You can really look at much of what Paul writes in this letter as in defense of himself and Timothy, or you can look at it as a guideline for us as disciples of Christ. As a Christian, haven’t you been accused of such things? If not, expect to be. Jesus said that people will even persecute you, believing that they’re doing it for God’s sake (John 16:2). And this was also a prophecy spoken of by David in Psalms 35:19 and Psalms 69:4.

Let’s carry on now with Paul’s inspiration:
Therefore seeing that we’ve been given this ministry
(whatever your particular gifts are),
as we have received mercy,
we don’t become weak,
but we’ve turned away from the secrets of dishonesty,
not seeking to trick people,
nor handling the Word of God in deceit,
but by revealing the TRUTH,
making ourselves worthy,
so that every man is aware of it,
in the sight of God.

But if our Gospel is hidden,
it is hidden to them that are lost,
Those who don’t believe,
whose minds the devil has blinded,
For fear that the light of the glorious Gospel of Christ,
who is the image of God,
should shine to them.
We don’t promote ourselves,
but we preach Christ Jesus the Lord;
and we are servants for Jesus' sake.
Because God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness,
has shined in our hearts,
to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

But we have this treasure, this light, in our hearts,
in earthen vessels, in bodies that are made from earth,
so that the Excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.
 

HIDDEN TREASURE BIBLE STUDY LESSON WITH HIDDEN TREASURE BIBLE STUDY EXPLANATION

Paul’s message, in many beautiful words, is, It’s not about us, and we don’t try and make it to be. We’re just dust walking around, and anyone can see, that the light in our hearts, comes from God, not from anything we’ve done, do, or will ever do. And here’s what you can expect when you accept God’s treasure, God’s light, in your heart:

We are troubled on every side,
yet not distressed;
we are perplexed,
but not in despair;
persecuted,
but not forsaken;
cast down,
but not destroyed;
Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus,
so that the life also of Jesus might be made real in our body.

           Not what you expected? Being troubled, perplexed, persecuted, cast down, always carrying around the memory of Jesus’ death in your heart ... Wasn’t what you had in mind when you signed up to be a Christian? Now focus on the results of each of these things. We’re not distressed, not in despair, not forsaken, not destroyed and the life of Jesus will be made real in us!

For we which live are always delivered to death for Jesus' sake,
that the life also of Jesus might be seen in our mortal flesh.
So then death works in us, but life in you.
We, then, having the same spirit of faith,
as it is written (by David),

And that’s the whole purpose, isn’t it? That’s the promise of the New Testament of God. Maybe what Paul is saying here, is, I don’t care what people say about me, they can say all they want, I’m not going to stop. I’m going to press on and serve my Lord. These little problems are nothing to me. My goal is to increase the treasure, the light, that the Lord has put in my heart.

For all things are for your good,
that the abundant Grace might through the thanksgiving of many,
add to the glory of God.

For this reason we don’t grow weary;
but though our outward man perish,
yet the inward man is renewed day by day.
For our small troubles, which are but for a moment,
work for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;
while we don’t look at the things which are visible (mortal),
but at the things which are invisible (spiritual),
because the things which are seen are temporal;
but the things which are not seen are eternal.
 

          What was the reason again, why Paul says we don’t grow weary? Well, it’s because as Christians, we are servants of the Lord. We’re the freaks that look forward to invisible stuff, and we’re so impassioned by it, that we see things differently than others. So as Paul said, but in different words, Don’t sweat the small stuff. I just saw something, as I was looking back through the verses of this chapter, and even though people are often criticized for taking things out of context, I think it’s also an important part of Paul’s message ... Add to the glory of God.