness," (is the One) Who shone
in our hearts towards (our having the) lightness of the
knowledge of His glory in (the) face of Jesus Christ.
Paul explains: if/since it happens that our good-message (the gospel
concerning the Lord Jesus Christ which I and those with me preach) was
covered, even though we are carrying-out our ministry correctly, and it
continues to be covered (with something to conceal what is underneath so
that what is underneath does not enter above, nor does what is above
enter underneath) – let me point-out to you that the only area where
this covering takes place is among (in, within the sphere of action of)
the people who are presently being destroyed (being utterly-ruined or
completely-lost away-from the only true God, because they refuse what
God says by their own choice, their own freedom of will), and it is
among these unbelievers that the god of this age (referring to
the devil, satan, who pertains and belongs only to this age) has blinded
their mindful-devices. Those who willingly refuse to believe what God
says allow the god of this age to place a covering as a veil between
them and the good-message blinding their mindful-devices.
Satan is called "the god of this age." What age? This specific age or
duration of life in-which we currently live. This age only lasts until
Christ will come to be present and will gather all the church of
holy-people together with him and then Christ will continue carrying-out
what God says which includes the destruction of satan (the devil) and
all the spirits and people who reject the only true God and His son, the
Lord Jesus Christ. The time-period of satan
is limited; it will come to an end.
The word "god" is used of one who has power, executes judgment, and
emanates what he is, his power and light – but in this case Paul is
referring to satan (the devil) who presently has power during this age
and he carries out his own decisions and emanates what he is, he causes
things to happen under the guise of being "light" but what he makes and
sets-up is darkness! The lying god of this specific age has actively
blinded (caused lack of sight for/to) the mindful-devices (the
contrivances or products of the mind's thinking, the plans issuing from
the action of the mind) of the people who do not believe, who do not
have faith-in, who do not trust what God has said contained the
good-message.
Why has the god of this age blinded the mindful
devices of unbelievers being destroyed because they do not believe what
God has given all men to believe? What is the devil's motive? He does
this for the purpose that…
- the
lightness of, belonging-to, and proceeding-from the good-message
pertaining-to the glory of Christ (Christ's glory, importance, splendor,
renown, the glory belonging-to and proceeding-from Christ, the
Anointed-one, the Messiah),
- who is the image of God (Christ is the icon, resemblance, representation of God),
…does not light among these unbelievers (as though the light of
dawn does not shine in, within or among them).
The word “lightness” means: the quality and state of being light, light
that is required for vision, as the light-receptors in the physical eye
must receive light such as daylight in order for a person to see what is
outside of the eye around him/her, the illumination.
In the physical realm, the break of daylight is the time when the sun
rises in the east and introduces its light on a specific area of the
earth, and this daylight hitting the vision receptors in the physical
eye allows the person in that area to see what is around him/her. In
this context, the god of this age has blinded the mindful-devices of the
people who previously had made their own decision not to believe what
God says about Himself and His son, the Lord Jesus Christ. The devil
does this for the purpose that their receptors to the true light of the
good-message of the glory of Christ, who is the image of the only true
God, do not receive this lightness, and so they do not see and cannot
walk in the true light even though it is gloriously shining with
Christ's glory.
An example of something similar in the physical realm would be if you
deliberately close your eyes even though there is daylight shining in
the room, or when it is nighttime and there is no light at all – then
when you try to walk around the room you are very likely to hurt
yourself because you cannot physically see other people, or the
furniture, or the dog, or the cat. The physical eye does not emanate
light in order to see, nor can it beam out some special ray of light to
see through something, which the authors of some children's books and
movies try to teach us. With the passing of time it is possible for a
physically blind person to learn with his/her other senses how to move
about his/her house, etc, but this is not the sense of sight.
However, in the spirit category, if a person decides not to acceptingly
believe what God says and so he/she refuses to receive God's gift of
holy spirit by means of the Lord Jesus
Christ, then that person allows satan to blind his/her mindful-devices.
That person cannot spiritually see the lightness of the good-message of
the glory of Christ who is the image of God; this lightness does not
dawn in him/her at all. Oh, he might "bump" into something and may even
recognize that "something spiritual happened" – but he/she cannot see
God's true spiritual details (refer to First Corinthians 2:14).
