Devine Scripture

2 Corinthians 4:5

What does 2 Corinthians 4:5 mean?

A plain-English look at 2 Corinthians 4:5 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What 2 Corinthians 4:5 means

Paul distances himself from any self-promoting ministry. He does not preach himself; the message is “Christ Jesus as Lord.” Paul and his team are servants—indeed, servants for the Corinthians’ good—because of Jesus. This reorients expectations: true ministry exalts Christ’s authority and humbles the messenger. The goal is not to build a personality cult but to bring people under Jesus’ lordship. Paul’s identity is bound up with service shaped by the cross. By making himself a servant for Jesus’ sake, Paul embodies the very message he preaches: the Lord who humbled Himself now reigns, and His servants gladly spend themselves for others.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

For our preaching is not about ourselves, but about Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your servants through Jesus.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

for not ourselves do we preach, but Christ Jesus--Lord, and ourselves your servants because of Jesus;

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

For we preach not ourselves, but Jesus Christ our Lord: and ourselves your servants through Jesus.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus Lord, and ourselves your bondmen for Jesus' sake.

Context

After showing why some remain blind (verse 4), Paul clarifies his own message and posture. He asserts that Christ, not Paul, stands at the center, and that he is their servant because of Jesus. This guards against confusion fostered by rival teachers who boasted in themselves. It paves the way for verse 6, explaining how anyone comes to truly see Christ’s lordship—God Himself shines light into hearts. Then verse 7 will stress that the power behind this ministry is divine, not human, matching the servant’s humility with God’s surpassing strength.

v.4in whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of the unbelieving, that the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should not dawn upon them.

v.5This passage

v.6Seeing it is God, that said, Light shall shine out of darkness, who shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • 2 Corinthians 1:24

    Not that we have lordship over your faith, but are helpers of your joy: for in faith ye stand fast.

  • Acts 14:11

    And when the multitude saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voice, saying in the speech of Lycaonia, The gods are come down to us in the likeness of men.

  • 1 Corinthians 12:3

    Wherefore I make known unto you, that no man speaking in the Spirit of God saith, Jesus is anathema; and no man can say, Jesus is Lord, but in the Holy Spirit.

  • Acts 10:25

    And when it came to pass that Peter entered, Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet, and worshipped him.

  • 2 Corinthians 1:19

    For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us, even by me and Silvanus and Timothy, was not yea and nay, but in him is yea.

  • 1 Corinthians 8:6

    yet to us there is one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we unto him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and we through him.

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