TREASURE IN JARS OF CLAY

Passage: 2 Corinthians 4:7-18

Key verse: 16

NIV

7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay(A) to show that this all-surpassing power is from God(B) and not from us. 8 We are hard pressed on every side,(C) but not crushed; perplexed,(D) but not in despair; 9 persecuted,(E) but not abandoned;(F) struck down, but not destroyed.(G) 10 We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus,(H) so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.(I) 11 For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake,(J) so that his life may also be revealed in our mortal body. 12 So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.(K)

13 It is written: “I believed; therefore I have spoken.”[a](L) Since we have that same spirit of[b] faith,(M) we also believe and therefore speak, 14 because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead(N) will also raise us with Jesus(O) and present us with you to himself.(P) 15 All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving(Q) to overflow to the glory of God.

16 Therefore we do not lose heart.(R) Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly(S) we are being renewed(T) day by day. 17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.(U) 18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen,(V) since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

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Footnotes
  1. 2 Corinthians 4:13 Psalm 116:10 (see Septuagint)
  2. 2 Corinthians 4:13 Or Spirit-given
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

Treasure in Jars of Clay

7 But we have this treasure in (A)jars of clay, (B)to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. 8 We are (C)afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; 9 persecuted, but (D)not forsaken; (E)struck down, but not destroyed; 10 (F)always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, (G)so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. 11 For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. 12 So (H)death is at work in us, but life in you.

13 Since we have (I)the same spirit of faith according to what has been written, (J)“I believed, and so I spoke,” we also believe, and so we also speak, 14 knowing that (K)he who raised the Lord Jesus (L)will raise us also with Jesus and (M)bring us with you into his presence. 15 For (N)it is all for your sake, so that as (O)grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, (P)to the glory of God.

16 So we do not lose heart. (Q)Though our outer self[a] is wasting away, (R)our inner self (S)is being renewed day by day. 17 For (T)this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, 18 (U)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.

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Footnotes
  1. 2 Corinthians 4:16 Greek man
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

After displaying the glory of the gospel ministry to the believers in Corinth, Paul frankly describes his and his coworkers’ suffering. The gospel workers suffered both physically and mentally from persecution and all kinds of hardships. Yet they were not defeated nor despairing (8-9). And there was a spiritual purpose in these sufferings: Jesus’ life was revealed in his servants’ bodies. This is the principle of Jesus’ own victory through his death on the cross (1

). It reveals that the power of God is of a different kind than human strength.

Our earthly bodies are like humble and fragile clay jars that contain a precious treasure (7). Jesus’ resurrection shows us that when our jar of clay is broken, we will be raised to new life (14). So, when we are faced with our human weakness, instead of becoming discouraged, we can rejoice and grow in our inner self, learning to focus on eternal things (18). We can be a good influence on others by speaking with the spirit of faith in what is unseen (13).

Prayer: Father, thank you for revealing your great power even through my weakness. Grant me faith to see your eternal glory and victory and help me to plant that faith in others.

One Word: Revealing Jesus’ victory through weakness