2 Corinthians 4:5

NET Bible® (New English Translation)

For we do not proclaim ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your slaves for Jesus’ sake.

Additional Resources

Referenced Verses

  • 1 Cor 1:23 : 23 but we preach about a crucified Christ, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles.
  • 2 Cor 1:24 : 24 I do not mean that we rule over your faith, but we are workers with you for your joy, because by faith you stand firm.
  • 2 Cor 5:14-15 : 14 For the love of Christ controls us, since we have concluded this, that Christ died for all; therefore all have died. 15 And he died for all so that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised.
  • Gal 5:13 : 13 Practice Love For you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters; only do not use your freedom as an opportunity to indulge your flesh, but through love serve one another.
  • Phil 1:15 : 15 Some, to be sure, are preaching Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from goodwill.
  • Phil 2:11 : 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.
  • 1 Thess 2:5-6 : 5 For we never appeared with flattering speech, as you know, nor with a pretext for greed– God is our witness– 6 nor to seek glory from people, either from you or from others,
  • 2 Tim 2:10 : 10 So I endure all things for the sake of those chosen by God, that they too may obtain salvation in Christ Jesus and its eternal glory.
  • Titus 1:11 : 11 who must be silenced because they mislead whole families by teaching for dishonest gain what ought not to be taught.
  • 1 Pet 5:2-5 : 2 Give a shepherd’s care to God’s flock among you, exercising oversight not merely as a duty but willingly under God’s direction, not for shameful profit but eagerly. 3 And do not lord it over those entrusted to you, but be examples to the flock. 4 Then when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that never fades away. 5 In the same way, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. And all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.
  • 2 Pet 2:3 : 3 And in their greed they will exploit you with deceptive words. Their condemnation pronounced long ago is not sitting idly by; their destruction is not asleep.
  • 1 Cor 2:2 : 2 For I decided to be concerned about nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and him crucified.
  • 1 Cor 3:5-6 : 5 What is Apollos, really? Or what is Paul? Servants through whom you came to believe, and each of us in the ministry the Lord gave us. 6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God caused it to grow.
  • 1 Cor 8:6 : 6 yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we live, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we live.
  • 1 Cor 9:19-23 : 19 For since I am free from all I can make myself a slave to all, in order to gain even more people. 20 To the Jews I became like a Jew to gain the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law(though I myself am not under the law) to gain those under the law. 21 To those free from the law I became like one free from the law(though I am not free from God’s law but under the law of Christ) to gain those free from the law. 22 To the weak I became weak in order to gain the weak. I have become all things to all people, so that by all means I may save some. 23 I do all these things because of the gospel, so that I can be a participant in it.
  • 1 Cor 10:33 : 33 just as I also try to please everyone in all things. I do not seek my own benefit, but the benefit of many, so that they may be saved.
  • 1 Cor 12:3 : 3 So I want you to understand that no one speaking by the Spirit of God says,“Jesus is cursed,” and no one can say,“Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.
  • 1 Cor 15:47 : 47 The first man is from the earth, made of dust; the second man is from heaven.
  • 2 Cor 1:19 : 19 For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, the one who was proclaimed among you by us– by me and Silvanus and Timothy– was not“Yes” and“No,” but it has always been“Yes” in him.
  • Matt 3:11 : 11 “I baptize you with water, for repentance, but the one coming after me is more powerful than I am– I am not worthy to carry his sandals! He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.
  • Matt 20:25-27 : 25 But Jesus called them and said,“You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those in high positions use their authority over them. 26 It must not be this way among you! Instead whoever wants to be great among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever wants to be first among you must be your slave–
  • Matt 23:8 : 8 But you are not to be called‘Rabbi,’ for you have one Teacher and you are all brothers.
  • Luke 22:25-26 : 25 So Jesus said to them,“The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those in authority over them are called‘benefactors.’ 26 Not so with you; instead the one who is greatest among you must become like the youngest, and the leader like the one who serves.
  • John 1:21-23 : 21 So they asked him,“Then who are you? Are you Elijah?” He said,“I am not!”“Are you the Prophet?” He answered,“No!” 22 Then they said to him,“Who are you? Tell us so that we can give an answer to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” 23 John said,“I am the voice of one shouting in the wilderness,‘Make straight the way for the Lord,’ as the prophet Isaiah said.”
  • John 3:27-31 : 27 John replied,“No one can receive anything unless it has been given to him from heaven. 28 You yourselves can testify that I said,‘I am not the Christ,’ but rather,‘I have been sent before him.’ 29 The one who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom, who stands by and listens for him, rejoices greatly when he hears the bridegroom’s voice. This then is my joy, and it is complete. 30 He must become more important while I become less important.” 31 The one who comes from above is superior to all. The one who is from the earth belongs to the earth and speaks about earthly things. The one who comes from heaven is superior to all.
  • John 7:18 : 18 The person who speaks on his own authority desires to receive honor for himself; the one who desires the honor of the one who sent him is a man of integrity, and there is no unrighteousness in him.
  • John 13:14-15 : 14 If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you too ought to wash one another’s feet. 15 For I have given you an example– you should do just as I have done for you.
  • Acts 2:36 : 36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know beyond a doubt that God has made this Jesus whom you crucified both Lord and Christ.”
  • Acts 3:12-13 : 12 When Peter saw this, he declared to the people,“Men of Israel, why are you amazed at this? Why do you stare at us as if we had made this man walk by our own power or piety? 13 The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our forefathers, has glorified his servant Jesus, whom you handed over and rejected in the presence of Pilate after he had decided to release him.
  • Acts 5:31 : 31 God exalted him to his right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins.
  • Acts 8:9-9 : 9 Now in that city was a man named Simon, who had been practicing magic and amazing the people of Samaria, claiming to be someone great. 10 All the people, from the least to the greatest, paid close attention to him, saying,“This man is the power of God that is called‘Great.’”
  • Acts 10:25-26 : 25 So when Peter came in, Cornelius met him, fell at his feet, and worshiped him. 26 But Peter helped him up, saying,“Stand up. I too am a mere mortal.”
  • Acts 10:36 : 36 You know the message he sent to the people of Israel, proclaiming the good news of peace through Jesus Christ(he is Lord of all)–
  • Acts 14:11-15 : 11 So when the crowds saw what Paul had done, they shouted in the Lycaonian language,“The gods have come down to us in human form!” 12 They began to call Barnabas Zeus and Paul Hermes, because he was the chief speaker. 13 The priest of the temple of Zeus, located just outside the city, brought bulls and garlands to the city gates; he and the crowds wanted to offer sacrifices to them. 14 But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard about it, they tore their clothes and rushed out into the crowd, shouting, 15 “Men, why are you doing these things? We too are men, with human natures just like you! We are proclaiming the good news to you, so that you should turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and everything that is in them.
  • Rom 14:8-9 : 8 If we live, we live for the Lord; if we die, we die for the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s. 9 For this reason Christ died and returned to life, so that he may be the Lord of both the dead and the living.
  • Rom 15:1-2 : 1 Exhortation for the Strong to Help the Weak But we who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak, and not just please ourselves. 2 Let each of us please his neighbor for his good to build him up.
  • Rom 15:17-18 : 17 So I boast in Christ Jesus about the things that pertain to God. 18 For I will not dare to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me in order to bring about the obedience of the Gentiles, by word and deed,
  • 1 Cor 1:13-15 : 13 Is Christ divided? Paul wasn’t crucified for you, was he? Or were you in fact baptized in the name of Paul? 14 I thank God that I did not baptize any of you except Crispus and Gaius, 15 so that no one can say that you were baptized in my name!

