DAWN
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Discover the Arts! Each day a different image from the Literary, Performing, or Visual Arts representing a portion of Scripture plus an explanation with links 2016 September 27
Pandemonium (1841)
John Martin (1789-1854)
Romantic Style
Private Collection
Image Source: Wikimedia
Explanation: In 2 Corinthians 4, Paul tells his readers that he and his fellow ministers do not faint in executing their ministry. Rather, they renounce dishonesty and craftiness, refusing to handle the word of god deceitfully. By sticking with the truth, they commend themselves to everyone's conscience in the sight of God. If they hide the gospel, they hide it from the lost who are blinded by the god of this world and the glorious light of the gospel does not shine upon them. They do not preach themselves, but Christ, who manifests the glory of God (1-6).
They have this treasure in jars of clay to show that the surpassing power belongs to God, not to them. They are deeply afflicted in many ways, but not overwhelmed. In their bodies, they manifest both the dying of Jesus Christ and his life. So death works in them, but life in the readers (7-12).
They speak out of faith. They know that God, who raised the Lord Jesus, shall also raise them by Jesus and will present them to the readers. All of this happens so that abundant grace will redound to the glory of God. Therefore they do not faint. The outward man perishes, but the inward man is renewed day by day (13-15).
Their light, momentary affliction produces an exceeding and eternal weight of glory. Therefore they do not look at the temporal things which they can see, but at eternal things (16-18).
[Sermons: Sinclair B Ferguson. Joel R Beeke. Various. ]
[Illustration: Today's painting illustrates Satan in his imaginary domain (Pandemonium - The All Demon Place). Today's chapter calls him the "god of this world" (v. 4). The painting well illustrates his sinister power and nature wherever he holds sway. ]
RESOURCES
[THEMATICALLY AND CHRONOLOGICALLY RELATED SCRIPTURES:
2 Corinthians 4:1-6: Romans 1:1-7; Romans 10:14-17; Romans 15:14-21; 1 Corinthians 2:1-5; Galatians 6:11-17; Ephesians 3:1-13; Philippians 1:12-18; Colossians 1:24 - 2:3; 1 Thessalonians 2:1-8.
2 Corinthians 4:7-12: Romans 8:31-39; 1 Corinthians 4:8-13; Romans 5:1-5; Philippians 1:12-18; Philippians 1:19-26; Philippians 4:10-20; 1 Thessalonians 2:1-8.
2 Corinthians 4:13-15: Romans 6:1-10; 1 Corinthians 15:12-19; Galatians 2:15-21; Ephesians 2:1-10; Philippians 3:17-21; Colossians 3:1-4; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18.
2 Corinthians 4:16 - 5:5: Romans 8:18-25; 1 Corinthians 15:51-58; Ephesians 3:14-19; Philippians 3:17-21; Colossians 3:1-4; Colossians 3:5-11; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18. ]
NOTE: The parallels above are based in a very small part on my own research but principally on the following sources:
Fred O Francis and J. Paul Sampley, Pauline Parallels, Second Edition. (Minneapolis, Minnesota: Fortress Press, 1984).
Most of the material on Hebrews is from an online article titled Pauline parallels in Hebrews taken from Charles H. Welch and Stuart Allen Welch, Perfection Or Perdition? An Exposition Of The Epistle To The Hebrews, (London: Berean Publishing Trust, 1973). ]
[ CHRONOLOGY: GENERAL. Patriarchs (Traditional). Judges # 1. Judges # 2. Kings # 1. Kings # 2. Prophets # 1. Prophets # 2. NT # 1. NT # 2. NT # 3. ]
[ MAPS: Maps # 1. Maps # 2. Maps # 3. Maps # 4. Maps # 5. ]
[ COMMENTARIES, ETC: GENERAL: Bible Study Tools; Bible Hub: Study Light; Blue Letter Bible // PSALMS: Monergism: Precept Austin: The Treasury of David; John Gill; John Calvin - Volumes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
[ MUSIC: GENERAL: The Cyber Hymnal // PSALMS: Genevan Psalter (Instrumental). VARIOUS ARTISTS: Micha'el Ben David. Sons of Korah. Fernando Ortega. Janet Isaac Morrison. Music of the Bible Revealed - Suzanne Haik-Vantoura. Dr. David Erb. Gregorian Chants. ]
*** For Additional word studies use one of the Greek Interlinear Bibles below. ***
2 Corinthians 4
2. Paul's Struggles in the World (2 Corinthians 4:1 - 2 Corinthians 6:18) - 55 A.D. Philippi
1 Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not;
2 But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God.
3 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:
4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
5 For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake.
6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.
8 We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;
9 Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;
10 Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.
11 For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.
12 So then death worketh in us, but life in you.
13 We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak;
14 Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you.
15 For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God.
16 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.
17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding [beyond abundance into abundance] and eternal weight of glory;
18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.
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