Let us re-read verses 5 and 6 and continue with our study:
Verses 5 and 6:
.5for we do not herald-forth ourselves but
Jesus Christ (who is) Lord, but ourselves your slaves by
means of Jesus, .6because God, the (One) having
said, "Light will shine out-from darkness," (is the One)
Who shone in our hearts towards (our
having the) lightness of the knowledge of His glory in (the)
face of Jesus Christ.
Paul continues to make it clear that he and those with him were doing
what the Lord Jesus Christ asked them to do by the will of God, no
matter what action or reaction occurred among those to whom they spoke.
In truth, we do not herald-forth (proclaim) ourselves, but on the
contrary, we heralded-forth Jesus Christ (emphasizing Jesus Christ’s
obedience and service to God on a horizontal level to benefit people)
who is Lord (he is the Master, not us; we are not our own masters and we
are not your masters, neither are you our masters).
They were not going around talking about how "spiritual" they thought
they were, nor how they had reached a certain degree in the academic
field, nor how they had talked to such-and-such a person, nor their own
opinions about the political situation, nor their own view-points on the
latest gossip or scandals, etc. That is not what the contents of the
good-message are. They heralded-forth Jesus Christ who is Lord; he is
the Master of all holy-people.
But Paul and those with him were slaves of these holy-people in Corinth
and throughout the whole of Achaia. They were what?
Slaves in the service category towards them as they continued to do what
their Master told them to do. Their Master, the Lord Jesus
Christ, instructed them to serve as slaves to these holy-people. A slave
is one who is bound to serve his master. This service as a slave meant
that the slave's whole being was at the service-of or in service-to that
one master, not serving anybody or anything else! During the time-period
of the writing of the Bible, a master was obligated to take-care of his
slave (bond-servant) and the slave was obligated to do all his master
would ask of him. It was a mutually-beneficial relationship between the
master and his slave.
For we do not herald-forth ourselves but Jesus Christ who is Lord,
but we ourselves are your slaves in the category of our Godly service –
how? – by means of Jesus (through Jesus, who is our Lord and Christ; in
this context the emphasis is on his service on a horizontal human level
towards people for his Father, the only true God). We ourselves are your
slaves through Jesus. Jesus is the agency by way of which the initiated
progress passes-through in order to reach the accomplishment of our
being your slaves in service during the everyday living of our lives.
Paul and those with him were not to serve the people without obeying what
the Lord told them because then they may be caused to run here and
there, and do this and that, as the people might ask them to do. They
may get bogged-down with all kinds of different personal and worldly
circumstances and situations which would arise and thus they may become,
in effect in their behavior, as the slaves of the god of this age even
though they had been bought with a price by the Lord Jesus Christ. Their
serving as slaves on a horizontal level to the holy-people was not
separated from serving their Master or from their heralding-forth Jesus
Christ who is their Lord/Master.
Continuing to teach and explain, Paul writes: the objective-cause
regarding what I have written above is that God is the One Who uttered
definite words about the future (which by this time has already
successfully come to pass): "Light (absolute light) will shine (as a
lamp or torch beaming out its bright and radiant light) out-from
darkness (from the inside to the outside of absolute darkness)." There
was no "if," "but," or "perhaps" included in God's statement! Also,
there is no light in darkness; darkness is the absence of light. It
takes the introduction of light to dispel darkness.
God is absolute Light and He is the One Who introduced light. God is the
One Who has actively shone (as a lamp or torch beaming out its bright
and radiant light) within our hearts (the center or core of our beings).
Why? For the purpose (the motive was to the end) that we would have
within us this shining-light continuing to shine, which is…
- the
lightness (the quality and state of being light, light that is required
for vision, as the light-receptors in the physical eye must receive
light such as daylight in order for a person to see what is outside of
the eye around him/her, the illumination)
- of
the knowledge (belonging-to and proceeding-from the truly active and
relative knowing)
- of
His glory (pertaining-to God's importance, splendor, renown, the glory
belonging-to and proceeding-from the only true God)
- in the face of Jesus Christ.