Similar Verses (AI)

These verses are found using AI-powered semantic similarity based on meaning and context. Results may occasionally include unexpected connections.

  • 2 Cor 4:6-7
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    6For God, who said“Let light shine out of darkness,” is the one who shined in our hearts to give us the light of the glorious knowledge of God in the face of Christ.

    7An Eternal Weight of Glory But we have this treasure in clay jars, so that the extraordinary power belongs to God and does not come from us.

  • 2 Cor 5:11-13
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    11The Message of Reconciliation Therefore, because we know the fear of the Lord, we try to persuade people, but we are well known to God, and I hope we are well known to your consciences too.

    12We are not trying to commend ourselves to you again, but are giving you an opportunity to be proud of us, so that you may be able to answer those who take pride in outward appearance and not in what is in the heart.

    13For if we are out of our minds, it is for God; if we are of sound mind, it is for you.

  • 1 Thess 2:4-6
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    4but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we declare it, not to please people but God, who examines our hearts.

    5For we never appeared with flattering speech, as you know, nor with a pretext for greed– God is our witness–

    6nor to seek glory from people, either from you or from others,

  • 2 Cor 4:1-4
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    1Paul’s Perseverance in Ministry Therefore, since we have this ministry, just as God has shown us mercy, we do not become discouraged.

    2But we have rejected shameful hidden deeds, not behaving with deceptiveness or distorting the word of God, but by open proclamation of the truth we commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience before God.

    3But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled only to those who are perishing,

    4among whom the god of this age has blinded the minds of those who do not believe so they would not see the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God.

  • 2 Cor 2:17
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    17For we are not like so many others, hucksters who peddle the word of God for profit, but we are speaking in Christ before God as persons of sincerity, as persons sent from God.

  • 2 Thess 3:8-9
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    8and we did not eat anyone’s food without paying. Instead, in toil and drudgery we worked night and day in order not to burden any of you.

