2 Corinthians 4:1
in 2 Corinthians 4Therefore, since God in His mercy has given us this ministry, we do not lose heart.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Therefore seeing we have this ministry, even as we obtained mercy, we faint not:
KJV
Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not;
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This verse in 2 Corinthians 4
Commentary
12 notes on this verseA commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
Therefore - Διὰ τοῦτο Dia touto. On account of this. That is, because the light of the gospel is so clear; because it reveals so glorious truths, and all obscurity is taken away, and we are permitted to behold as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, 2Co 3:18. Since the glories of the gospel dispensation are so great, and its effects on the heart are so transforming and purifying. The object is, to show the “effect” of being entrusted with such a ministry, on the character of his preaching.
This site's exposition
God in His mercy has given us
on 2 Corinthians 4:1-2
Paul grounds his endurance in mercy, since God in His mercy has given us this ministry. Verse 2 names his method: by open proclamation of the truth, we commend ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers3 voices
Paul attributes his perseverance not to human merit but to the mercy of God, which first cleanses a person, then makes him righteous, adopts him as a son of God and endows him with a glory like the glory of God's own Son.
Seeing he had uttered great things and had set himself and all the faithful before Moses, aware of the height and greatness of what he had said, observe how he moderates his tone again. For it was necessary on account of the false Apostles to exalt his hearers also, and again to calm down that swelling; yet not to do it away, since this would be a trifler's part. Wherefore he manages this in another manner, by showing that not of their own merits was it, but all of the loving-kindness of God. Wherefore also he says, "Therefore seeing we have this ministry." For nothing more did we contribute, except that we became ministers, and made ourselves subservient to the things given by God. Wherefore he said not 'largess,' nor 'supply,' but 'ministry.' Nor was he contented with this even, but added, "as we obtained mercy." For even this itself, he saith, the ministering to these things, is of mercy and loving-kindness. Yet it is mercy's to deliver from evils, not to give so many good things besides: but the mercy of God includes this also. "We faint not." And this indeed is to be imputed to His loving-kindness. For the clause, "as we obtained mercy," take to be said with reference both to the "ministry," and to the words, "we faint not." And observe how earnestly he endeavors to lower his own things. 'For,' saith he, 'that one who hath been counted worthy of such and so great things, and this from mercy only and loving-kindness, should show forth such labors, and undergo dangers, and endure temptations, is no great matter. Therefore we not only do not sink down, but we even rejoice and speak boldly.'
For what kind (of hypothesis) is it, that the very moment after making a largess of restoration to the privileges of ecclesiastical peace to an incestuous fornicator, he should forthwith have proceeded to accumulate exhortations about turning away from impurities, about pruning away of blemishes, about exhortations to deeds of sanctity, as if he had decreed nothing of a contrary nature just before?
The Medieval Church2 voices
Having shown the dignity of the New Testament ministry, the Apostle now discusses the exercise of this ministry. In regard to this he does two things. First, he shows that the exercise of this ministry should consist in doing good; secondly it should consist also …
Since he expressed many great things, saying that we, the apostles, are above Moses (for if all are above, then all the more so they), he tempers his word and says: all this belongs to God. For we are only ministers, and the fact that …
5 more voices on this verse
The Reformation1 voice
He now returns to a commendation of himself personally, from which he had digressed into a general discussion, in reference to the dignity of the gospel. As, therefore, he has been treating of the nature of the gospel, so he now shows how faithful and upright a minister of it he is. He has previously shown, what is the true gospel of Christ.
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
5 ), they received strength to persevere in the work of that office. Note, As it is great mercy and grace to be called to be saints, and especially to be counted faithful, and be put into the ministry ( 1 Tim. i. 12 ), so it is owing to the mercy and grace of God if we continue faithful and persevere in our work with diligence.
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — leading-citation-number+unbalanced-parens
Therefore seeing we have this ministry,....
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
Therefore--Greek, "For this cause": Because we have the liberty-giving Spirit of the Lord, and with unveiled face behold His glory (2Co 3:17, 18). seeing we have this ministry--"The ministration of the Spirit" (2Co 3:8, 9): the ministry of such a spiritual, liberty-giving Gospel: resuming 2Co 3:6, 8. received mercy--from God, in having had this ministry conferred on us (2Co 3:5).
Seeing we have this ministry - The Gospel, of which he gave that noble account which we read in the preceding chapter. We faint not - We meet with many tribulations, but are supported in and through all by the grace of the Gospel. Instead of ουκ εκκακουμεν, we faint not, ουκ εγκακουμεν, we act not wickedly, is the reading of ADFG, and some others. Wakefield thinks it the genuine reading; it certainly makes a very good sense with what goes before and what follows. If we follow this reading the whole verse may be read thus: Wherefore, as we have obtained mercy, or been graciously intrusted, ηλεηθημην, with this ministry, we do not act wickedly, but have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, etc.
The words behind it
10 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Διὰ | dia | Because of | G1223 → | 664 times |
| τοῦτο | touto | this | G3778 → | 1381 times |
| ἔχοντες | echontes | having | G2192 → | 707 times |
| τὴν | ten | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| διακονίαν | diakonian | ministry | G1248 → | 34 times |
| ταύτην | tauten | this | G3778 → | 1381 times |
| καθὼς | kathos | even as | G2531 → | 182 times |
| ἠλεήθημεν, | eleethemen | we received mercy, | G1653 → | |
| οὐκ | ouk | not | G3756 → | 1664 times |
| ἐγκακοῦμεν, | egkakoumen | we lose heart, | G1573 → |
ΔιὰBecause of
diaG1223 →664 times
τοῦτοthis
toutoG3778 →1381 times
ἔχοντεςhaving
echontesG2192 →707 times
τὴν<the>
tenG3588 →19766 times
διακονίανministry
diakonianG1248 →34 times
ταύτηνthis
tautenG3778 →1381 times
καθὼςeven as
kathosG2531 →182 times
ἠλεήθημεν,we received mercy,
eleethemenG1653 →
οὐκnot
oukG3756 →1664 times
ἐγκακοῦμεν,we lose heart,
egkakoumenG1573 →
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Galatians 6:9Let us not grow weary in well-doing, for in due time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
it leads to
- 1 Corinthians 15:58
Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast and immovable. Always excel in the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.
- Hebrews 12:3
Consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- 2 Thessalonians 3:13
But as for you, brothers, do not grow weary in well-doing.
- Isaiah 40:30–31
Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall.
- Hebrews 10:35–39
So do not throw away your confidence; it holds a great reward.
- 1 Corinthians 15:58
Through
2 Corinthians 4:16Therefore we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, yet our inner self is being renewed day by day.
it leads to
- Isaiah 40:31
But those who wait upon the LORD will renew their strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not faint.
- Colossians 3:10
and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.
- Isaiah 40:29
He gives power to the faint and increases the strength of the weak.
- Isaiah 40:31
Where this verse is studied
About 2 Corinthians
This page draws on 12 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Ambrosiaster, COMMENTARY ON PAUL'S EPISTLES; Charles Hodge, An Exposition of the Second Epistle to the Corinthians; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Calvin, Commentaries; John Chrysostom, Homily 8 on 2 Corinthians; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Tertullian, On Modesty; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on 2 Corinthians and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on 2 Corinthians.