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InterlinearVerse GEN EXO LEV NUM DEU JOB JOS JDG RUTH 1 SAM 2 SAM PSA AMOS HOS 1 KI 2 KI 1 CHR 2 CHR PROV ECC SNG JOEL MIC ISA ZEP HAB JER LAM YNA (JNA) NAH OBA DAN EZE EZRA EST NEH HAG ZEC MAL LAO GES LES ESG DNG 2 PS TOB JDT WIS SIR BAR LJE PAZ SUS BEL MAN 1 MAC 2 MAC 3 MAC 4 MAC YHN (JHN) MARK MAT LUKE ACTs YAC (JAM) GAL 1 TH 2 TH 1 COR 2 COR ROM COL PHM EPH PHP 1 TIM TIT 1 PET 2 PET 2 TIM HEB YUD (JUD) 1 YHN (1 JHN) 2 YHN (2 JHN) 3 YHN (3 JHN) REV
2 Cor C1 C2 C3 C4 C5 C6 C7 C8 C9 C10 C11 C12 C13
2 Cor 4 V1 V2 V3 V4 V5 V6 V7 V8 V9 V10 V11 V12 V13 V14 V15 V16 V17
OET (OET-LV) not observing of_us the things being_seen, but the things not being_seen, because/for the things being_seen are temporary, but the things not being_seen are eternal.
OET (OET-RV) We don’t just look at what we can see, but include the things that can’t be seen, because visible things are temporary, but the things that last forever are invisible to our eyes.
In this section, Paul continued to speak of the difficulties that he and the other evangelists encountered as they did the work of the new covenant. He referred to their bodies as jars of clay (4:7a), which are easily shattered. He said this to show that our human nature is weak and easily fails as we follow God. But Paul was also encouraged that God enabled him to do the work of the new covenant in spite of great difficulties (4:7b–9).
He wrote that he and the other evangelists experienced things similar to what Jesus experienced before he died, but those experiences showed to other people how Jesus lived (4:10–11). He wrote that the believers experienced the good effects of Jesus’ life (4:12). He supported his ministry of preaching with a quote from the Old Testament (4:13), and he explained the promise there (4:14). He wrote that their ministry benefited the believers in Corinth and others as well (4:15).
Lastly, Paul wrote how they continue in spite of the difficulties (4:16–18).
Other examples of headings for this section are:
Spiritual Treasure in Clay Jars (NCV)
Even though our bodies are weak, God gives us strength to tell the gospel
A glorious, powerful message taught by weak messengers
So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen.
while we(excl) set our gaze on what is unseen rather than on what is seen.
We keep our attention on things that cannot be seen, instead of keeping our attention on things that can be seen.
So we fix our eyes: The Greek clause is literally “fixing our eyes.” It indicates a connection to 4:17, but it does not indicate exactly which kind of connection. There are several ways to interpret the connection:
4:18 describes Paul’s attitude while the troubles gain him glory. For example:
while we look (NASB) (NASB, KJV, NABRE, ESV)
The connection is best left untranslated. This may imply interpretation (1). For example:
We set our eyes (NCV) (GW, CEV, NCV)
4:18 describes the result of troubles gaining Paul glory. For example:
So we…fix our gaze (NLT) (BSB, NIV, NLT)
4:18 describes the reason why troubles gain Paul glory. For example:
because we look (RSV) (RSV, GNT, NJB, NET)
It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), since the connections of “reason” or “result” seem unlikely here.Thrall says that it is “accompanying circumstances” and argues against it being a connection of “reason” (p. 355). Martin translates the text according to interpretation (1), “as we set our gaze” (p. 92). See the ESV in the Display for an example of interpretation (1).
we fix our eyes: This clause means “we focus our attention on,” or “we think much about.” Other ways to translate this clause are:
we fix our gaze (NLT)
fix our attention (GNT)
our eyes are fixed (REB)
we keep our minds (CEV)
we are looking all the time (JBP)
what is seen: This phrase refers to all the things in the physical world. It refers to the things people can see in their physical existence on earth. Other ways to translate this phrase are:
the things that are seen (RSV)
things that can be seen (GW)
but on what is unseen: The phrase “we fix our eyes” is implied but not repeated here. In some languages it is more natural to repeat the verb. For example:
but we fix our eyes on what is unseen
what is unseen: This phrase refers to all the things in the eternal, spiritual world. It refers to the things people will see in their eternal existence in heaven, including God. Other ways to translate this phrase are:
the things that are unseen (RSV)
things that can’t be seen (GW)
Paul referred to what is not seen before what is seen. In some languages it is more natural to refer to what is seen first. For example:
we fix our eyes on what is unseen, not on what is seen
For what is seen is temporary,
We do that because the things that are seen will not last forever,
Things that can be seen are only temporary. (GW)
what is seen is temporary: This clause indicates that one day the physical world will not exist (Revelation 20:11). Other ways to translate this clause are:
the things that are seen are transient (RSV)
Things that can be seen are only temporary (GW)
the things we see now will soon be gone (NLT)
but what is unseen is eternal.
but the things that are unseen will last forever.