    9It was not because we do not have that right, but to give ourselves as an example for you to imitate.

  • 1 Cor 4:10
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    10We are fools for Christ, but you are wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are distinguished, we are dishonored!

  • 1 Thess 2:9
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    9For you recall, brothers and sisters, our toil and drudgery: By working night and day so as not to impose a burden on any of you, we preached to you the gospel of God.

  • 2 Cor 1:24
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    24I do not mean that we rule over your faith, but we are workers with you for your joy, because by faith you stand firm.

  • 1 Thess 4:1-2
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    1A Life Pleasing to God Finally then, brothers and sisters, we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received instruction from us about how you must live and please God(as you are in fact living) that you do so more and more.

    2For you know what commands we gave you through the Lord Jesus.

  • Gal 1:10-11
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    10Am I now trying to gain the approval of people, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a slave of Christ!

    11Paul’s Vindication of His Apostleship Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that the gospel I preached is not of human origin.

  • 2 Cor 10:7-8
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    7You are looking at outward appearances. If anyone is confident that he belongs to Christ, he should reflect on this again: Just as he himself belongs to Christ, so too do we.

    8For if I boast somewhat more about our authority that the Lord gave us for building you up and not for tearing you down, I will not be ashamed of doing so.

  • 1 Thess 1:5
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    5in that our gospel did not come to you merely in words, but in power and in the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction(surely you recall the character we displayed when we came among you to help you).

  • 2 Cor 4:10-11
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    10always carrying around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be made visible in our body.

    11For we who are alive are constantly being handed over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus may also be made visible in our mortal body.

  • 2 Cor 10:14
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    14For we were not overextending ourselves, as though we did not reach as far as you, because we were the first to reach as far as you with the gospel about Christ.

  • 1 Cor 9:12
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    12If others receive this right from you, are we not more deserving?But we have not made use of this right. Instead we endure everything so that we may not be a hindrance to the gospel of Christ.

  • 2 Cor 3:4-5
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    72%

    4Now we have such confidence in God through Christ.

    5Not that we are adequate in ourselves to consider anything as if it were coming from ourselves, but our adequacy is from God,

  • 2 Cor 10:16
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    16so that we may preach the gospel in the regions that lie beyond you, and not boast of work already done in another person’s area.

  • 1 Cor 4:6
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    6I have applied these things to myself and Apollos because of you, brothers and sisters, so that through us you may learn“not to go beyond what is written,” so that none of you will be puffed up in favor of the one against the other.

  • 1 Cor 4:1
    72%

    1The Apostles’ Ministry One should think about us this way– as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.

  • 1 Cor 1:17
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    17For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel– and not with clever speech, so that the cross of Christ would not become useless.

  • Gal 2:17
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    17But if while seeking to be justified in Christ we ourselves have also been found to be sinners, is Christ then one who encourages sin? Absolutely not!

  • 1 Cor 2:2
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    2For I decided to be concerned about nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and him crucified.

  • 2 Cor 12:19
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    19Have you been thinking all this time that we have been defending ourselves to you? We are speaking in Christ before God, and everything we do, dear friends, is to build you up.

  • 2 Cor 8:5
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    5And they did this not just as we had hoped, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and to us by the will of God.

  • 2 Cor 4:14
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    14We do so because we know that the one who raised up Jesus will also raise us up with Jesus and will bring us with you into his presence.

  • 2 Cor 5:15
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    15And he died for all so that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised.

  • 2 Thess 1:12
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    12that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

  • 2 Cor 11:4
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    4For if someone comes and proclaims another Jesus different from the one we proclaimed, or if you receive a different spirit than the one you received, or a different gospel than the one you accepted, you put up with it well enough!

  • 2 Cor 5:20
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    20Therefore we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making his plea through us. We plead with you on Christ’s behalf,“Be reconciled to God!”

  • 2 Cor 1:12
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    12Paul Defends His Changed Plans For our reason for confidence is this: the testimony of our conscience, that with pure motives and sincerity which are from God– not by human wisdom but by the grace of God– we conducted ourselves in the world, and all the more toward you.

  • 1 Cor 15:11
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    11Whether then it was I or they, this is the way we preach and this is the way you believed.

  • 1 Cor 3:5
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    5What is Apollos, really? Or what is Paul? Servants through whom you came to believe, and each of us in the ministry the Lord gave us.

  • 2 Cor 1:19
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    19For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, the one who was proclaimed among you by us– by me and Silvanus and Timothy– was not“Yes” and“No,” but it has always been“Yes” in him.

  • 2 Cor 2:15
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    15For we are a sweet aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing–

  • 2 Pet 1:16
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    16For we did not follow cleverly concocted fables when we made known to you the power and return of our Lord Jesus Christ; no, we were eyewitnesses of his grandeur.