2 Coríntios 4
A.T. Robertson · Citado em PreceptAustin
2 Coríntios 4:5-6
Robertson on bond-servants for Jesus' sake - This is the sufficient reason for any preacher’s sacrifice, “for Jesus’ sake.” Ray
2 Coríntios 4:5-6
Robertson - Like a lamp in the heart (cf. Mt. 5:15). Miners carry a lamp on the forehead, Christians carry one in their hearts lit by the Spirit of God (2 Corinthians 4) Alfred Plummer - Is He who shone in our hearts,’ illuminating our whole moral and spiritual being. He who over the primeval chaos said, ‘Let there be light,’ and provided sun, moon, and stars to preserve and spread it, has shed light into the chaos of our souls, and has thus provided instruments for the perpetual "manifestation of the truth" (2Co 3:2-+). The details of this process in the case of Paul himself are told us to some extent in Gal 1:15, 16 (2 Corinthians 4) James Denney - The Apostle finds the only adequate parallel to his own conversion in the grand creative act in which God brought light, by a word, out of the darkness of chaos. It is not forcing the figure unduly, nor losing its poetic virtue, to think of gloom and disorder as the condition of the soul on which the Sun of Righteousness has not risen (Mal 4:2). Neither is it putting any strain upon it to make it suggest that only the creative word of God can dispel the darkness, and give the beauty of life and order to what was waste and void. There is one point, indeed, in which the miracle of grace is more wonderful than that of creation. God only commanded the light to shine out of darkness when time began; but He shone Himself in the apostle's heart. He shone "to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ." In that light which God flashed into his heart, he saw the face of Jesus Christ, and knew that the glory which shone there was the glory of God....In the face of Jesus Christ, the Lord of Glory (1Co 2:8), Paul saw God's Redeeming Love upon the throne of the universe; it had descended deeper than sin and death; it was exalted now above all heavens; it filled all things. That sight he carried with him everywhere; it was his salvation and his Gospel, the inspiration of his inmost life, and the motive of all his labors. One who owed all this to Christ was not likely to make Christ's service the theater of his own ambitions; he could not do anything but take the servant's place, and proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord. (The Expositor's Bible) John
2 Coríntios 4:5-6
Robertson - In the face of Christ The Christian who looks on the face of Jesus Christ as Moses looked upon the glory of God will be able to give the illumination of the knowledge of the glory of God. (2 Corinthians 4)
2 Coríntios 4:7-9
Robertson - We are but earthen jars used of God for his purposes (Rom. 9:20ff.) and so fragile.
2 Coríntios 4:7-9
Robertson - This is God’s purpose (hina—ēi]). God, not man, is the dynamo (dunamis). It comes from God (tou theou, ablative) and does not originate with us The surpassing greatness (huperbole) of the power (dunamis) will be of God and not from ourselves - Note the paradox of frail, weak ordinary men carrying the the surpassing greatness of the power of God, the Gospel! Paul wants to make it crystal clear that the power is in the message, not the messenger (minister). Not from ourselves is Paul's refusal to take any credit for the supernatural effects produced by the Gospel. Here Paul uses huperbole to describe the surpassing greatness of the power (of God) and in 2 Cor 4:17+ describes the saint's "eternal weight of glory (which is) far beyond all comparison (huperbole)." Surpassing power, surpassing glory, All power from God and all glory to God. Amen In other words, the "power" of common clay pots stands in dramatic contrast to the power of God's Gospel. In fact one cannot even quantify the difference. They are not on the same scale! The power of the Gospel of God overcomes and transcends all our weaknesses. Pitifully paltry vessels possessing a priceless proclamation. Hodge - The apostle means to present the utter disproportion between the visible means (jars of clay) and the effects produced (changed lives), as proof that the real power is not in man, but in God. (2 Corinthians Commentary) David Lowery rightly points out that "A deepening sense of his own unworthiness, compared with the grandeur of his message, characterized Paul's life (cf. Eph. 3:7-9). God intended this sharp contrast so that no one would question the source of the gospel and its all-surpassing power. (Bible Knowledge Commentary) To substantiate Lowery's point note the "progression" of Paul's self-image over his ministry years - 1Co 15:9 in ~ 55 AD = "I am the least of the apostles" In Ep 3:8 in ~ 61 AD = "the very least of all saints" In 1Ti 1:15 in ~ 63-66 AD = "sinners, among whom I am foremost of all" Vance Havner described saints as jars of clay noting that "Our weaknesses and God’s strength form an unbeatable combination!" (Amen!) (cp 2 Cor 12:9-+, 2 Cor 12:10-+)
2 Coríntios 4:7-9
Robertson - Series of present passive participles here through verse 9 that vividly picture Paul’s ministerial career.
2 Coríntios 4:7-9
Robertson asks "Was Paul referring to Lystra when the Jews stoned him and thought him dead? (Acts 14:19-20+)" (2 Corinthians 4) David Lowery is surely correct in noting that "Without God's intervention these troubles would have broken Paul (cf. 2Co 1:8-10). (Bible Knowledge Commentary) Spurgeon's exposition on struck down, but not destroyed (apollumi) - Cast down, but not destroyed;- Even if the adversary is able to cast us down, he is not able to destroy us, for “underneath are the everlasting arms.” “Cast down, but not destroyed;” “Cast down,” — as if his antagonist had thrown him, and he had fallen heavily upon the ground; yet he says, as he springs up again, “Cast down, but not destroyed.” Many a time the Christian wrestler is thrown by his foe, but he never has a final fall. As Paul, when he was stoned at Lystra, and left for dead, rose up again, and soon went on with his work, so the Christian, when ho has been cast down by trouble, often seems to gain new life and vigor, and to go on to serve his Master even better than he did before. Charles Hodge - The allusion is still to combat. Paul was not only persecuted or pursued by his enemies, but actually overtaken by them and cast to the ground—but not killed. When they seemed to have him in their power, God delivered him. This occurred so often and in cases so extreme as to make it manifest that the power of God was exerted on his behalf. No man from his own resources could have endured or escaped so much. There is in these verses an evident climax, which reaches its culmination in the next sentence. He compares himself to a combatant, first hard pressed, then hemmed in, then pursued, then actually thrown down. This was not an occasional experience, but his life was like that of Christ, an uninterrupted succession of indignities and suffering. (2 Corinthians Commentary) George Whitfield put it well when he said "We are immortal until our work is done." (Amen)
2 Coríntios 4:10-12
Robertson says, “His dying was working out for the good of those who were benefited by his ministry.” Oftentimes we have the tendency to cry out to the Lord in sickness, asking Him to deliver us from it, so that we might serve Him better. Perhaps we should sometimes thank God for such afflictions in our lives, and glory in our infirmities that the power of Christ might rest upon us. (Believer's Bible Commentary) Albert Barnes on death works in us "We are exposed to death. The preaching of the gospel exposes us to trials which may be regarded as death working in us. Death has an energy over us, (energeitai = is [continually] at work, is active, or operates; it is constantly employed in inflicting pains on us, and subjecting us to privation and trims. This is a strong and emphatic mode of saying that they were always exposed to death. We are called to serve and glorify the Redeemer, as it were, by repeated deaths and by constantly dying. (2 Corinthians 4) Paul describes his willingness to die to self and to suffer for the sake of Christ in Acts 20 affirming that I do not consider my life of any account as dear to myself (He was willing to die for Jesus. He knew he was not his own but belonged to Him cp 1Co 6:19, 20), in order that I may finish my course, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify solemnly of the gospel of the grace of God (Ed: The Gospel that effectively works life in you). (Acts 20:24+) But life (works) in you - Presents the dramatic life and death contrast. So even in view of death being an ever present possibility for Paul, et al, the prospect of death brought life, spiritual life to the Corinthians.
