Yet we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the excellence of the power may be God’s, and not ours.
4:7 — “But we have… mud.” With this thought Paul refutes the idea that his sufferings and afflictions proved that he was not God’s ambassador. It is true, says Paul, that the treasure, which is the gospel or his ministry in the gospel, is in a very humble container, in a human being like him (an earthen vessel). But, there is a particular reason why this is so. That reason follows: — “so that… from us”. Certainly the great successes of the gospel, achieved in the lives of the converts (as said gospel removes the darkness of error and enlightens the heart for eternal life), was not due to any human power, because as a human Paul suffered many injustices. But the value of the gospel that Paul preached, that of the “treasure”, was seen in the fact that the “earthen vessel”, weak in itself, was always victorious over impediments and obstacles. Obviously, the power for this came from God, and not from man. Compare Romans 1:16. In his own person Paul was nothing powerful. see 1Co 2:3-4; 2Co 10:10). The weakness of the body made it evident that the source of the power of the message he preached was God, and not himself. Those who believed Paul’s preaching, using the power of God to confirm his message with miracles, had their faith founded, not on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God (1Co 2:4-5). Evidently the Judaizers at Corinth gloried in their bodily presence, in their recommendations, and in their excellence of prayer. Paul here contrasts himself with them, claiming that his power came from God. That is why he was able to overcome every obstacle, as expressed in the following verses.
Source: Commentary on the New Testament by Partain
we have this treasure. 2Co 4:1; 2Co 6:10; Matt 13:44, Matt 13:52; Eph 3:8; Col 1:27; Col 2:3.
in clay pots. 2Co 5:1; 2Co 10:10; Thu 7:13, Thu 7:14, Thurs 7:16-20; Lam 4:2; 1Co 1:28; 1Co 4:9-13; Gal 4:13, Gal 4:14; 2Ti 2:20.
so that the excellence of power. 2Co 3:5, 2Co 3:6; 2Co 12:7-9; 2Co 13:4; 1Co 2:3-5; Eph 1:19, Eph 1:20; Eph 2:5, Eph 2:8, Eph 2:9; Col 2:12; 1Thess 1:5.
Source: The Treasury of Biblical Knowledge
The treasure, or the divine revelation of Jesus Christ, is inside an ordinary clay pot! The reason why God puts such a valuable treasure inside a humble glass is so that it can be known that the power of the gospel is from God and not from the glass.
IN FOCUS
“Clay pots”
(gr. ostrakinos skeuos) (2Co 4:7; 2Ti 2:20) # in Strong G3749; G4632: This Greek phrase means “clay pots.” In ancient times it was common practice to bury treasures in clay jars. Two recent discoveries of biblical manuscripts, the Chester Beatty Papyri and some of the Dead Sea Scrolls, reveal that these manuscripts were hidden in jars for nearly two thousand years. Just as these treasures were placed in earthen vessels, so Christ dwells in our earthly bodies.
Source: New Illustrated Caribbean Bible Commentary
THIS TREASURE IN CLAY VESSELS. Believers are “clay vessels” who sometimes experience sadness, crying, afflictions, concerns, weaknesses, and fears (cf. 2Co 1:4; 2Co 1:8-9; 2Co 7:5). But they are not defeated, because they carry a heavenly “treasure” inside. Christianity does not consist of the removal of weaknesses or the manifestation of divine power simply, but of the manifestation of divine power through human weakness (2Co 12:9). Hence:
(1) in all affliction one can be more than conqueror through the power and love of God (Romans 8:37), and that
(2) weaknesses, problems, and suffering become the means by which abundant divine grace is received and allows the life of Christ to be manifested in the body of believers (vv. 2Co 4:8-11; see 2Co 12:7-10).
Source: Full Life Study Bible
this treasure. See the note on v.2Co 4:1. clay vessels. The Greek word means “baked clay” and refers to clay pots. They were cheap, breakable, and replaceable, but they served many necessary household tasks. Sometimes they were used as warehouses to store valuable items such as money, jewelry or important documents, but more often they were used to store organic waste. This last use is the one that Paul has in mind and it is how the apostle saw himself, as an expendable, humble, common and replaceable instrument (cf. 1Co 1:20-27; 2Ti 2:20-21). excellency of power be of God, and not of us. By using frail and expendable people, God makes it clear that salvation is the result of his power and not some power that his messengers might generate (cf. 2Co 2:16). The great power of God surpasses and transcends the clay pot. The weakness of the messenger is not detrimental to the message, but is essential to its successful transmission (cp. 2Co 12:9-10).
