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2 Corinthians 4:1-6
THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD’S GLORY DISPLAYED IN THE FACE OF CHRIST - Oct 21, 2026 -
2 Corinthians 4:7-18
TREASURE IN JARS OF CLAY - Oct 22, 2021 -
2 Corinthians 4:1-6
GOD’S GLORY IN THE FACE OF CHRIST - Oct 21, 2021 -
2 Corinthians 4:1-6
THE GLORY OF GOD IN THE FACE OF CHRIST - Jan 01, 2000 -
2 Corinthians 4:7-12
A TREASURE IN JARS OF CLAY - Jan 01, 2000 -
2 Corinthians 4:13-18
WE BELIEVE AND SPEAK - Jan 01, 2000
TREASURE IN JARS OF CLAY
Passage:
2 Corinthians 4:7-18
Key verse: 7
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.
Footnotes
- 2 Corinthians 4:13 Psalm 116:10 (see Septuagint)
- 2 Corinthians 4:13 Or Spirit-given
Cross references
- 2 Corinthians 4:7 : Job 4:19; Isa 64:8; 2Ti 2:20
- 2 Corinthians 4:7 : Jdg 7:2; 1Co 2:5; 2Co 6:7
- 2 Corinthians 4:8 : 2Co 7:5
- 2 Corinthians 4:8 : Gal 4:20
- 2 Corinthians 4:9 : Jn 15:20; Ro 8:35
- 2 Corinthians 4:9 : Heb 13:5
- 2 Corinthians 4:9 : Ps 37:24; Pr 24:16
- 2 Corinthians 4:10 : S Ro 6:6; S 2Co 1:5
- 2 Corinthians 4:10 : S Ro 6:5
- 2 Corinthians 4:11 : Ro 8:36
- 2 Corinthians 4:12 : 2Co 13:9
- 2 Corinthians 4:13 : Ps 116:10
- 2 Corinthians 4:13 : 1Co 12:9
- 2 Corinthians 4:14 : S Ac 2:24
- 2 Corinthians 4:14 : 1Th 4:14
- 2 Corinthians 4:14 : Eph 5:27; Col 1:22; Jude 24
- 2 Corinthians 4:15 : 2Co 1:11; 9:11
- 2 Corinthians 4:16 : ver 1; Ps 18:45
- 2 Corinthians 4:16 : Ro 7:22
- 2 Corinthians 4:16 : Ps 103:5; Isa 40:31; Col 3:10
- 2 Corinthians 4:17 : Ps 30:5; Ro 8:18; 1Pe 1:6, 7
- 2 Corinthians 4:18 : 2Co 5:7; Ro 8:24; Heb 11:1
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 also may 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.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- 2 Corinthians 4:16 Greek man
Cross references
- 2 Corinthians 4:7 : 2 Tim. 2:20; [ch. 5:1; Job 10:9; 13:12; Lam. 4:2; 1 Thess. 4:4; 1 Pet. 3:7]
- 2 Corinthians 4:7 : 1 Cor. 2:5; [Judg. 7:2]
- 2 Corinthians 4:8 : ch. 7:5; [Ps. 129:2]
- 2 Corinthians 4:9 : Heb. 13:5; [Deut. 4:31]
- 2 Corinthians 4:9 : Ps. 37:24; Prov. 24:16; Mic. 7:8
- 2 Corinthians 4:10 : ch. 6:9; 1 Cor. 4:9; 15:31; [ch. 1:5, 9; Rom. 6:5; 8:36]
- 2 Corinthians 4:10 : 2 Tim. 2:11; [Rom. 5:10; 6:8]
- 2 Corinthians 4:12 : [ch. 13:9]
- 2 Corinthians 4:13 : 1 Cor. 12:9; 2 Pet. 1:1
- 2 Corinthians 4:13 : Cited from Ps. 116:10
- 2 Corinthians 4:14 : 1 Thess. 4:14; See Acts 2:24
- 2 Corinthians 4:14 : ch. 1:9
- 2 Corinthians 4:14 : [Jude 24]
- 2 Corinthians 4:15 : [ch. 1:6]; See Rom. 8:28
- 2 Corinthians 4:15 : [ch. 1:11; 9:11, 12]
- 2 Corinthians 4:15 : ch. 8:19
- 2 Corinthians 4:16 : See Acts 20:24
- 2 Corinthians 4:16 : See Rom. 7:22
- 2 Corinthians 4:16 : [Isa. 40:30, 31]; See Rom. 12:2
- 2 Corinthians 4:17 : Rom. 8:18; 1 Pet. 1:6; 5:10; [Ps. 30:5; Isa. 54:7]
- 2 Corinthians 4:18 : ch. 5:7; Rom. 8:24; Heb. 11:1, 13
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway
We contain the treasure of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ (6). The fact that we are weak in ourselves, like jars of clay, serves to display God’s power in our lives as he brings us through all kinds of trials and hardships. Giving ourselves over to death for Jesus’ sake also causes his life to be displayed in us.
This kind of resurrection faith emboldens us to speak the word so that more people can be reached by the grace of God. This benefits the whole community, and we are filled with praise and thanksgiving.
God working in us this way is encouraging. Our weakness and troubles mean inward renewal and a hope of a much greater future glory. We look beyond the visible, temporal things to the eternal.
Prayer: Praise you Lord, that your power and life are displayed as I go the way of the cross.
One Word: Fix your eyes on the eternal