2 Coríntios 4:13-15
Robertson says the phrase Paul used "according to what is written" was a "formula in legal documents in the papyri." I believed and therefore I spoke - Paul is quoting from the Septuagint (LXX) of Psalm 116, not the Hebrew which is very difficult. "That faith must find expression, that it cannot be silent, is the Apostle’s adaptation of the words (of Ps 116:10)" (James Denney The Expositor's Bible) I believed when I said, “I am greatly afflicted.” (Ps 116:10). (English of original Hebrew) I believed, therefore I have spoken: but I was greatly afflicted. (English of Lxx which is what Paul quotes) Joseph Beet comments on Paul's use of this Psalm noting that: the words quoted (are from the Septuagint), though not an exact rendering (of the original Hebrew), sum up accurately the sense of the whole Psalm. Like Paul (who has been delivered by God again and again from sundry afflictions), the writer of the Psalm has been in deadly peril and has been delivered by God, in answer to his prayer. His deliverance has given him strong confidence in God, a confidence which finds expression in this Psalm. (In the same way Paul believed God and this caused him to speak) Paul, rescued from peril, preaches (the Gospel). The Psalmist’s faith, strengthened by peril and deliverance, moved him to song: Paul’s faith moves him to proclaim the Gospel, undeterred by the prospect of future perils. But it was the same faith, wrought by the same Spirit. And in each case faith found suitable utterance. As usual, the real reference is not so much to the words quoted as to their entire context. (2 Corinthians 4 Commentary) Kruse - Paul quotes Ps. 116:10 (LXX Ps 115:1) to say that despite the difficulties of his ministry he operates with the same “spirit of faith” as the psalmist did in the midst of his distress, and in this faith Paul goes on speaking, either when (like the psalmist) he poured out his heart to the Lord or as he proclaimed God’s word. (2 Cor-EGGNT) THOUGHT - Paul was in great distress and affliction. Notice what Paul relied on when in dire straits. Paul held fast to the Scripture! And the Scripture held him fast. In this case it encouraged him to keep on believing and keep on speaking! Scripture will (or can) do the same in your life beloved when you are in dire straits! Try it! Kent
2 Coríntios 4:13-15
Robertson comments on the meaning of present as used by Paul in this context: Paul has the same idea of his responsibility in rendering an account for those under his influence seen in He 13:17+. Paul desired to present every man mature writing "We proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, so that we may present (paristemi) every man complete (mature, conformed to the image of Christ) in Christ. (Colossians 1:28-+) Jude echoes Paul's assurance of future hope in spite of present pressing circumstances "Now to Him Who is able to keep you from stumbling and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen. (Jude 1:24, 25+) 2 Corinthians 4:15 For all things are for your sakes, so that the grace which is spreading to more and more people may cause the giving of thanks to abound to the glory of God. (NASB: Lockman) Greek : ta gar panta di' umas, ina e charis pleonasasa (AAPFSN) dia ton pleionon ten eucharistian perisseuse (3SAAS) eis ten docan tou theou. Amplified: For all [these] things are [taking place] for your sake, so that the more grace (divine favor and spiritual blessing) extends to more and more people and multiplies through the many, the more thanksgiving may increase [and redound] to the glory of God. (Lockman)
2 Coríntios 4:13-15
Robertson adds) One can think of Bunyan’s Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners (Ed: This is the convicting account of the spiritual autobiography of John Bunyan which was written during his first 11 years in prison, imprisoned for preaching the Gospel! I dare say his testimony to God's abounding grace is very much a practical treatise on what Paul said in 2Co 4:12 for while death was working in Bunyan in prison, life would be working in those who read his account of the spreading of God's grace.) (John Bunyan's - Grace Abounding To The Chief Of Sinners - Table of Contents) (As an aside Those who have read both Grace Abounding and The Pilgrim’s Progress will realize that the latter in substantial measure is the same life as that described in Grace Abounding, but in allegory form rather than straightforward narrative.) GRACE: HOLY LOVE ON THE MOVE! SPREADING Grace (5485)(charis from from chairo = to rejoice. English = charity. Beggars need "charity" even as sinners need grace, for we are all spiritual paupers outside of Christ, but "God gives where he finds empty hands"-Augustine [cp Mt 5:3-+]) in simple terms is God's unmerited favor and supernatural enablement and empowerment for salvation and for daily sanctification. Grace is everything for nothing to those who don't deserve anything. Grace is what every man needs, what none can earn and what God Alone can and does freely give (see Ro 8:32-+ where "freely give" is charizomai [word study] from charis = a grace gift!). Grace addresses man's sin, while mercy addresses man's misery. The gift of grace makes men fit for salvation, miraculously making separated strangers into God's beloved sons (1Th 1:4-+, 1Jn 3:1-+, 1Jn 3:2-+, 1Jn 3:3-+). J H Jowett summarizes grace as God's "holy love on the move" (Others credit H G C Moule). Spreading (4121) (pleonazo from pleion = more) means to cause to increase or superabound and so to be present in abundance or to have plenty (2Pe 1:8-+, Php 4:17-+). To have more than is necessary or more than enough to meet one's needs (2Co 8:15). To become more and more in Ro 6:1-+ Here in 2Co 4:15 Paul uses pleonazo to refer to grace increasing or spreading which results in more giving of thanks to God. The NET Bible translates it "the grace that is including more and more people". NIV "the grace that is reaching more and more people". NLT "as God's grace brings more and more people to Christ." "that grace, as it extends to more and more people." (NRSV) "as God's grace reaches more and more people" (The English Version) "And the more of you who are won to Christ" (TLB). "that the grace having been multiplied." (YLT, Wuest) "that the grace abounding through the many" (Darby) "as grace extends to more and more people" (ESV) "that grace which is multiplying" (MLB - Berkeley) Giving of thanks (2169) (eucharista from eú = well, + charizomai = to grant, give freely; English = Eucharist as related to Lord's Supper) is the expression of thanks or gratitude for favor and mercy shown. Thankfulness from one (every believer) conscious of benefit received. DYNAMIC GRACE! In the letter to Titus Paul wrote that "the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men" (Titus 2:11-+) and here he says that same grace is spreading. Mark it down - God's grace is not static but dynamic! That means beloved it is an active, dynamic force in your spiritual life, the very "water" and "oxygen" of your soul! THOUGHT - Are you resisting the Spirit and His grace? Are you in known unconfessed sin? Do you have secret sins, sins that no one knows about but God? Do you secretly hold on to the most abominable sin of all, pride? Then you are choking off God's spreading of grace. Confess. Repent. Humble yourself under the mighty hand of God that He might exalt you at the proper time (1Pe 5:6-+). Enabled by His Spirit's gift of desire and power (Php 2:13NLT-+), cast out vile pride and begin to even boast about