2 Corinthians 4:7-18·~1 min

Treasure in Jars of Clay

Paul says they carry this treasure in jars of clay so that the power will be seen as God's and not theirs. Though hard pressed, perplexed, persecuted, and struck down, they are not abandoned, for they carry the death of Jesus so that his life may be shown in them, and all of this serves the Corinthians' life, their future raising with Jesus, and thanksgiving overflowing to God's glory.

N⁷ow we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this surpassingly great power is from God and not from us. ⁸We are hard pressed on all sides, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; ⁹persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed. ¹⁰We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. ¹¹For we who are alive are always consigned to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our mortal body. ¹²So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you. ¹³And in keeping with what is written, “I believed, therefore I have spoken,” we who have the same spirit of faith also believe and therefore speak, ¹⁴knowing that the One who raised the Lord Jesus will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you in His presence. ¹⁵All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is extending to more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow, to the glory of God.

Therefore Paul says they do not lose heart: the outer self is wasting away, but the inner self is being renewed day by day. Their light and momentary affliction is preparing an eternal weight of glory beyond comparison, so they set their eyes not on what is seen and temporary, but on what is unseen and eternal.

¹⁶Therefore we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, yet our inner self is being renewed day by day. ¹⁷For our light and momentary affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory that is far beyond comparison. ¹⁸So 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.

Section summaryPaul says the treasure of the gospel is carried in fragile jars of clay so that the surpassing power may plainly belong to God and not to the ministers who bear it. Their pressures, dangers, and wasting outward life do not disprove God's work, but serve the revealing of Jesus' life, the spread of thanksgiving, and the steady fixing of hope on unseen and eternal glory.

Role in the chapterThis section interprets apostolic weakness as the chosen vessel of divine power. It moves from present pressure to future glory without denying either one.