In chapter 3 of this letter, Paul wrote: ".18and we,
with (our) face having been uncovered2,
reflect-from-ourselves the glory of (the) Lord, the (people)
transforming the same image from glory into glory, fully-as from
(the) Lord (who is) spirit."
Here in chapter 4, verse 6, Paul writes: “.6because God, the
(One) having said, ‘Light will shine out-from darkness,’ (is
the One) Who shone in our hearts towards
(our having the) lightness of the knowledge of His glory in
(the) face of Jesus Christ.”
It is the Lord Jesus Christ, who is the image of God, whose face
(figuratively referring to his whole presence) reflects the glory of his
Father. All holy-people have the image of Christ within us and so we
reflect the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ who reflects the glory of
God. Every person who has received the gift of holy
spirit (every holy-person) has the lightness of the knowledge of
God's glory in the face of Jesus Christ.
[Reference: Genesis 1:3, 4, and 27; Psalm 112:4; Matthew 17:2; John 8:12,
and 14:9 and 10; Romans 8:29, 30, and 12:2; I Corinthians 2:14, 3:5-7,
6:20, 7:23, 8:4-6, and 9:19; II Corinthians 2:11, 3:17, 18, and 11:14;
Ephesians 1:17-23; Colossians 1:15; I Timothy 1:11; I John 1:5.]
Verses 7-12:
.7But we have this treasure in earthenware
vessels in order that the super-throw of the ability may be of God
and not from us; .8in every (manner) being
pressured but not being restrained, despairing but not
utterly-despairing, .9being persecuted but not
left-down-in (that state), being thrown-down but not
being destroyed; .10always carrying-around the
process-of-dying of Jesus in the body in order that also the life of
Jesus in our body may be manifested, .11for always we,
the (holy-people) living, are given-over into death
because-of Jesus in order that also the life of Jesus may be
manifested in our mortal flesh, .12so-that death is
caused-to-in-work in us but (it is in order that) life (is
caused to in-work) in you;
We (all of us holy-people together; myself and
those with me as your examples) have/hold this treasure (this specific
thing laid-up in store, stored-up as in a thesaurus, in-storage) within
earthenware vessels (literally: baked clay utensils; figuratively
referring to our bodies of flesh being the temporary housing for this
treasure). We have received holy spirit-life – the lightness of the
knowledge of God's glory in the face of Jesus Christ. It is laid-up in
store being the guarantee of our future reception of the wholeness of
the hope which is promised to us by God in Christ Jesus. This physical
and fleshy body is fragile and can be broken like an earthenware vessel
can be broken. Some of us may die before Christ will come to be present
to gather all of us together with him, but at that time we will receive
our spiritual bodies with holy spirit-life (refer to I Corinthians
chapter 15).
Why do we have this treasure in earthenware vessels? For the purpose and
result that the super-throw of the ability (the able-power, capability
that is surpassing to a greater-degree; as if the ability, which is the
gift of holy spirit which is the contents of the earthenware vessel,
were throwing or casting itself for an extreme distance or measure
beyond the limits of its container, the fleshy body) would
definitely be belonging-to and proceeding-from God and not out-from us.
This super-throwing ability belongs to God. God is the source of that
able-power which Paul and those with him manifested among the people. It
was not emanating out-from the flesh of their physical bodies!
They acknowledged this truth. They knew that the ability they were
manifesting was not coming from their own physical strength or because
they had studied so hard or because their intellectual abilities and
their IQ were above average! They recognized that the only reason they
were able to manifest such able-power was due to having that treasure
within them, that holy spirit-life that God had graciously given to each
one of them by means of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Regarding their travels around the countryside heralding-forth the
good-message and obeying their Lord Jesus Christ, Paul writes that:
- we
are being pressured (caused to be compressed, afflicted, pressed-upon or
being squeezed, whether it is physical or mental or spiritual) in every
way, every method,
- but
contrary to that, we are not being restrained (caused to be confined as
if in a narrow space, restricted) from carrying-out our ministry;
- we
are despairing (caused to be without resources or any means of help from
the physical realm),
- but
contrary to that, we are not utterly-despairing (caused to be wholly
without resources or any means of help as to finding a solution);
- we
are being persecuted (caused to be pursued as enemies with hostility
whether by people or devil-spirits),
- but
contrary to that, we are not being left-down-in that state (caused to be
left behind or deserted as though we were dead and so left to remain
that way);
- we
are being thrown-down (caused to be cast-down by people or
devil-spirits),
- but contrary to that, we are not being destroyed (caused to be
utterly-ruined or caused to be lost away-from God by them).