your weaknesses (2Co 12:9-+, 2Co 12:10-+). When that begins to happen beloved, you will begin to experience the full measure and force of God's spreading grace, of His holy love on the move to strengthen you to fight the good fight of faith. Let it never leave your mind that God is opposed to the proud but gives grace to the humble (Jas 4:6-+). May God's grace be spreading more and more in your soul so that the giving of thanks is more and more your attitude and practice as you begin to see more clearly that in all of this the very purpose of your existence is to proclaim the supremacy of the glory of God. I pray for you (and myself)… May "the grace which is spreading" in our heart and soul "cause the giving of thanks to abound to the glory of God." Amen! Thanksgiving expresses that attitude (and those words) which ought never to be absent from the life of any of God's redeemed (Ps 107:2). We should always be ready to express our grateful acknowledgement of past mercies to such great debtors as we are. Is it any wonder that the beautiful songs (Psalms) in the world are filled with thanksgiving? Read through the following Psalms -- not mechanically but actively, taking care to observe the "associations" with thanksgiving (the 5W'S & H - eg, why give thanks? How? When? etc) allowing the Spirit to work in your innermost being to cause thanksgiving to well up in your heart and to proceed from your mouth Ps 6:5, Ps 7:17, Ps 9:1, Ps 18:49, Ps 26:7 Ps 28:7 Ps 30:4 Ps 30:12 Ps 33:2 Ps 35:1 Ps 42:4, 5 Ps 44:8 Ps 45:17 Ps 50:14 Ps 50:23 Ps 52:9 Ps 54:6 Ps 56:12 Ps 57:9 Ps 69:30 Ps 75:1 Ps 79:13 Ps 86:12 Ps 92:1 Ps 95:2 Ps 97:12 Ps 100:4 Ps 105:1 Ps 106:1 Ps 106:47 Ps 107:1 Ps 107:8 Ps 107:15 Ps 107:21 Ps 107:22 (cp Heb 13:15) Ps 107:31 Ps 108:3 Ps 109:30 Ps 111:1 Ps 116:17 Ps 118:1 Ps 118:19 Ps 118:21 Ps 118:28 Ps 118:29 Ps 119:7 Ps 119:62 Ps 122:4 Ps 136:1 Ps 136:2 Ps 136:3 Ps 136:26 Ps 138:1 Ps 138:2 (cp Ps 138:2KJV) Ps 138:4 Ps 139:14 Ps 140:13 Ps 142:7 Ps 145:10 Ps 147:7. It is notable that one the chief traits of unregenerate men is the absence of gratitude to God, which makes the all to often paucity of thanksgiving in God's children (me) all the more sad. Paul uses the related verb eucharisteo in Romans 1, explaining that.. for (he is amplifying why they are without excuse Ro 1:20-+) even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God, or give thanks (eucharisteo); but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. (Ro 1:21-+) Jamieson adds a cogent reminder that "Thanksgiving invites more abundant grace (2Chr 20:19 20 21 22; Ps 18:3; Ps 50:23). (2 Corinthians 4) As John
2 Coríntios 4:16
Robertson comments: "It is curious how prone we are to give in and to give out in doing the good which somehow becomes prosy or insipid to us" 2Th 3:13 But as for you, brethren, do not grow weary of doing good. Serving (Of the ministry of the word in purity, without adulteration 2Co 4:2) 2Cor 4:1 Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we received mercy, we do not lose heart John Piper rightly notes that "The apostle Paul wrestled as much as anybody with the temptation to lose heart because of the wasting away of his body. He strengthened his heart with truth about the future grace of dying. And he wrote it down so that we might follow him… The first part of his answer is in 2Co 4:16… He doesn’t lose heart because his inner man is being renewed. How? The renewing of his heart comes from something very strange: it comes from looking at what he can’t see (2Co 4:18)… This is Paul’s way of not losing heart: looking at what you can’t see. What did he see? A few verses later in 2Co 5:7, he says, “We walk by faith, not by sight.” This doesn’t mean that he leaps into the dark without evidence of what’s there. It means that the most precious and important realities in the world are beyond our physical senses. We “look” at these unseen things through the gospel. By the grace of God we see what Paul called “the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ who is the image of God” (2Co 4:4). We strengthen our hearts—we renew our courage—by fixing our gaze on the invisible, objective truth that we see in the testimony of those who saw Christ face to face. (Future Grace - The Purifying Power of Living by Faith in Future Grace ) Robert Morgan… I read recently about a man in Bucharest, Romania, who was severely beaten by an anti-Christian mob. When Good Friday came, he showed up at church still bearing his bruises and the marks of the beating. As he described what happened, he also described how he had decided to pray about the incident. He told his friends that while he could not in good conscience pray for an end to suffering, he had learned to pray this simple prayer: “Lord, give me the strength to go on.” Not long ago, I read an article by a man who had married the woman of his dreams, but one day the police showed up at his door with the heart-stopping news of her murder. It took a long time for him to begin working through his loss, but he had finally written the article on the subject of grief management that I was reading, and the title of the article was: “The Strength to Go On.” As I prepared this message, I read a newspaper article about a woman in Jackson, Tennessee, whose little baby had died from a rare disease. She has since become a counselor helping couples who face such losses, and she told the newspaper: “When it happens, you feel like you can't go on. But God gave me the strength to go on. I feel like God has given me that way to help other people live with it. That's kind of my mission — to help other people go on, to deal with the loss.” All of us come to a point in life when we aren’t sure we have the strength to go on. But the Bible has very many passages for us when we feel that way. The words strong, strength, and strengthened occur over 500 times in the Bible; and today I’d like to show you a wonderful passage that talks about the strength we need to go on—our daily strength. It’s found in the book of 2 Corinthians, which is the most autobiographical of all Paul’s writings. In 2 Corinthians he describes his hardships and heartaches in detail, telling us about his whippings and beatings and fatigue and rejection. But overall, the book doesn’t have a gloom-and-doom feel to it; it’s a triumphant book. And in 2 Corinthians 4:16-18, we find the secret as we come to another of the Bible’s great day-by-day passages: There are four dimensions here to finding the strength to go on, whatever our circumstances in life. The Onward Dimension - First, notice the onward dimension of Paul’s everyday life. 2Cor 4:16 begins—Therefore we do not lose heart. The word therefore connects this paragraph with the preceding one where Paul is talking about how he is cast down but unconquered. Notice verses 2Co 4:8ff: "We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed…” Paul’s life is beset by struggles and suffering on every side, but he has made up his mind that he wasn’t going to lose his joy, his enthusiasm, his exuberance, his victory, or his morale. In 2Cor 4:1, he declares: Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we do not lose heart. And here in 2Cor 4:16, in today’s text, he repeats himself: Therefore we do not lose heart. This is a very powerful phrase—we do not lose heart. Paul may lose sleep, but he isn’t going to lose heart. He may lose friends, but he’s not going to lose heart. He might lose earthly fame and prestige, worldly wealth and comfort; he may even lose skin off his back and years off his life, but he is determined not to lose heart. As long as he has the promises of God in the Bible and the indwelling Spirit in his heart, he is not about to lose heart. The Greek word Paul used means to lose motivation, to become weary and to become discouraged and to give up. He is saying, No matter how hard things may be I am not going to lose my motivation, fall into discouragement, lose heart, and give up. This is pure, dogged determination, and this is commended in the Bible. 