Part 3

003:011 For if that which was to be abolished came with glory, much more is that which is permanent arrayed in glory.

003:012 Therefore, cherishing a hope like this, we speak without reserve, and we do not imitate Moses,

003:013 who used to throw a veil over his face to hide from the gaze of the children of Israel the passing away of what was but transitory.

003:014 Nay, their minds were made dull; for to this very day during the reading of the book of the ancient Covenant, the same veil remains unlifted, because it is only in Christ that it is to be abolished.

003:015 Yes, to this day, whenever Moses is read, a veil lies upon their hearts.

003:016 But whenever the heart of the nation shall have returned to the Lord, the veil will be withdrawn.

003:017 Now by "the Lord" is meant the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, freedom is enjoyed.

003:018 And all of us, with unveiled faces, reflecting like bright mirrors the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same likeness, from one degree of radiant holiness to another, even as derived from the Lord the Spirit.

004:001 Therefore, being engaged in this service and being mindful of the mercy which has been shown us, we are not cowards.

004:002 Nay, we have renounced the secrecy which marks a feeling of shame. We practice no cunning tricks, nor do we adulterate God's Message. But by a full clear statement of the truth we strive to commend ourselves in the presence of God to every human conscience.

004:003 If, however, the meaning of our Good News has been veiled, the veil has been on the hearts of those who are on the way to perdition,

004:004 in whom the god of this present age has blinded their unbelieving minds so as to shut out the sunshine of the Good News of the glory of the Christ, who is the image of God.

004:005 (For we do not proclaim ourselves, but we proclaim Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your bondservants for the sake of Jesus.)

004:006 For God who said, "Out of darkness let light shine," is He who has shone in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God's glory, which is radiant on the face of Christ.

004:007 But we have this treasure in a fragile vase of clay, in order that the surpassing greatness of the power may be seen to belong to God, and not to originate in us.

004:008 We are hard pressed, yet never in absolute distress; perplexed, yet never utterly baffled;

004:009 pursued, yet never left unsuccoured; struck to the ground, yet never slain;

004:010 always, wherever we go, carrying with us in our bodies the putting to death of Jesus, so that in our bodies it may also be clearly shown that Jesus lives.

004:011 For we, alive though we are, are continually surrendering ourselves to death for the sake of Jesus, so that in this mortal nature of ours it may also be clearly shown that Jesus lives.

004:012 Thus we are constantly dying, while you are in full enjoyment of Life.

004:013 But possessing the same Spirit of faith as he who wrote, "I believed, and therefore I have spoken," we also believe, and therefore we speak.

004:014 For we know that He who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will raise us also to be with Jesus, and will cause both us and you to stand in His own presence.

004:015 For everything is for your sakes, in order that grace, being more richly bestowed because of the thanksgivings of the increased number, may more and more promote the glory of God.

004:016 Therefore we are not cowards. Nay, even though our outward man is wasting away, yet our inward man is being renewed day by day.

004:017 For this our light and transitory burden of suffering is achieving for us a preponderating, yes, a vastly preponderating, and eternal weight of glory;

004:018 while we look not at things seen, but things unseen; for things seen are temporary, but things unseen are eternal.

005:001 For we know that if this poor tent, our earthly house, is taken down, we have in Heaven a building which God has provided, a house not built by human hands, but eternal.

005:002 For in this one we sigh, because we long to put on over it our dwelling which comes from Heaven--