W are always carrying-around the
process-of-dying of Jesus in the body in order that also the life of
Jesus in our body may be manifested. Paul and those with him were
constantly bearing-about the truth of the sufferings to the extent of
the putting to death (the deadness) of Jesus in the fleshy body (again
the emphasis is on his service on a horizontal human level towards
people for God). Even while Jesus was physically living, if he was going
to accomplish redemption then he would have to pay the judicial sentence
for sin which is death, and he did pay it because eventually he was
crucified, died and was buried. Paul and those with him were
experiencing the constant carrying-around of the process of dying of
Jesus in the body for the purpose and result that the totality of the
life of Jesus (who is now alive because God raised him up from among the
rest of the dead-people giving him his spiritual body having
accomplished redemption) would also be manifested (evidenced, brought to
light, shown-forth) within the sphere of action of their fleshy body.
Further emphasizing and explaining, Paul writes: in truth, on every
occasion emphatically we holy-people who are being alive…
- are
caused to be given-along (handed-over, delivered) directed-to death on
account of Jesus (as we continue to herald-forth the good-message
carrying-out our assigned ministry pertaining to the new covenant of
spirit until such time as we would die if Christ did not come to gather
us all together with him before that might happen),
- for the purpose and result that the holy and spiritual life which Jesus now
has would be manifested (evidenced, brought to light, shown-forth)
within the sphere of action of our mortal flesh (this fleshy body which
is still living in the physical, natural category but which is liable to
death).
Paul recognized that the able-power of the holy
spirit within himself, and those with him at that time, was the
ability given to them enabling them to continue in their ministry. He
also knew that Christ himself may not gather all Christians together
before Paul and those with him would physically die, but up-until that
time they were going to continue to manifest their holy spirit, the
spirit of Christ in them. They were going to continue to reflect the
glory of Christ and the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of
Jesus Christ. And, they were going to continue to look forward to
Christ's coming to be present to gather-together all holy-people with
him and future glory.
The consequence and result of this is that physical death presently is
caused to in-work (is worked within, made to produce effects by being in
work, energized) within our physical and fleshy bodies as we carry-out
the ministry of the new covenant of spirit – but all of this is for the
purpose and result that the spiritual life of the resurrected Lord Jesus
Christ is caused to in-work in you Corinthian and
Achaian holy-people.
Paul and those with him intended to continue to minister to the people as
the Lord Jesus Christ instructed them to do by the will of God, even
though their bodies were liable to death unless Christ gathered them
together with him before they would physically die – so that the life of
Jesus, who is now the resurrected Christ, would in-work among those to
whom they ministered. This could only happen if those among whom they
ministered believed what God has given to be believed regarding Himself
and His son, the Lord Jesus Christ, and thus they would be graciously
given God's gift of holy spirit by means of
the Lord Jesus Christ, and they could then live in accordance with it
also.
[Jeremiah 32:14; John 15:20 and 21; Acts 2:27; Romans 4:19, 8:17, 18,
35-39, and 10:8-10; I Corinthians 2:4 and 5, 4:9-13, 12:11, 15:31 and
50-58; II Corinthians 1:5-10; Galatians 6:17; Philippians 1:20; I
Thessalonians 4:13-18; II Timothy 1:8-14, and 2:20; Hebrews 13:5 and 6;
I Peter 4:13-16.]
Verses 13-15:
.13but (we) having the same spirit of
the belief according to the-thing having been written2,
"I believed, on-which-account I uttered-forth," and we
believe, on-which-account also we utter-forth, .14having
known2 that the (One) having raised-up Jesus will
also raise-up us together with Jesus and will present (us)
together with you, .15for all-things (are)
because-of you in order that the grace, having become more-and-more,
may cause the thankfulness to exceed by means of more-people into
the glory of God;
We (myself and those with me) are
having/holding the same spirit (the spirit itself, not a different one)
pertaining-to the belief (the faith, trust) which is in accordance with
that-which has already been written and has not changed: I believed, for
that reason I uttered-forth (spoke)." This is taken from Psalm 116:
Psalm 116:8-10:
For thou [Lord God] hast delivered my soul
from death, mine eyes from tears, and my feet from falling.