1 Samuel 17:31 says, “Don’t give up hope.” 2 Chronicles 15:7: “But as for you, be strong and do not give up, for your work shall be rewarded.” Psalm 143:3 says, “When I am ready to give up, He knows what I should do.” Acts 18:9 says: “Do not be afraid, but keep on speaking and do not give up.” Romans 12:11 says, in one translation, “Never give up. Eagerly follow the Holy Spirit and serve the Lord.” 2 Corinthians 4:7 says in a modern translation: “Even when we don’t know what to do, we never give up” Hebrews 12:2-3 says: Let us keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, on whom our faith depends from beginning to end. He did not give up because of the cross! On the contrary, because of the joy that was waiting for Him, He thought nothing of the disgrace of dying on the cross, and He is now seated at the right-hand side of God’s throne. Think of what He went through; how He put up with so much hatred from sinners! So do not let yourselves become discouraged and give up. In Luke 18:1, Jesus said, “Always pray and not give up.” Perhaps you’re facing some hardships in life right now and you feel like giving up; but one the greatest secrets to the prevailing life is the refusal to give up or to give in. The greatest leaders in human history and in the world of sports and athletics have all had one thing in common—they refused to give up even when things were grim. Captain Eddie Rickenbacker, the famous American war hero, once explained his victories and successes by saying: My mother, a very poor woman in Columbus, Ohio, taught her kids to pray, to read the Bible, to follow Jesus Christ and never to give up. Alabama coach Bear Bryant said: Don’t give up at halftime. Concentrate on winning the second half. Michael Jordan said: If you run into a wall, don’t turn around and give up. Figure out how to climb it, go through it, or work around it. Golfer Tony Lema said If I had to cram all my tournament experience into one sentence, I would say, “Don’t give up and don’t let up!” That may be sports talk but that’s also Pauline theology. The apostle Paul said, “Therefore we don’t lose heart. We don’t give up and we don’t let up. We don’t allow adversity to neutralize our calling. We press on.” That’s the attitude we’ve got to adopt if we’re going to finish our course having kept the faith. BUT THOUGH OUR OUTER MAN IS DECAYING: all' ei kai o echo hemon anthropos diaphtheiretai (3SPPI): though: 2Co 12:15 Job 19:26,27 Ps 73:26 Isa 57:1,2 Mt 5:29,30 2 Corinthians 4 Resources Outer man - The material, physical nature, our bodies. Note synonyms Paul uses in this section - "earthen vessels" (2Co 4:7), "the body" (2Co 4:10), "mortal flesh" (2Co 4:11), "earthly tent… our house" (2Co 5:1), "this tent" (2Co 5:4), "at home in the body" (2Co 5:6). Murray Harris comments that in using outer and inner man "Paul is not thinking of two distinct entities, "the body" and "the soul," but is considering his total existence from two different viewpoints. His "outer man" is his whole person in his "creaturely mortality" (J. Behm, TDNT, 2:699), the man of this age; his "inner man" is his whole person as a "new creation" (2Co 5:17) or a "new man" (Col 3:9, 10), the man of the age to come. (Expositor's Bible Commentary) Wayne
2 Coríntios 4:17
Robertson points out Paul's "Careful balancing of words in contrast (affliction vs. glory, lightness vs. weight, for the moment vs. eternal). In light of the truth that "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Ro 3:23+), the truth that believers will be rewarded with immeasurable glory in heaven is another manifestation of God's amazing grace. Charles Ryrie says that the glory of God "is the manifestation of any or all of His attributes. In other words, it is the displaying of God to the world. Thus, things which glorify God are things which show the characteristics of His being to the world." Horatio Bonar on "Glory Awaiting Us" For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.—2 Cor. 4:17. All that awaits us is glorious. There is "a rest," a Sabbath-keeping in store for us (Heb. 4:6); and this "rest shall be glorious." (Is 11:10.) The kingdom that we claim is a glorious kingdom, the crown which we are to wear is a glorious crown. The city of our habitation is a glorious city. The garments which shall clothe us are garments "for glory and beauty." Our bodies shall be glorious bodies, fashioned after the likeness of Christ's "glorious body." (Php 3:21.) Our society shall be that of the glorified. Our songs shall be songs of glory. And of the region which we are to inhabit it is said, the glory of God doth lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof. (Rev. 21:23.) "That they may behold my glory," the Lord pleaded for his own. This is the sum of all. Other glories there will be, as we shall see; but this is the sum of all. It is the very utmost that even "the Lord of glory" could ask for them. Having sought this, he could seek no more; he could go no further. And our response to this is, "Let me see thy glory;" yes, and the glad confidence which we rest in is this: "As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness; I shall be satisfied when I wake with thy likeness." This is our ambition. Divine and blessed ambition, in which there is no pride, no presumption, and no excess! Nothing less can satisfy than the directest, fullest vision of incarnate glory. Self-emptied, before the infinite Majesty, and conscious of being wholly unworthy even of a servant's place, we yet feel as if drawn irresistibly into the innermost circle and center, satisfied with nothing less than the "fullness of Him that fills all in all." J R Miller helps us understand the idea of an eternal weight of glory in his discussion of the one true aim of living… What is success? What is the true aim in life? What should one, setting out to make his way through this world—take as the goal of all his living and striving? 'Views of life' differ widely. Many think they are in this world to make a career for themselves. They set out with some splendid vision of success in their mind—and they devote their life to the realizing of this vision. If they fail in this, they suppose they have failed in life. If they achieve their dream—they consider themselves, and are considered by others, as successful. The world has no other standard of success: it may be the amassing of wealth; it may be the winning of power among men; it may be the triumph of a certain skill; or genius in art, in literature, in music, etc. But whatever the definite object may be, it is purely an earthly ambition. Applying this standard to life—but few men are really successful. Great men are as rare as lofty mountain peaks. Only a few win the high places; the mass remain in the low valleys. Only a few win honor, rise into fame, and achieve 'distinction'; while the great multitude remain in obscurity—or go down in the dust of earthly defeat. Is this the only standard of success in life? Do all men, except for the few who win earth's prizes, really fail? Is there no other kind of success? The world's answer gives no comfort to those who find themselves among 'the unhonored'. But there is another sphere—there is a life in which success is not material—but spiritual. One may utterly fail, so far as earthly results are concerned; and yet, in the invisible spiritual realm—be a splendid winner in the race! THE TRUE TEST OF A LIFE WELL LIVED: CHARACTER The true test of life—is character. Everything else is extraneous, belonging only to the husk, which shall fall off in the day of ripening! Character is the kernel, the wheat—that which is true and enduring. Nothing else is worth while—except that which we can carry with us through death, and into eternity! "So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." 