2 Corinthians 4:18
16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, yet our inner self is being renewed day by day.
17 For our light and momentary affliction is producing for us an eternal glory that is far beyond comparison.
So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
- KJV
- 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.
- WEB
- while we don’t look 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.
- ASV
- 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.
- DARBY
- while we look not at the things that are seen, but at the things that are not seen; for the things that are seen [are] for a time, but those that are not seen eternal.
- BLB
- in [our] not looking at the things being seen, but the things not being seen. For the things being seen [are] temporary, but the things not being seen [are] eternal.
- ÅB
- såsom vi ikke har det synlige for øye, men det usynlige; for det synlige er timelig, men det usynlige evig
- OTB
- Mens vi ikke ser på de ting som er synlige, men på de ting som er usynlige; for de ting som er synlige er midlertidige, men de ting som er usynlige er evige.
- B1930
- såsom vi ikke har det synlige for øie, men det usynlige; for det synlige er timelig, men det usynlige evig
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
2 Corinthians 5:7
For we walk by faith, not by sight.
Read in contextRomans 8:24–25
For in this hope we were saved; but hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he can already see?
Read in contextHebrews 11:1
Now faith is the assurance of what we hope for and the certainty of what we do not see.
Read in context1 John 2:16–17
For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh, the desires of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not from the Father but from the world.
Read in context1 John 2:25
And this is the promise that He Himself made to us: eternal life.
Read in contextHebrews 11:13
All these people died in faith, without having received the things they were promised. However, they saw them and welcomed them from afar. And they acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.
Read in contextHebrews 12:2–3
Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Read in contextHebrews 11:25–27
He chose to suffer oppression with God’s people rather than to experience the fleeting enjoyment of sin.
Read in context