But things that can’t be seen last forever. (GW)
what is unseen is eternal: This clause indicates that the spiritual world will continue to exist. It will not end. Other ways to translate this clause are:
the things that are unseen are eternal (RSV)
things that can’t be seen last forever (GW)
the things we cannot see will last forever (NLT)
Note 1 topic: grammar-connect-logic-result
μὴ σκοπούντων ἡμῶν
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: μή σκοπούντων ἡμῶν τά βλεπόμενα ἀλλά τά μή βλεπόμενα τά γάρ βλεπόμενα πρόσκαιρα τά δέ μή βλεπόμενα αἰωνία)
Here, the phrase We are not watching could introduce: (1) a result or inference from what Paul said about “affliction” and “glory” in [4:17](../04/17.md). Alternate translation: [Therefore, we are not watching] (2) what Paul does while he experiences the “affliction” he mentions in [4:17](../04/17.md). Alternate translation: [That is true while we are not watching] (3) the reason why the “affliction” leads to “glory” in [4:17](../04/17.md). Alternate translation: [That is true because we are not watching]
Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit
μὴ σκοπούντων
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: μή σκοπούντων ἡμῶν τά βλεπόμενα ἀλλά τά μή βλεπόμενα τά γάρ βλεπόμενα πρόσκαιρα τά δέ μή βλεπόμενα αἰωνία)
Here, the word watching refers specifically to focusing on something or paying close attention to something. It does not require the attention or focus to be visual. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a word or phrase that refers to non-visual focus or attention. Alternate translation: [are not focusing on] or [are not concentrating on]
Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive
τὰ βλεπόμενα, ἀλλὰ τὰ μὴ βλεπόμενα
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: μή σκοπούντων ἡμῶν τά βλεπόμενα ἀλλά τά μή βλεπόμενα τά γάρ βλεπόμενα πρόσκαιρα τά δέ μή βλεπόμενα αἰωνία)
If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you could express the idea in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. If you must state who did the action, you could refer to “we” or to people in general. Alternate translation: [the things that people see, but the things that people do not see]
Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / ellipsis
ἀλλὰ τὰ μὴ βλεπόμενα
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: μή σκοπούντων ἡμῶν τά βλεπόμενα ἀλλά τά μή βλεπόμενα τά γάρ βλεπόμενα πρόσκαιρα τά δέ μή βλεπόμενα αἰωνία)
This clause leaves out some words that many languages might need to be complete. If it would be helpful in your language, you could supply these words from the first half of the sentence. Alternate translation: [but we are watching the things not being seen]
Note 5 topic: grammar-connect-logic-result
γὰρ
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: μή σκοπούντων ἡμῶν τά βλεπόμενα ἀλλά τά μή βλεπόμενα τά γάρ βλεπόμενα πρόσκαιρα τά δέ μή βλεπόμενα αἰωνία)
Here, the word For introduces a reason why We are watching the things that are not seen. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a different word or phrase that introduces further explanation. Alternate translation: [We do that because]
Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive
τὰ γὰρ βλεπόμενα & τὰ δὲ μὴ βλεπόμενα
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: μή σκοπούντων ἡμῶν τά βλεπόμενα ἀλλά τά μή βλεπόμενα τά γάρ βλεπόμενα πρόσκαιρα τά δέ μή βλεπόμενα αἰωνία)
If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you could express the idea in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. If you must state who did the action, you could refer to “we” or to people in general. Alternate translation: [For the things that people see … but the things that people do not see]
OET (OET-LV) not observing of_us the things being_seen, but the things not being_seen, because/for the things being_seen are temporary, but the things not being_seen are eternal.
OET (OET-RV) We don’t just look at what we can see, but include the things that can’t be seen, because visible things are temporary, but the things that last forever are invisible to our eyes.
Note: The OET-RV is still only a first draft, and so far only a few words have been (mostly automatically) matched to the Hebrew or Greek words that they’re translated from.
Acknowledgements: The SR Greek text, lemmas, morphology, and VLT gloss are all thanks to the CNTR.