2 Corinthians 4:18 It is altogether possible that a man may fail of winning any earthly greatness, any distinction among men, anything that will immortalize him in this world's calendars—and yet be richly and nobly successful in spiritual things, in character, in a ministry of usefulness, in things which shall abide—when mountains have crumbled into dust! It is possible for one to fall behind in the race for wealth and honor—and yet all the while to be building up in himself—an eternal fabric of beauty and strength! What is the standard of success in the sphere of the unseen and the eternal? It is the doing of the will of God. He who does the will of God—makes his life radiant and beautiful, though in the world's scale he is rated as having altogether failed in the battle. He who is true, just, humble, pure, pleasing God and living unselfishly—is the only man who really succeeds—while all others fail. Really, there is no other final and infallible standard of living. One who writes his name highest in earth's lists, and yet has not done God's will—has failed, as God Himself looks at his career. God had a purpose in our creation—and we only succeed, when our life carries out this purpose. The most radiant career, as it appears to men, means nothing—if it is not that for which God made us. We fail in life—if we do not realize God's will for us. We live worthily—only when we do what God sent us here to do. A splendid career in the sight of men—has no splendor in God's sight! Not the making of a fine worldly career, therefore—but the simple doing of God's will—is the one true aim in living. Only thus can we achieve real success. If we do this, though we fail in the earthly race—we shall not fail in God's sight. We may make no name among men, may raise for ourselves no monument of earthly glory—but if we please God by a life of obedience and humble service, and build up within us a character in which divine virtues shine, we shall have attained abiding success! (Ed: In other words we attain an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison!) A W
2 Coríntios 4:18
Robertson comments: What a picture of some converts in our modern revivals. They drop away overnight because they did not have the root of the matter in them. This man does not last or hold out. Hebrews 11:25+ (MOSES) choosing rather to endure ill-treatment with the people of God, than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin Comment: Oh, how we need to meditate on this truth, that we might pass over the temptation to gratify ourselves with passing pleasure. How easily we give in to the temporal to the decrement of the eternal! A worldly person lives for the passing, polluting pleasures of the flesh (cf 2Pe 1:4b+), but a dedicated Christian lives for the present and eternal joys of the Spirit. A worldly believer lives for what he can see, the lust of the eyes, but a spiritual believer lives for the unseen realities of God (2 Cor. 4:8-18) THOUGHT - Father, please give every saint reading this note Spirit enabled eternal vision for the sake of the glory of Your great Name in Christ. Amen. Things not seen are eternal - The underscores the fact that eternity is not a mere extension of time, but a condition qualitatively different from time. The “things… eternal” exist as much now as they will ever do. The implication is that while we cannot see the invisible with our physical eye, the eye of faith (2Co 5:7) allows us to see what the physical eye is incapable of seeing. Broomall writes "Eternity is the everlasting now; we live in the midst of it, although we cannot see it. In the glorified state we shall know fully (cf. I Cor 13:12) and see fully ( Cf. I Jn 3:2). Now we walk by faith. (Wycliffe Bible Commentary online 2 Corinthians 4) All believers need to seek to maintain the holy heavenly attitude that Moses possessed (and which "possessed" Moses!)… Choosing rather to endure ill-treatment with the people of God, than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin; (Hebrews 11:25+) considering the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he was looking to the reward. (Hebrews 11:26+) By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured (remained strong, steadfast, firm, able to endure, hold out and bear the burden), as seeing Him who is unseen. (Hebrews 11:27+) Comment: Moses did not fear the visible king because he saw the Invisible One. This verse also provides a nice segue to the writer's exhortation in Hebrews 12 to fix our eyes on Jesus (Who we have not seen with physical eyes but with spiritual eyes as we read of Him in the Word - see Heb 12:2+) (See Ro 1:20+ for an interesting aspect of seeing the invisible - men saw the attributes of God in creation but refused to "accept" them, instead rejecting and even exchanging truth for a lie Ro 1:25+) - Moses saw He Who is unseen and unknowable apart from His gracious revelation (believers today have His full written revelation) because Moses was obedient to His call… he was pure in heart and thus he saw God. Faith leaves Egypt (the things which are seen are temporal), does not fear the wrath of the prince of the power of the air and demonstrates the reality of this conviction by holding out against afflictions and persecutions for His Name's sake, enabled to do so because He has given that person a vision of eternity and the Eternal One (the things which are not seen are eternal). As believers we need to remember that according to Paul in a mystical way I cannot fully comprehend we as believers are already seated in heaven, a position which should facilitate our vision of the invisible eternal things… and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places, in Christ Jesus (Ep 2:6+) John Piper emphasizes the importance of the Gospel in "seeing the unseen" writing that "The parallels between this text (2Co 4:16-18) and 2 Corinthians 3:18 are instructive. Being “renewed day by day” (2Co 4:16) is part of being “transformed … from one degree of glory to another.” And looking “to the things that are unseen” includes “beholding the glory of the Lord”—because “the glory of the Lord” in Paul’s mind is in the category of “things that are not seen” by the ordinary physical eye. Seeing the unseen glory of Christ in the Gospel is the key to inner transformation from day to day and from glory to glory. (Excerpts from Chapter 6 on page 87 - read the entire chapter for an insightful discussion of sanctification - God Is the Gospel Meditations on God's Love as the Gift of Himself - download) The need for eternal vision - Often when people get a little discouraged about what they are getting done, it helps them to step back and get a broader perspective. We have become too spiritually nearsighted, and living in a world of “instant everything” has