2 Corinthians 4:1-6

2 Corinthians 4:1–6 ESV

Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God, we do not lose heart. But we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God’s word, but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God. And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who said, “Let light 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 chapter 4 Paul begins to make application of being not only partakers of the new covenant but ministers of the New Covenant. In other words, he is about to apply the theological truths he just expounded in chapter 3 and apply them to the preaching and practice of himself and faithful gospel ministers.

Remember, the purpose of this letter is to affirm Paul’s calling and commissioning by God to preach the gospel and plant churches. He wants the church to understand he is preaching the gospel of the new covenant and he is practicing or pastoring according to the truth revealed in the Word of God.

This morning we will be looking at verse 1-6 of chapter 4 and we will see two marks of Paul’s ministry of the new covenant.

First, Paul was committed to,

I. Practicing the Truth of the Gospel

Notice how he opens chapter 4,

Therefore, having this ministry from God,

Here we see Paul affirming again the primary truth the Corinthian church should trust him. Because he is not some self-appointed minister, he is not a man who decided on his own to enter into gospel ministry. Paul has been called by God to take the gospel to the gentiles and the jews.

Remember Jesus speaking to Ananias in,

Acts 9:15 ESV

But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel.

Here is the first way Paul practiced the truth of the gospel, he

a. Received his Ministry from God (1)

2 Corinthians 4:1 ESV

Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God, we do not lose heart.

When he writes,

4 Therefore, having this ministry

Paul is reminding us to look back at the ministry he had been pointing to in chapter 3.

In verse 6, he writes, who made us sufficient to be ministers of the new covenant.

In verse 8 he refers to it as the ministry of the Spirit

In verse 9 he refers to the ministry of righteousness.

All of these references to the new covenant can be summed up as their ministry of the gospel. The good news of Jesus Christ, the Messiah coming into the world, becoming the lamb of God, being slain for the sins of his people, and being raised on the third day as the first fruits of the resurrection of his people.

This is the new covenant, that God would call his people to himself by his Spirit, opening the eyes of the blind, removing their heart of stone, placing a new heart within them, which would regenerate them, giving them the ability to see their own depravity, repent of their sin, and trust in Christ for salvation.

Paul says, I have recieved this ministry,

by the mercy of God,

I have not given myself this ministry, I am not self sufficient, my ministry is not even dependent on the affirmation of these “super apostles.” For this reason, even if we are persecuted, rejected, or even martyred.

we do not lose heart.

We will not weaken, we will not stop seeking the good of the church, and the glory of God. We will remain steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord!

Paul makes it crystal clear in these opening lines of chapter 4 that he and his partners had been called by God into this gospel ministry and they will not weaken!

What can we learn from this truth of Paul’s ministry?

True God called ministers will not quit. They will press on in the midst of trial and tribulation. They are willing to lay down their life and give up whatever necessary for the call of the gospel.

Here are a couple more practical questions.

How do we know if a man is called to gospel ministry today? I don’t know any pastors or missionaries who have recieved their call the way Paul did?

What is our responsibility as the church in the recognizing and supporting gospel ministers?

Paul’s practice of gospel ministry was affirmed by his calling, and because he,

a. Renounced Deceptive Practices (2a)

English Standard Version Chapter 4

2 But we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God’s word,

In verse 2 Paul provides 3 things he refuses to do as he faithfully ministers the gospel.

First he writes,

2 But we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways.

Paul is contrasting his ministry against the false teachers who were attacking his motives and ministry in Corinth. He is basically saying we have nothing to hide. Our ministry is open for you to see. We do not do things in secret that would bring shame and disgrace on us, the church, or the gospel.

2 Corinthians: Crossway Classic Commentaries God’s Treasures in Jars of Clay (Verses 1–18)

Therefore, what he says he renounced, what he says is characteristic of false teachers, is the lack of openness, adopting secret methods to achieve their ends, which they would be ashamed to admit openly.

He continues and says, not only do we renounce shameful and secret ways,

We refuse to practice cunning

He writes we will not get caught up in these deceptive, crafty, treacherous practice to try and win you over to our side. We will not try and trick you into following us, will not spread false truths about these other men, but we will not hide the truth from you either. We are commited to open, honest, truthful ministry and we will remain steadfast in it because God is the

or to tamper with God’s word,