The Letters · New Testament
2 Corinthians 4
2 Corinthians 4: treasure in earthen vessels
General context
Paul says that because this ministry came by mercy he does not faint, and that he has renounced hidden things of dishonesty, refusing craftiness and any deceitful handling of the word of God, commending himself instead by open truth to every conscience. If his gospel is hidden, he says, it is hidden to the lost, whose minds the god of this world has blinded so the light of the gospel does not shine on them. He insists that he preaches Christ Jesus as Lord and himself as their servant, and that the God who commanded light out of darkness has shined in his heart. The treasure, he says, is carried in earthen vessels so the power is clearly God's. He then lists what this looks like: troubled but not distressed, perplexed but not in despair, persecuted but not forsaken, cast down but not destroyed, always carrying the dying of the Lord Jesus so that the life of Jesus is made visible in the body. Death works in him and life in them. Quoting a written line about believing and speaking, he says the same faith makes him speak, and that the God who raised the Lord Jesus will raise him too and present them together. All of it, he says, is for their sakes. So he does not faint: the outward man perishes while the inward man is renewed daily, a light affliction for a moment works an eternal weight of glory, and he looks at what is unseen rather than what is seen.
Cited passages: 2 Corinthians 4:1, 2 Corinthians 4:2, 2 Corinthians 4:3, 2 Corinthians 4:4, 2 Corinthians 4:5, 2 Corinthians 4:6, 2 Corinthians 4:7, 2 Corinthians 4:8, 2 Corinthians 4:9, 2 Corinthians 4:10, 2 Corinthians 4:11, 2 Corinthians 4:12, 2 Corinthians 4:13, 2 Corinthians 4:14, 2 Corinthians 4:15, 2 Corinthians 4:16, 2 Corinthians 4:17, 2 Corinthians 4:18
2 Corinthians 4 (KJV)
1Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not;
2But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.
3But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:
4In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
5For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake.
6For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
7But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.
8We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;
9Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;
10Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.
11For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus’ sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.
12So then death worketh in us, but life in you.
13We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak;
14Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you.
15For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God.
16For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.
17For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;
18While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.
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Historical context
The chapter quotes one written line, introduced as according as it is written, and prints it as I believed, and therefore have I spoken. The letter gives no book or chapter for it. The same wording stands at Psalm 116:10, which prints I believed, therefore have I spoken: I was greatly afflicted: so the letter's version adds the word and before therefore and stops before the clause about affliction. The chapter names no opponent. It speaks of the god of this world who has blinded the minds of them which believe not, without identifying him further, and of them that are lost without saying who they are. Paul's denial that he handles the word of God deceitfully implies a charge but does not state one, and no accuser is named. Nothing here fixes a place, a date or an occasion.
Cited passages: 2 Corinthians 4:2, 2 Corinthians 4:3, 2 Corinthians 4:4, 2 Corinthians 4:5, 2 Corinthians 4:13, 2 Corinthians 4:14, Psalms 116:10
Literary context
The chapter is built on one contrast repeated at three scales. First in a single image, treasure held in earthen vessels, where the fragility of the container is the point. Then in four clipped pairs that concede the blow and deny the outcome, so that troubled, perplexed, persecuted and cast down each get an answer in the same breath. Then in the closing antithesis of outward and inward, momentary and eternal, seen and unseen. The verb faint frames the whole passage, opening it and returning near the end. Between the pairs and the conclusion Paul draws the contrast into the body itself, carrying the dying of the Lord Jesus so that the life of Jesus may be made manifest, and states the exchange bluntly: death works in one party, life in the other.
Cited passages: 2 Corinthians 4:1, 2 Corinthians 4:7, 2 Corinthians 4:8, 2 Corinthians 4:9, 2 Corinthians 4:10, 2 Corinthians 4:11, 2 Corinthians 4:12, 2 Corinthians 4:16, 2 Corinthians 4:17, 2 Corinthians 4:18
Key moments
- No deceitful handling (2 Corinthians 4:2). Paul says he has renounced craftiness and does not handle the word of God deceitfully.
- Light out of darkness (2 Corinthians 4:6). He says the God who commanded light to shine has shined in their hearts.
- Treasure in earthen vessels (2 Corinthians 4:7). The treasure is held in fragile containers so the power is seen to be God's.
- Struck but not destroyed (2 Corinthians 4:9). Paul lists persecution and being cast down alongside denials of ruin.
- I believed, and therefore have I spoken (2 Corinthians 4:13). He quotes a written line about believing and speaking and applies it to himself.
- Seen and unseen (2 Corinthians 4:18). He says he looks at what is not seen, because what is seen is temporal.
For reflection
Paul says the treasure is kept in earthen vessels so that the excellency of the power may be of God. What do you do with the parts of yourself you would rather were sturdier?