robbed us of the perspective of time. Time has a way of reversing judgments, and eternity has a way of telling us what was valuable and what was permanent and exposing that which was temporary and useless. (K L Chafin - The Preacher's Commentary Volume 30- 1, 2 Corinthians) Andrew Murray contrasts vision of the visible and invisible - And these three are one in root and essence. The spirit of this world is, that man makes himself his own end: he makes himself the central point of the world: all creation, so far as he has power over it, must serve him; he seeks his life in the visible. This is the spirit of the world: to seek one’s self and the visible. (John 5:44) And the Spirit of Jesus: to live not for one’s self and not for the visible, but for God and the things that are invisible. (2Cor. 4:18; 5:7, 15) (The New Life - Chapter 40 = Conformity to the World) Clear Vision - A MAN was getting his windshield washed and wiped at the filling station. When the attendant finished doing his windshield, the man said, "Terrible job! Redo my windshield. That windshield's as dirty as when you started." The filling station attendant wiped it again. The man in the car looked it over, and then in frustration said, "My goodness! Can't you even clean a windshield? This window has not changed." The attendant did it again. The man's wife was sitting next to him in the car, fuming. She reached over, pulled off his glasses, wiped them, and gave them back to him. The attendant had been doing his job correctly. The man himself was the problem all along. (Tony Evans' Book of Illustrations). Charles Simeon (biography) describes the spiritually minded (in Ro 8:6)… Happy they who are of this description! Let such adore the grace that has caused them to differ from others. Let them endeavor to improve in spirituality of mind; let them guard against relapses, which will destroy their peace (Ed: and joy); and let their eyes be fixed upon the eternal state, where their present bliss shall be consummated in glory. (Ed: Hallelujah! Amen!) (from Romans 8:6 The Carnal and Spiritual Mind Contrasted) Charles Simeon speaks of eternal vision… To a man who has heaven in his eye, nothing is impossible. Behold Moses, when at the summit of human grandeur and power: an alternative was before him, “to suffer affliction with the people of God, or to enjoy the pleasures” and honours of the court of Pharaoh: and which did he prefer? He chose “the reproach of Christ, esteeming it to be greater riches than all the treasures of Egypt.” And what guided him to this strange decision? it was hope; “he had respect unto the recompense of the reward.” (He 11:24, 25, 26-+) In like manner St. Paul “pressed forward with incessant ardour in his heavenly course, forgetting what was behind, and reaching forward to what was before.” (Php 3:13-+) And, if we inquire into the principle which animated him to such exertions, we shall find that it was precisely that which is mentioned in our text,—the hope and prospect of securing “the prize of his high calling.” (Php 3:14-+) We may even say that our blessed Lord himself, as a man, was actuated by the same divine principle; since it was “for the joy that was set before him, that he endured the cross and despised the shame, and rested not till he sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (He 12:2-+) And we too, if we would “run our race with patience,” (He 12:1-+) must imitate him in this respect; we must keep our eye steadily fixed on him, and continue without intermission “looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ.” (Titus 2:13-+) Then shall we “be steadfast, unmoveable, and always abounding in the work of the Lord,” when we are convinced in our mind, “that our labour shall not be in vain in the Lord.” (Romans 8:24, 25 The Office of Hope) Keep your eye fixed on heaven, as your home What would ever divert your steps, or retard them for an instant, if you contemplated, as you ought, the blessedness that awaits you at the close of your journey? To be in your Father’s house, in the very mansion prepared for you; yea, and in the very bosom of that Saviour, who went, as your forerunner, to prepare it—to have all your trials for ever terminated, and all your dangers for ever past, and all your labours for ever closed; and to have nothing but an eternity of bliss, such as no words can express, no imagination can conceive—what joy will you feel in the retrospect, what exultation in the prospect, and, above all, what recollections as arising from the stupendous mystery of redemption, whereby the whole has been accomplished for you! Set before you this prize; and then tell me, whether you will ever need any thing to carry you forward in your heavenly course. Truly, the contemplation of that glory will swallow up every thing else, even as the stars of heaven are eclipsed by the meridian sun. Joys will be no joys, and sorrows no sorrows—I mean, not worth being so accounted—if only you keep heaven in your view: for neither the comforts “nor the sufferings of this present life are worthy to be compared with the glory that shall be revealed in us.” (Ro 8:18-+) Moses (He 11:24, 25, 26-+), and Paul (Acts 20:24), and all the saints (He 11:35-+), yea, and even the Lord Jesus Christ himself, were animated by this thought: and, if it fully possess your mind, you can never faint, nor ever come short of the rest that remains for you (2Pe 1:10,11-+). (Saints Strangers on Earth) Charles Simeon has some thoughts about whether we are looking for the visible temporal or the invisible eternal… The thoughts will naturally be fixed on the objects that are best suited to the reigning principle: to these objects they recur with frequency, fervor, and complacency. If we be under the dominion of a carnal principle, we shall be thinking of some pleasure, profit, honour, or other worldly vanity: if we be led by a spiritual principle, God, and Christ, and the concerns of the soul, will occupy the mind. Whatever we most esteem, we desire it when absent, hope for if it be attainable, love the means of attaining it, and rejoice in it when secured. If there be danger of losing it, we fear; we hate the means that would deprive us of it; and if it be lost, we grieve. The carnal mind is thus exercised about carnal objects: the spiritual mind is thus exercised about spiritual objects. Hence that caution given us with respect to the affections—The principles will yet further influence our aims and ends of action—A carnal man can only act from carnal motives: he will have carnal aims even in spiritual employments. A spiritual man, on the contrary, will act from spiritual motives: he will act with spiritual views even in his temporal concerns. The one will seek his own interest or honour, and the other God’s glory. (The Carnal and Spiritual Mind Contrasted) Keep your eyes steadily fixed on your eternal inheritance—The man who is in a race keeps his mind fixed, as it were, upon the prize; which he is determined, if possible, to obtain. Do ye in like manner keep in view the prize of your high calling; and “have respect, even as Moses had, to the recompense of the reward.” In the prospect of heaven, every trial will appear light, every effort be accounted easy. What we may meet with in life, or whether we shall ever behold each other’s face again in this world, God alone knows. But let us live for God, and for eternity: let us live, as we shall wish we had lived, when we shall stand before the judgment-seat of Christ to receive our eternal doom. Let us go forward