We continue our deeper study into 2 Corinthians by looking at the next set of scriptures in chapter 4.
7 Now we have this treasure in clay jars, so that this extraordinary power may be from God and not from us. 8 We are afflicted in every way but not crushed; we are perplexed but not in despair; 9 we are persecuted but not abandoned; we are struck down but not destroyed. 10 We always carry the death of Jesus in our body, so that the life of Jesus may also be displayed in our body. 11 For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus’s sake, so that Jesus’s life may also be displayed in our mortal flesh. 12 So then, death is at work in us, but life in you.
2 Corinthians 4:7-12
We have this treasure
This treasure refers to the gospel, the new covenant of which they were ministers.
44 “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure, buried in a field, that a man found and reburied. Then in his joy he goes and sells everything he has and buys that field.
Matthew 13:44
Jesus spoke of this treasure as the pearl of great price—an invaluable gem that surpasses all earthly riches! Imagine the lengths one would go to secure such a treasure. A person would sell everything. They would sacrifice all for its value. Salvation is the supreme treasure we possess, the ultimate gift! As ministers of this new covenant, we have the sacred duty to share it with others. We must ensure that they, too, can experience the profound joy and fulfillment it brings. They should feel this joy, just as we do!
Do you treasure the gospel? Do you treasure Jesus? How does a person treat something he treasures? If we treasure Jesus, how will we treat our relationship to Him?
In jars of clay
Here Paul gives a surprising illustration. One would expect that a treasure should be stored in something beautiful. It should be in something valuable which will reflect the worth of what is inside. Treasure boxes themselves are often ornate. And treasure boxes are often very durable in order to preserve the riches within.
But here, Paul boldly asserts that this treasure resides in humble jars of clay. A clay jar, fragile and seemingly pointless, is often dismissed as worthless—the most inexpensive storage option imaginable. These jars, frequently used to hold refuse or discarded items, evoke a sense of irony. It seems utterly absurd for someone to hide precious jewels or gleaming gold in such an unassuming vessel. This choice is not merely unexpected. It challenges our very notions of worth and significance. The clay jar appears utterly unfit to contain something so extraordinary.
What is the clay jar in this illustration?
16 To some we are an aroma of death leading to death, but to others, an aroma of life leading to life. Who is adequate for these things?
2 Corinthians 2:16
And who is adequate for such a task as this?
And that is the whole point. There is no person who is sufficient for this task. Paul and his team looked weak. They were beaten and whipped. Thrown out of most towns they went to, they were often on the run. Sometimes they were in prison. Many were not the richest or the brightest.
But God chose to use them. Why? The answer is in the second part of verse 7.
To show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us
God could have chosen any method and any people to spread the gospel. But He chose people. Many of the people He chose are just common people. And to the world they look weak. A fruitful missionary is not the world’s prototype of success. Neither was Paul. Neither are you or myself.
As we will see in the following verses, Paul was weak in the eyes of many in the world. He wasn’t successful as the world defines success. The disciples also were mostly fishermen and peasants. This was no mistake. It was no coincidence.
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, first to the Jew, and also to the Greek.
Romans 1:16
God intentionally used normal people as vessels to spread the gospel. This was done to show that it is His power which saves. It is not ours. It is not wealth, status, worldly logic, or arguments which save. As we saw in verses 5-6, it is the light of Christ. He changes hearts. Because it is all Him, He gets all the glory.
A clay jar holds the most expensive diamond in the world. It serves as a contrast of the common with the exquisite. When a person saw the diamond being drawn out of the jar, they would gasp with surprise. The beauty was being stored in such a cheap container. All of their focus would be on the beauty of the diamond and not on the container. That is the way it is with the gospel.
How can we encourage people to focus on the gospel, Jesus, and the word and not us?
Paul is teaching us, as ministers of the new covenant our job is to draw attention to Jesus, not to ourselves. We want to help people behold the beauty of Christ. We want to glorify Him and not get credit for ourselves. John the Baptist understood this.
30 He must increase, but I must decrease.”
John 3:30
When people praise you, give God the glory. Do that not just with a cliché like a muttered “praise God” while we soak in the glory. No, our entire mindset should be that we are humble servants drawing attention to Jesus. We should minister in such a way as to not get recognition for ourselves.
What are some specific ways you can deflect praise from yourself to God?
In verses 8-9, Paul describes some of their weaknesses and difficulties. These four metaphors demonstrate that regardless of the challenges ministers of the gospel face, God will provide them strength. They will get through and still reach people for Christ.
By itself a clay jar is weak. You would think that at the first heavy impact it would be shattered. And that is true of actual clay jars. But for evangelists the impacts do not shatter them. God gives supernatural and sustaining strength. A person who depends on his own strength would be shattered by these things.
