2 Corinthians 4

2 Corinthians 4:1-18 . HIS PREACHING IS OPEN AND SINCERE, THOUGH TO MANY THE GOSPEL IS HIDDEN.

For he preaches Christ, not himself: the human vessel is frail that God may have the glory; yet, though frail, faith and the hope of future glory sustain him amidst the decay of the outward man.

1. Therefore--Greek, "For this cause": Because we have the liberty-giving Spirit of the Lord, and with unveiled face behold His glory ( 2 Corinthians 3:17 2 Corinthians 3:18 ).
seeing we have this ministry--"The ministration of the Spirit" ( 2 Corinthians 3:8 2 Corinthians 3:9 ): the ministry of such a spiritual, liberty-giving Gospel: resuming 2 Corinthians 3:6 2 Corinthians 3:8 .
received mercy--from God, in having had this ministry conferred on us ( 2 Corinthians 3:5 ). The sense of "mercy" received from God, makes men active for God ( 1 Timothy 1:11-13 ).
we faint not--in boldness of speech and action, and patience in suffering ( 2 Corinthians 4:2 2 Corinthians 4:8-16 , &c.).

2. renounced--literally, "bid farewell to."
of dishonesty--rather, "of shame." "I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ" ( Romans 1:16 ). Shame would lead to hiding ( 2 Corinthians 4:3 ); whereas "we use great plainness of speech" ( 2 Corinthians 3:12 ); "by manifestation of the truth." Compare 2 Corinthians 3:3 , "manifestly declared." He refers to the disingenuous artifices of "many" teachers at Corinth ( 2 Corinthians 2:17 , 3:1 , 11:13-15 ).
handling . . . deceitfully--so "corrupt" or adulterate "the word of God" ( 2 Corinthians 2:17 ; compare 1 Thessalonians 2:3 1 Thessalonians 2:4 ).
commending--recommending ourselves: recurring to 2 Corinthians 3:1 .
to--to the verdict of.
every man's conscience--( 2 Corinthians 5:11 ). Not to men's carnal judgment, as those alluded to ( 2 Corinthians 3:1 ).
in the sight of God--( 2 Corinthians 2:17 , Galatians 1:10 ).

3. But if--Yea, even if (as I grant is the case).
hid--rather (in reference to 2 Corinthians 3:13-18 ), "veiled." "Hid" (Greek, Colossians 3:3 ) is said of that withdrawn from view altogether. "Veiled," of a thing within reach of the eye, but covered over so as not to be seen. So it was in the case of Moses' face.
to them--in the case only of them: for in itself the Gospel is quite plain.
that are lost--rather, "that are perishing" ( 1 Corinthians 1:18 ). So the same cloud that was "light" to the people of God, was "darkness" to the Egyptian foes of God ( Exodus 14:20 ).