in the path of duty, assured, that the rest which awaits us will richly repay our labours, and the crown of righteousness our conflicts. (A Farewell Discourse) A W Pink Faith overcomes the world thirdly, by occupying the soul with more glorious, soul-delighting and satisfying objects. We often hear and see 2 Corinthians 4:16 or 17 quoted—but rarely the explanatory words which follow. The daily renewing of the inner man and our afflictions working for us an eternal weight of glory are qualified by: "While we look not at the things which are seen—but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal" (2 Corinthians 4:18). The more the substance of the heavenly world engages the heart, the less hold will the shadows of this earthly world have upon it. Thus, faith wrought in the saints of old: "You accepted the confiscation of your property, because you knew that you yourselves had better and lasting possessions" (Hebrews 10:34). "By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God" (Hebrews 11:9-10). (Faith as an Overcomer) Faith looks within the veil, and so has a mighty influence to support the soul in time of trial. He who walks in the light of Eternity goes calmly and happily along through the mists and fogs of time; neither the frowns of men nor the blandishments of the world affect him, for he has a ravishing and affecting sight of the glorious Inheritance to which he is journeying. (An exposition of The Faith of Abraham Hebrews 11:17). while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are unseen” (2 Cor. 4:17, 18)… is the language of joyous anticipation. No matter how dark may the clouds which now cover thy horizon, ere long the Sun of righteousness shall arise with healing in His wings. (An exposition of Hebrews - Divine Chastisement Hebrews 12:7) Faith is a looking not at the things which are seen, but a looking “at the things which are not seen” (2 Cor. 4:18)—strange paradox to the natural man! (Gleanings in Exodus - Crossing the Red Sea) The principle of grace received at the new birth not only inclines its possessor to love God and to act in faith upon His Word, but it also disposes him to “look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen” (2Co 4:17, 18), inclining his aspirations away from the present toward his glorious future. Thomas Manton aptly declares, “The new nature was made for another world: it came from thence, and it carrieth the soul thither.” Hope is an assured expectation of future good. While faith is in exercise, a vista of unclouded bliss is set before the heart, and hope enters into the enjoyment of the same. It is a living hope exercised within a dying environment, and it both supports and invigorates all of us who believe. While in healthy activity, hope not only sustains amid the trials of this life but lifts us above them. Oh, for hearts to be more engaged in joyous anticipations of the future! For such hopeful hearts will quicken us to duty and stimulate us to perseverance. In proportion to the intelligence and strength of our hope will we be delivered from the fear of death. (A guide to fervent prayer - The Great Interests of the Regenerate Soul) Eternal (166) (aionios from aion) means existing at all times, perpetual, pertaining to an unlimited duration of time (Ro 1:20 - God's power, Mt 18:8 - God's place of judgment, Ro 16:26 - God's attribute). Thayer summarizes …Without end, never to cease, everlasting: Eternal describes a number of entities in the NT -- kingdom = 2Pe 1:11, glory = 2Co 4:17 2Ti 2:10, 1Pe 5:10; inheritance = He 9:15; redemption = He 9:12; comfort = 2Th 2:16; dwelling places = Lk 16:9, 2Co 5:1; salvation = He 5:9; punishment = Mt 25:46; destruction = 2Th 1:9; judgment = He 6:2; sin = Mk 3:29). A W
2 Coríntios 4:18
Robertson commenting on Heb 11:27 writes that "seeing him who is invisible… is the secret of his choice and of his loyalty to God and to God's people. This is the secret of loyalty in any minister today who is the interpreter of God to man (2 Corinthians 4) William Barclay "There are two ways of looking at life. We can look at it as a slow but inexorable journey away from God. Wordsworth in his Ode on the Intimations of Immortality had the idea that when a child came into this world he had some memory of heaven which the years slowly took away from him. “Trailing clouds of glory do we come,” but, “Shades of the prison house begin to close About the growing boy.” And in the end the man is earthbound and heaven is forgotten. Thomas Hood wrote with wistful pathos: “I remember, I remember The fir-trees dark and high. I used to think their slender spires Were close against the sky. It was a childish ignorance But now ‘tis little joy To know, I’m farther off from heaven Than when I was a boy.” If we think only of the things that are visible we are bound to see life that way. But there is another way. The writer to the Hebrews said of Moses: “He endured as seeing him who is invisible.” (Hebrews 11:27). Robert Louis Stevenson tells of an old byreman. Someone was sympathizing with him about his daily work amidst the muck of the byre and asking him how he could go on doing it day in and day out, and the old man answered, “He that has something ayont (beyond) need never weary.” (2 Corinthians 4 Commentary) Thomas Doolittle The good things in this world which are seen—such as riches, pleasures, honors—are things of time, and only for time; therefore we Christians are not much concerned whether we win or lose them. And the bad things in this life which are seen—such as poverty, imprisonment, persecution—are at longest but for a short space; and therefore we are not much concerned whether we endure them, or are freed from them. "So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." 2 Corinthians 4:18 That which adds weight to the things in the other world, which draws our eyes toward them, and keeps them fixed thereon—is the eternity of them. It is the observation which believers make—that all seen things are temporal; while unseen things are eternal; and this influences them in what they do. They realize that all worldly things are but temporary toys and trifles! We seriously consider and weigh in our minds—the vanity, insufficiency, and short continuance of all visible things, both good and bad, whether profit or poverty, honor or disgrace; and the fullness, excellency, and everlasting nature of things unseen; and therefore prefer these eternal realities. Believers are lowly in heart; but they look high. The men of this world are of a haughty spirit; but they aim at low things. Take, then, a summary account of all that wicked, worldly men have—all is "but for a while." See what the richest among them have: their grandeur endures "but a short time;" and then is past and gone, and has no more existence. See what the merriest among them have—pleasures, mirth, carnal delights and joy: and this is "but for a season;" their merry bouts will be quickly over—and then follows weeping and wailing forever! Upon all they have, you may write, "All is temporal!" They had riches—but they are gone. They had honors and pleasures—but they are gone. They had many good things in time—but, at the end of time, all have an end! And then, when their endless misery comes, this will be their doleful tune, "All our good is past and gone!" It would make a man to tremble, to think what a sight these sinners shall have, after death has closed their eyes; when their soul shall see an angry God, a condemning Judge, the gates of heaven shut against it, and itself in