35 Who can separate us from the love of Christ? Can affliction or distress or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written:
Because of you
we are being put to death all day long;
we are counted as sheep to be slaughtered.[a]37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.
Romans 8:35-37
However, they can do “all things through Christ who strengthens” them. Believers can be overwhelming conquerors in the face of all these things “through him who loved us.”
Take time to write out a testimony of how God sustained you through difficulty. Ask the Lord to help guide you to someone who needs to hear your testimony.
Paul is teaching us to know that God will give you the victory when you face suffering and persecution. He will not abandon you. He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. He will not let you be crushed. He will not let you be driven to despair. He will not forsake you. But I believe these are conditional upon you continuing to fix your eyes on Jesus. You must trust Him for strength and comfort. If you fall away in faithlessness these things no longer hold true. So keep your eyes on Jesus. Know with certainty that He will be beside you each step of the way.
Always carrying in the body the death of Jesus
Paul has been speaking in metaphors again and again and this is another one. It means that Paul and his team, as ministers of the new covenant, are facing the same types of attacks. These are the attacks that Jesus faced. These attacks led to His death. It refers to the persecution that genuine believers face when they tell people about Jesus.
18 “If the world hates you, understand that it hated me before it hated you. 19 If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own. However, because you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of it, the world hates you. 20 Remember the word I spoke to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours.
John 15:18-20
People endlessly attacked Paul and the other disciples because they were followers of Jesus. Just as the world hated Jesus so they hated His followers who continued in His teachings. Just as the world today hates Jesus, they will also hate you.
Paul is telling us to expect persecution. Do not be surprised when the world hates you. Neither should you respond in kind to their rhetoric. The world is full of professing believers. They aggressively defend themselves. They return insult for insult with the world that hates them. That is not what Jesus called us to do. He called us to love our neighbors. We should “give a blessing instead” and “overcome evil with good.”
When believers respond to persecution with humility, love, and grace Christ shines through. All the vehement arguments in the world will not change hearts. Neither does retaliation exalt our Lord who did not retaliate. The life of Jesus is manifest when we respond to unfair treatment how He wants us to respond.
How does this manifest the life of Jesus?
When we follow Jesus’ model, then we point to Jesus’ life. We show through action what Jesus is like. And that light attracts people to Him.
We who live are always being given over to death
There are few such powerful testimonies as saints who are martyred responding with peace, hope, and love. Stephen’s request for God to forgive his murders was a strong witness for the Lord.
Death is at work in us, but life in you
Paul and his fellow evangelists confronted persecution and the specter of death. They were driven by an unyielding desire to ignite life in the souls of those they served. They could have chosen silence for their own safety. However, this choice would have spiritually and eternally destroyed countless hearts. These hearts would be denied the chance to hear the transformative word. Instead, they boldly opened their mouths, inviting the world’s fury and embracing the grim reality of martyrdom. In their courageous stand against physical death, they became beacons of hope. They ushered in spiritual rebirth and eternal life for all who listened to the gospel. These individuals embraced its truth.
What does Paul want us to learn?
Many times, we find ourselves facing the challenging choice between convenience and our commitment to serving God. It can feel much easier to remain silent. Silence may shield us from discomfort. It can also help us fit in with others. There’s a certain appeal in seeking popularity, isn’t there? Yet, we must acknowledge that speaking the truth and standing firm in God’s word can come with significant sacrifices. It might mean risking our jobs, friendships, promotions, or even our freedom and safety. However, when we weigh that cost against the promise of eternal life we are sharing, it becomes clear that such sacrifices can lead to a profoundly rewarding path.
Cross References:
- Matthew 13:44
- 2 Timothy 3:12
- 1 Peter 4:12-14
- Romans 8:35-37
- Galatians 2:20
- Luke 9:23
- John 12:24
- Romans 12:1
Reflective Questions:
- What treasure is Paul referring to in verse 7?
- How can the ministry of the New Covenant be stored in a jar of clay? Is it an actual jar or something else?
- Why does Paul compare their own earthly bodies to jars of clay?
- How were they afflicted, perplexed, persecuted, and struck down?
- What point is Paul making in verses 8-9?
- How could they endure through these difficulties?
- Have you faced any of these challenges?
- Share a testimony of how God sustained you through difficulty.
- What does Paul mean that they are “always carrying in the body the death of Jesus?”
- How could the life of Jesus be manifest through them?
- In what ways were Paul and his team being given over to death? How is this “for Jesus’ sake?”
- How can you manifest the life of Jesus in your flesh?
- Why did Paul say, “death is at work in us, but life in you?” Does Paul want their praise or gratitude? Is he seeking personal recognition?
- How can you “die” that others may live?
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