I will walk before the Lord in the land of the
living.
I believed, therefore have I spoken....
What did King David, the prophet, believe? He believed what God told him
regarding the present as far as what was going on at that time and what
to do about it, and also regarding the future concerning the Christ and
resurrection. David believed what God gave him to believe by means of
the holy spirit-life that God had given to him temporarily upon the
condition of believing and doing what God told him. This is how David
could speak these words regarding this situation. He spoke by revelation
from God. David decided to walk for and with God during the everyday
living of his life no matter what his enemies or any of the people
believed or said or did. God delivered him from his enemies, and he knew
and believed that at a future time God would also deliver him. [You may
read the whole of Psalm 116 to gain a greater understanding of what is
written, also Psalm 27:13, Isaiah 38:11, and I Samuel 16:13.]
Paul and those with him were the same as King David in-that they all
believed what God told them regarding the present time as far as what
was going on at that time and what to do about it, and also regarding
the future time concerning the Christ and resurrection. They believed
what God gave them to believe by means of their holy spirit-life, which
God had given to them permanently (this gift of holy spirit was first
made available on the day of Pentecost by means of the Lord Jesus
Christ, see Acts 2:1-4). They spoke what God gave them to believe
regarding their situation. They spoke by revelation from God. They
decided to walk for and with God during the everyday living of their
lives no matter what their enemies or any of the people believed or said
or did. God delivered them from their enemies and they knew and believed
that in the future God would also deliver them.
Continuing, Paul writes: we (myself and those with me) already know
(perceive) that God Who has previously raised-up Jesus from among the
rest of the dead-people will at a future time also raise us up from
among the rest of the dead-people in conjunction with Jesus (that is if
we should die before Christ comes to gather all the church of
holy-people together with him), and God will present us (cause us to
stand beside, near-by, in His presence together with the resurrected
Christ Jesus) in conjunction with you Corinthian and
Achaian holy-people (and all other
holy-people too; we will all be together at that time).
In truth, all the things we say and do in connection with our
heralding-forth Jesus Christ who is Lord (preaching the good-message,
carrying-out our ministry of the new covenant of spirit) are on account
of you holy-people. Why? For the purpose and result that…
- the
grace (bestowed unmerited or undeserved favor),
- which has become more-and-more (it has come to pass to be more than it
was previously, the amount has increased),
- would actively cause the thankfulness to exceed (cause the expression of
gratitude towards God, for the grace He has bestowed upon us, to abound,
to be over and above the number or measure already attained) by means of
the majority (through the bigger portion of you)
- with a view to and directed to the glory of God.
God must be glorified. He is to be given the importance, splendor and
renown regarding all that He and the Lord Jesus Christ have done and
continue to do and will do.
[Reference: Acts 2:22-36; I Corinthians 6:14, and 15:50-58; II
Corinthians 1:11; I Thessalonians 4:13-18.]
II Corinthians 4:16-18:
.16on-which-account we do not despond but
since also our outside man is being throughly-corrupted but
our inside (man) is being newed-up
daily, .17for the momentary lightness of pressure
renders-to-work for us according to a 'super-throw into a
super-throw' an eternal pressured-weight of glory .18(during)
our not scoping the-things being
observed but (scoping)
the-things not being observed, for the-things being observed
(are) temporary but the-things not being observed (are)
eternal.
Paul continues to teach by example: it is on account
of what I have just written that we (myself
and those with me) are not despondent (we do not lose-courage, give-up
as a coward would give-up when faced with trial or evil, we do not
lose-heart)…
…but
contrary to desponding…
- since in addition our outside man (our outer, external man, figuratively
referring to our human fleshy body with its soul/breath-life, the
vessel) is presently caused to be throughly-corrupted (utterly-decayed,
corrupted throughout or thoroughly)…
…but
contrary to through-corruption…
- our inside man (our inner, internal man, figuratively referring to the holy
spirit-life within us, the treasure contained within the vessel) is
presently caused to be newed-up daily (made
new with an upward motion, not a downward motion, it is renewed on a
day-by-day basis).