everlasting misery! (How we should eye eternity, that it may have its due influence upon us in all we do) Samuel Davies Among all the causes of the stupid unconcernedness of sinners about true religion, and the feeble endeavors of saints to improve in it—there is none more common or more effectual, than their not forming a due estimate of the things of time—in comparison to those of eternity! Our present affairs engross all our thoughts, and exhaust all our activity—though they are but transitory trifles; while the solemn realities of the future world are hid from our eyes by the veil of flesh and the clouds of ignorance. Did these unseen eternal realities break in upon our minds in all their tremendous importance, they would … annihilate the most desired vanities of the present state, obscure the glare of all earthly glory, render all its pleasures insipid, and give us a noble resignation under all its sorrows. A realizing view of these eternal realities, would … shock the worldling in his thoughtless career, tear off the hypocrite's mask, and inflame the devotion of the languishing saints! The concern of mankind would then be how they might make a safe exit out of this world—and not how they may live happy in their earthly state. Present pleasure and pain—would be swallowed up in the prospect of everlasting happiness—or misery hereafter! Eternity, solemn eternity, would then be our serious contemplation. The pleasures of sin would strike us with horror—as they issue in eternal pain! And our present afflictions, however tedious and severe, would appear but light and momentary—if they work out for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory! (Unseen Things to Be Preferred to Seen Things) MOTIVATION TO ANTICIPATE THE UNSEEN AND ETERNAL - After World War II there was a sign on the shore of New York harbor facing all incoming troop ships, which read: WELCOME HOME. WELL DONE. When the Lord Jesus Christ appears in the air, He is going to “WELCOME HOME” every saint, for at that time He shall come to take us home to heaven. Our entrance into heaven is solely on the basis of our faith in His shed blood and death on the cross, and every believer shall receive the same “WELCOME HOME.” But, how many of us will receive His “WELL DONE,” and the “crown of righteousness”? (2Ti 4:8+, Mt 25:21, 23, Lk 19:17+) The greatest joy on earth is the sure hope of heaven! A T Pierson has a sermon outline entitled The Unseen World We look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen—2 Corinthians 4:18. Five golden thoughts are in this paragraph, 2 Corinthians 4:16-18: There is a world of the unseen. Here are the highest verities and realities. Ge 1:1: “In the beginning God.” The Invisible God, infinitely greater than all He made. The things no sense can perceive are the great things. No force is visible. We can see phenomena, but not their cause. Gravitation, light, and heat, electricity, and magnetism; all these are invisible. Life no man ever saw, nor thought, nor desire, nor love. There is a sense of the unseen. Heb 5:14. “We look,” etc. Imagination is the sense of the invisible. Memory is the sense of a vanished past; Hope, of an unseen future; Reason, of truth; Conscience, of right and wrong. These senses may be cultivated and exercised, so as to become far more acute and keen of perception; or dulled and blunted and seared into insensibility. There is an experience of the unseen. “We walk,” etc. Holy men and women have lived in the unseen world and walked with the unseen God. e.g., Pastor Gossner and his mission work—“Ringing only the prayer bell”; George Muller, Hudson Taylor, Quarrier, etc. There is an effect of the unseen upon the seer. “The inward man is renewed.” The tendency of things seen is to exalt the carnal. God gives us the Sabbath to exercise our spiritual senses; so, of the Word of God, to introduce us into hidden mysteries; Prayer, to acquaint us with an unseen God. “Moses endured as seeing Him who is invisible.” There is an effect of the unseen upon the seen. Our affliction, however heavy, becomes light in comparison with the eternal weight of glory. Our habit ought to be to weigh every experience in God’s scales, where earthly things weigh light, and heavenly things heavy. Then we should reverse many of our present judgments, and learn to give things their true value. Maxims: The only things in the universe that can work harm to us or good for us are the unseen forces. Nothing material, visible, tangible, is to be dreaded, nor can it be utilized largely. It is the unseen forces, that lie behind phenomena, that alone represent Power. Our most valued senses are not the five physical, but the five spiritual: Reason, the sense of truth; Conscience, the sense of right; Imagination, the sense of the invisible; Memory, the sense of the past; Sensibility, the sense of the morally beautiful. All true estimates depend on comparison. We must learn to measure and weigh by God’s own standards. Worldly things put in heaven’s scales weigh light; heavenly things in worldly scales weigh light—but the latter is a false estimate. The disciple of Christ is one who lives, sees, walks, in the unseen world. There alone faith reaches her greatest triumphs. And for the sake of our discipline in the power of seeing invisible things, God often constrains us to walk by faith when sight no longer avails. Sam Storms… Note the connection between 2Co 4:18 and 2Co 4:16. Our "inner person" is being renewed as we look or while we look at the unseen, eternal things of the age to come. In other words, the process of renewal only occurs as the believer looks to things as yet unseen. As we fix the gaze of our hearts on the glorious hope of the age to come, God progressively renews our inner being, notwithstanding the simultaneous decay of our outer being! Point: inner renewal does not happen automatically or mechanically … it happens only as or provided that we "look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen" (v. 18). Paul is here describing in his own terms the battle for the mind of mankind that has been raging since the beginning. On what shall we set our sights (cf. Col. 3:1-4)? To what shall we give our allegiance? On what shall we meditate and ponder and focus? One frightening statistic about this battle in our own day is the fact that the average teenager watches 18,000 murders and 35,000 commercials before he/she graduates from high school! Someone has calculated that by the time one reaches the age of 65, he/she will have spent 10 years watching TV! (2Corinthians 4:1-18) Grace Gems - Reader! let not the poor engrossments of earth eclipse the brightness of this glorious heritage. Seek to be able to say, with one who had heaven ever in his eye, "We look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are NOT seen!" (2Cor. 4:18.) He seems to say, So glorious and out-dazzling are the prospects of coming glory, that they are like the sun extinguishing the candle. The things of earth are not worth looking at—they pale into nothing, when brought side by side with the grandeur of the future. opportunities. The night of earth is "far spent," the day of eternity is close "at hand." Do not forget, it is now or never. In most other earthly things, there are new chances—new experiments; in familiar language, "we can try again." But, once across yonder boundary of time, and an irrevocable seal is stamped on the transactions of the past. The star takes its immutable place in the spiritual skies: "Where the tree falls there it shall be." F B