Source: MacArthur Study Bible
4:7 — “But we have… mud.” With this thought Paul refutes the idea that his sufferings and afflictions proved that he was not God’s ambassador. It is true, says Paul, that the treasure, which is the gospel or his ministry in the gospel, is in a very humble container, in a human being like him (an earthen vessel). But, there is a particular reason why this is so. Follow that reason:
– “so that… from us”. Certainly the great successes of the gospel, achieved in the lives of the converts (as said gospel removes the darkness of error and enlightens the heart for eternal life), was not due to any human power, because as a human Paul suffered many injustices. But the value of the gospel that Paul preached, that of the “treasure”, was seen in the fact that the “earthen vessel”, weak in itself, was always victorious over impediments and obstacles. Obviously, the power for this came from God, and not from man. Compare Rom 1:16.
In his own person Paul was nothing powerful. See 1Co 2:3-4; 2Co 10:10). The weakness of the body made it evident that the source of the power of the message he preached was God, and not himself. Those who believed Paul’s preaching, using the power of God to confirm his message with miracles, had their faith founded, not on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God (1Co 2: 4-5) .
Evidently the Judaizers at Corinth gloried in their bodily presence, in their recommendations, and in their excellence of prayer. Paul here contrasts himself with them, claiming that his power came from God. That is why he was able to overcome every obstacle, as expressed in the following verses.
Source: Reeves-Partain Notes
TRIBULATION AND TRIUMPH
2 Corinthians 4:7-15
But we have this treasure in pots of clay so that the power that surpasses all things may be seen to be God’s and not ours. We are attacked from all sides, but not cornered; overwhelmed, but not desperate; persecuted by men, but not abandoned by God; on the canvas, but not out cold. In our body we are always in danger of death as happened to Jesus Christ, so that the same life that Jesus lived may manifest in our body. Because throughout our lives we are constantly given over to death for the sake of Jesus, so that the life that Jesus gives can also be clearly seen by all in our mortal flesh. Consequently, death acts in us, but life in you. Since we have the same spirit of faith that appears in the passage of Scripture that begins “I have believed and therefore I have spoken,” we also believe and therefore speak; for we know that he who raised the Lord Jesus will also raise us with Jesus, and present us with you.
Everything that happens to us is for your good, so that grace may abound more and more and make the thanksgiving that rises from many abound even more to the glory of God.
Paul begins this passage expressing the idea that it could be that the privileges a Christian enjoys move him to pride. But life is designed to keep us free from pride. However great his glory may be, the Christian still lives on the mortal level, and he is a victim of circumstances; he is still subject to the hazards and vicissitudes of human life, and to the weakness and pain that come with a mortal body. He is like a clay pot, fragile and worthless, in which a priceless treasure has been stored. Now much is said about the power of the person and the great forces that he controls; but what is most characteristic of the human person is not his power, but his weakness. As Pascal said: “A drop of water or a breath of air can kill it.”
We have already seen how grand and glorious was the triumph of a Roman general. But there were two ingredients designed to rid the general of pride. The first thing was that, when he rode on the float with a crown above his head, people not only shouted their cheers for him but also, from time to time, “Look behind you and remember that you are mortal!” The second thing was that at the end of the parade his own soldiers arrived and did two things while they paraded: they sang songs in honor of their general, but also jeers and insults so that he wouldn’t be too proud.
Life has surrounded us with weakness, although Christ has surrounded us with glory, so that we keep in mind that weakness is our thing and glory belongs to God, and we recognize our absolute dependence on Him.
Paul goes on to describe in a series of paradoxes this Christian life in which our weakness is mixed with the glory of God.
(i) “We are attacked from all sides, but not cornered.” We are under all kinds of pressures, but we are never so cornered that we have no way out. It is characteristic of the Christian that, although his body is confined in some distressing circumstance, his spirit can always fly freely through the spaces of God in communion with Christ.
(ii) “Persecuted by men, but not abandoned by God.” One of the most remarkable things about the martyrs is that, even in the midst of the most terrible suffering, they enjoyed the sweet presence of Christ. As Joan of Arc said when she was abandoned by those who should have been faithful to her: “It is better to be alone with God. Her friendship will never fail me, nor his advice, nor her love. In his strength I will dare, and I will dare, and I will dare to the death.” As the psalmist said: “Even if my father and mother forsake me, the Lord will take me in.” Salt 27:10 ). Nothing can alter God’s faithfulness.
(iii) “Overwhelmed, but not desperate.” There are times when a Christian doesn’t know what to do; but, even then, he does not doubt that something can be do. There are times when you can’t quite see where life is going, but you don’t doubt that it’s going somewhere. If he has to “throw himself into the dark and awful sea of clouds,” he knows he’ll be fine. There are times when a Christian has to learn the hardest lesson of all, the one that Jesus learned in Gethsemane: to accept what he cannot understand, but to say: “Lord, You are love. On that I build my faith.”
We may be knocked down, but not destroyed,…