We holy-people have already received the gift of holy
spirit. It does not get bigger and bigger, nor does it wear-out
or get old and need to be replaced every day, nor does it become "more
spiritual" – this is not what Paul is saying. But day after day our holy
spirit-life continues to receive information from God and/or the Lord
Jesus Christ regarding different situations, circumstances, and topics
as we live our everyday lives – this information is newly-made and is
different from what it had the day before. This is true for all
holy-people who decide to walk with and for God, and as we continue to
do that we become more receptive to God in Christ in our holy spirit
in-working within us. When Christ gathers us together in the future,
then we will receive our spiritual bodies with its holy spirit-life and
we will fully-know God's spiritual things.
In truth, the momentary lightness of pressure (the instant, transient
light-weight, not-heavy, compression or stress that afflicts us,
whatever may be pressing-upon or squeezing us whether it be physical or
mental or spiritual) presently renders to work (it causes to effect,
effectively brings down) for/to us…
- in
accordance with a 'super-throw into a super-throw'
- (in
the proportion of surpassing to a greater-degree, as if this
rendering-to-work were done throwing or casting itself for an extreme
distance or measure beyond the limits of the momentary lightness of
pressure,
- and
then directed-to and resulting-in a surpassing to a greater-degree, as
if again this rendering-to-work were done throwing or casting itself for
an extreme distance or measure beyond the limits of the initial
super-throw)…
…an eternal pressured-weight of glory (an everlasting, lifelong weight
that is pressurized, not in the sense of being a heavy load or burden to
carry, but in the sense of the vast greatness and fullness consisting-of glory, importance, splendor and renown).
In this figurative extreme contrast, Paul emphasizes the difference
between the pressure we experience now during the everyday living of our
lives before Christ gathers us together with him by referring to it as
being "momentary lightness of pressure" and the effect of the work which
is surpassing and extreme in measure which God and the Lord Jesus Christ
causes to come to pass for us resulting in the "eternal pressured-weight
of glory" which we will receive at the future time when we receive our
spiritual bodies as the resurrected Lord Jesus Christ has already
received and now lives.
Having written that the momentary lightness of pressure renders-to-work
according to a 'super-throw into a super-throw' for/to Paul himself and
those with him an eternal pressured-weight of glory, he continues to
teach: this is occurring…
- during the time that we are not
scoping
the things which are presently being observed by us (while we are not
watching or looking intensely – similar to looking at a target so as to
determine our own action carefully – at the things that are being
looked-at and mentally-envisioned by us, the things that we are mentally
aware-of and able to contemplate, even though we may not physically see
anything with our physical eyes; this refers to the physical and fleshy
realm including the present pressures and the persecution which we
experience),
- but
contrary to that, this is occurring during the time that we are
scoping the things which are not being
presently observed by us (this refers to the fullness of all the
promises of God coming to pass by means of the Lord Jesus Christ, both
presently and at a future time, both in the physical category and
in the spirit category).
Why should we not be scoping the-things being
observed but we should be scoping
the-things not being observed as we live our everyday lives awaiting
Christ's coming to be present to gather us together with him? In truth,
the things which are presently being observed are temporary (they
are only here for a limited occasion, temporal, towards a season of
time, their end will come to pass), but the things which are not
presently being observed are eternal (everlasting, lifelong). These
eternal things cannot be presently observed by us because these things
have not occurred yet, even though God and the Lord Jesus Christ have
revealed a certain amount of information about them to us. But when our
hope comes to pass then we will observe them.
[Reference: Romans 7:22, and 8:17-30; I Corinthians
12:7-13, 13:12, and chapter 15; Galatians 6:7-10; Ephesians 3:7-21;
Colossians 1:27, and 3:1-4, 10; Hebrews 11:1-3, and 25.
You may also like to read my studies on I Thessalonians and
II Thessalonians to learn more about what will happen in the
future both to those who believe what God says and to those who refuse
to believe what God says. Note: verbs with a superscript 2 (2)
immediately following them indicate the "perfect" tense - details are
provided in the "Relevant Notes" link of this study.]
