2 Corinthians 4:18
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
This verse isn't just about looking to the spiritual over the material; it's a radical call to re-evaluate what we consider "real." The seen things are not just temporary, but actively fleeting, while the unseen are not just everlasting, but truly lasting.
as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Paul is reminding the Corinthians that their earthly struggles and afflictions, though intense, are temporary and don't define their reality. He's urging them to keep their focus fixed on the eternal, unseen kingdom of God, which far outweighs the fleeting suffering they're experiencing. This perspective shift is what enables believers to persevere and not lose heart in the midst of trials.
Life throws a lot at us – good and bad, big and small. It's easy to get caught up in what's right in front of our faces. But Paul calls us to a radical reorientation.
Paul contrasts two ways of seeing the world:
The Seen: Transient Worries
The Unseen: Eternal Realities
Why does it matter where we direct our focus? Because what we value shapes our decisions, our resilience, and our hope.
This verse presents a profound statement about value:
Temporary Value
Ask a follow-up
Eternal Value
Understand the original words
proskairos · Greek Adjective
Temporary, fleeting, or passing away. It describes the nature of the current created order which is subject to decay and limited by time.
This passage echoes the sentiment of looking forward with hope to what is not yet seen, emphasizing patient waiting for our salvation, which is still unseen.
Hebrews 11:1This is the foundational definition of faith, directly connecting belief in the unseen with substance and evidence, mirroring Paul's contrast between seen and unseen realities.
Colossians 3:2Paul urges believers to set their minds on things above, not on things on earth, which aligns perfectly with the call to focus on the eternal, unseen realities over the temporary, seen ones.
1 Peter 1:8This verse highlights loving Jesus whom we have not seen but believe in, showing how our present faith and future joy are rooted in unseen, eternal realities.
This verse isn't just about looking to the spiritual over the material; it's a radical call to re-evaluate what we consider "real." The seen things are not just temporary, but actively fleeting, while the unseen are not just everlasting, but truly lasting.
Paul is reminding the Corinthians that their earthly struggles and afflictions, though intense, are temporary and don't define their reality. He's urging them to keep their focus fixed on the eternal, unseen kingdom of God, which far outweighs the fleeting suffering they're experiencing. This perspective shift is what enables believers to persevere and not lose heart in the midst of trials.
Paul is reminding the Corinthians that their earthly struggles and afflictions, though intense, are temporary and don't define their reality. He's urging them to keep their focus fixed on the eternal, unseen kingdom of God, which far outweighs the fleeting suffering they're experiencing. This perspective shift is what enables believers to persevere and not lose heart in the midst of trials.
"as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal." — This verse isn't just about looking to the spiritual over the material; it's a radical call to re-evaluate what we consider "real." The seen things are not just temporary, but actively fleeting, wh…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Last reviewed October 2026
