But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may also be revealed in our mortal body. So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you. 2 Corinthians 4:7-12
The glory of Christ is God. God's glory is in Christ. This is the basic summary of verses 4 - 6. Paul goes on to share that this glory is then entrusted to us, jars of clay, and all that is achieved or done isn't by our power but by God's.
Kent Hughes puts it this way, "jars of clay provided Paul with a penetrating metaphor for his and his followers’ humanity. Indeed Adam was formed out of the dust of the ground, and to dust he returned (cf. Genesis 2:7; 3:19). As clay jars we are all frail, weak, transitory mortals.
This understood, Paul’s famous declaration pulses with meaning: “But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us” (v. 7). The “treasure” is the illuminating power (described in the preceding verse as “the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ”) that God provides with the full creation power with which he spoke things into existence. This “treasure,” this creational, transforming gospel power, has been committed to insignificant, fragile followers of Christ — men and women who, like Paul, are all clay pots.
The reason for this is so there would be no mistake about where the power comes from — “to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.” "2 Corinthians 4:7
Join me in reading 2 Corinthians 4 and be encouraged!
But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may also be revealed in our mortal body. So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you. 2 Corinthians 4:7-12
The glory of Christ is God. God's glory is in Christ. This is the basic summary of verses 4 - 6. Paul goes on to share that this glory is then entrusted to us, jars of clay, and all that is achieved or done isn't by our power but by God's.
Kent Hughes puts it this way, "jars of clay provided Paul with a penetrating metaphor for his and his followers’ humanity. Indeed Adam was formed out of the dust of the ground, and to dust he returned (cf. Genesis 2:7; 3:19). As clay jars we are all frail, weak, transitory mortals.
This understood, Paul’s famous declaration pulses with meaning: “But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us” (v. 7). The “treasure” is the illuminating power (described in the preceding verse as “the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ”) that God provides with the full creation power with which he spoke things into existence. This “treasure,” this creational, transforming gospel power, has been committed to insignificant, fragile followers of Christ — men and women who, like Paul, are all clay pots.
The reason for this is so there would be no mistake about where the power comes from — “to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.” "2 Corinthians 4:7
Join me in reading 2 Corinthians 4 and be encouraged!