2 Corinthians 4 Bible study: Treasure in clay vessels

The chapter opens, "Therefore, seeing we have this ministry, even as we obtained mercy, we don’t faint." (4:1) (tap faint). It goes on, "But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness nor handling the word of God deceitfully, but by the manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God." (4:2). The chapter speaks as we, and sets that we beside you: "So then death works in us, but life in you." (4:12). The letter opens with two senders, "Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus through the will of God, and Timothy our brother" (1:1); this chapter names no one as its we, and these notes don't either.

Psalms 116:10→leads to2 Corinthians 4:14

The psalm says, "I believed, therefore I said, “I was greatly afflicted.”" (Psalm 116:10). Paul, "an apostle of Christ Jesus" (2 Corinthians 1:1), writes, "But having the same spirit of faith, according to that which is written, “I believed, and therefore I spoke.” We also believe, and therefore we also speak" (2 Corinthians 4:13), and the same sentence goes on, "knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also through Jesus, and will present us with you" (2 Corinthians 4:14). 2 Corinthians doesn't name the psalm and gives only its first words, and the WEB words them a little differently (therefore I said in the psalm, and therefore I spoke in 2 Corinthians). Paul applies the words to himself and those with him, "We also believe" (2 Corinthians 4:13), not to Jesus, and doesn't say the psalm speaks of Jesus. What takes the line to Jesus is Paul's own sentence: those who believe and speak do so "knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also through Jesus" (2 Corinthians 4:14). The psalm itself doesn't speak of anyone being raised, and these notes don't read that into it.

φωτισμόςphotismossay fo-tis-MOS

Strong's: "illumination (figuratively)". "that the light of the Good News of the glory of Christ" (4:4): behind light is this noun. Two verses later it comes again: "to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ" (4:6). The New Testament has the noun only in these two verses (counted in RP2018). God's words "Light will shine out of darkness" (4:6) have another noun, the one Favor studies as phos (first in Matthew 4).