2Cor 4:7-8 | KingComments | STEP | . The opening words of this verse show a clear connection with . In order to understand the value of this passage first you must know what is meant by “this treasure” and “earthen vessels”. gives an exact description of ‘this treasure’. The word ‘treasure’ indicates that it is something valuable and precious. Is not the knowledge of God seen in Jesus Christ something overwhelming? How great it is! It is really unimaginable. In the past you lived without God, wandered around blindly; you had no hope and your heart was empty. Now you have a treasure in your heart and it is invaluable. You know God because you had an encounter with the Lord Jesus and accepted Him. In Christ “are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” ( ). What more do you want? To have more than this is simply impossible. And what is meant by earthen vessel? The Bible refers to a person or a person’s body as a vessel. The Lord calls Paul: “A chosen vessel [instrument is literally vessel]” ( ). This word ‘vessel’ is used in the same sense in other places ( ; [someone weaker is literally a weaker vessel]). In this verse vessel has a prefix. It is called earthen . This is to emphasize its fragility. Unlike a treasure that represents something precious, an earthen vessel is of little value. That Paul presents these things in this way is not without reason. This is reminiscent of the history of Gideon in Judges 7. There we see a small army of 300 men. This little army had to fight against a formidable enemy who held the Israelites in slavery. What are the kinds of weapons Gideon hands out to his men? Trumpets, empty pitchers and torches inside the pitchers ( ). In the verses following you read how they use these weapons. They blow the trumpets, smash the pitchers and make the torch visible ( ). Thus the enemies got the impression of being surrounded by a huge army and took to flight. Do you already see a parallel with here? The torch, the light, is the treasure, and the pitcher is the earthen vessel. This treasure in all its glory must be revealed in your life. The important thing is not your own life and your own person. The earthen vessel cannot have a high opinion of itself and it does not seek its own interests. Self-importance is out of place. You have no strength in yourself to let the light shine. The more you are aware of your own inadequacy, the more the power of God becomes visible in you and the brighter the light shines forth from your life. . These verses describe how this works. There you read on the one hand how the earthen vessel is broken and on the other hand how the power of God works to make the treasure visible to the outside world. The enumeration in these two verses is as follows: 1. On the one side “afflicted in every way” – thereby the earthen vessel is broken; 2. on the other side “not crushed” – because the power of God gives a way out. You find these two sides subsequently in 1. “perplexed” – the earthen vessel, “but not despairing” – the power of God provides a way out; 2. “persecuted” – the earthen vessel, “but not forsaken” – God is there with His power; 3. “struck down” – the earthen vessel, “but not destroyed” – God prevents by His power. When the weakness of the earthen vessel is felt, God gets the opportunity to make tangible the excellence of His power. Otherwise we would get the honor and not God, while the whole point is that He gets the honor. We read the same thing in Judges 7. God wants to prevent Israel from usurping the honor which belongs to Him alone ( ). Therefore He reduces the army to three hundred men and then says: “I will deliver you with the 300 men” ( ). We understand one thing for certain: the more thoroughly the vessel is broken, the brighter shines the light of the torch. Here you get an explanation (I do not say the explanation) for the trials you perhaps are going through or you might see in others. They serve to make visible God’s treasure while we disappear from view. . So the servants of God are constrained by the force of extreme circumstances to have “the dying of Jesus” in their mind always. If you look at that, you see your own death. This view prevents you living for yourself. This creates room for “the life of Jesus”. His life is then seen in all your walk and talk, in your behavior and manners. . Well, that is why Paul is constantly being delivered over to death. You see he says “constantly”? Whatever happened to him did not happen occasionally. His dedication to the service of God took him to the greatest dangers. Think again on what he said in chapter 1 and read about it in chapter 11. All that happened to him had a wonderful result for the Corinthians. He risked his life to let others, among them the Corinthians, share in the true life. . There is only one way to persevere in life like Paul and that is only in the power of faith. He had the same spirit of faith as the believers in the Old Testament had. That is why he cites Psalm 116 in this verse ( ). Where true faith is present, it will be spoken about, whatever the opposition is. You simply cannot keep silent. . When you remember God always has the last word then things cannot go wrong. God raised the Lord Jesus from the dead, didn’t He? The Lord Jesus had to pay with His life for the testimony He gave. Of course much more is connected with His death than His testimony. By His death He saved us from judgment. But the point here is that in the resurrection of the Lord Jesus there is a great encouragement. God raised Him. Then the encouragement is that certainly God will raise you too when you testify at the cost of your life. Then you will stand before Him along with Paul. No circumstance in your life can change that. It is anchored in the power of God. . When you view the difficulties in your service for the Lord Jesus Christ in this manner you will see the grace of God shining. The more fellow believers you serve in the midst of your trials and difficulties the more praises to the glory of God there will be. Is not the smashing of the earthen vessel worth it when you think of the fact that finally God will be glorified in those who belong to Him? Now read 2 Corinthians 4:7-15 again. Reflection: What is your experience in having ‘a treasure in an earthen vessel’?

‏ 2 Corinthians 4:7-8

The Treasure in Earthen Vessels

2Cor 4:7. The opening words of this verse show a clear connection with 2Cor 4:6. In order to understand the value of this passage first you must know what is meant by “this treasure” and “earthen vessels”.

2Cor 4:6 gives an exact description of ‘this treasure’. The word ‘treasure’ indicates that it is something valuable and precious. Is not the knowledge of God seen in Jesus Christ something overwhelming? How great it is! It is really unimaginable. In the past you lived without God, wandered around blindly; you had no hope and your heart was empty. Now you have a treasure in your heart and it is invaluable. You know God because you had an encounter with the Lord Jesus and accepted Him. In Christ “are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Col 2:3). What more do you want? To have more than this is simply impossible.

And what is meant by earthen vessel? The Bible refers to a person or a person’s body as a vessel. The Lord calls Paul: “A chosen vessel [instrument is literally vessel]” (Acts 9:15). This word ‘vessel’ is used in the same sense in other places (1Thes 4:4; 1Pet 3:7 [someone weaker is literally a weaker vessel]). In this verse vessel has a prefix. It is called earthen. This is to emphasize its fragility. Unlike a treasure that represents something precious, an earthen vessel is of little value.

That Paul presents these things in this way is not without reason. This is reminiscent of the history of Gideon in Judges 7. There we see a small army of 300 men. This little army had to fight against a formidable enemy who held the Israelites in slavery. What are the kinds of weapons Gideon hands out to his men? Trumpets, empty pitchers and torches inside the pitchers (Jdg 7:16). In the verses following you read how they use these weapons. They blow the trumpets, smash the pitchers and make the torch visible (Jdg 7:19-20). Thus the enemies got the impression of being surrounded by a huge army and took to flight.

Do you already see a parallel with 2Cor 4:7 here? The torch, the light, is the treasure, and the pitcher is the earthen vessel. This treasure in all its glory must be revealed in your life. The important thing is not your own life and your own person. The earthen vessel cannot have a high opinion of itself and it does not seek its own interests. Self-importance is out of place. You have no strength in yourself to let the light shine. The more you are aware of your own inadequacy, the more the power of God becomes visible in you and the brighter the light shines forth from your life.

2Cor 4:8-9. These verses describe how this works. There you read on the one hand how the earthen vessel is broken and on the other hand how the power of God works to make the treasure visible to the outside world. The enumeration in these two verses is as follows:

1. On the one side “afflicted in every way” – thereby the earthen vessel is broken;

2. on the other side “not crushed” – because the power of God gives a way out.

You find these two sides subsequently in

1. “perplexed” – the earthen vessel, “but not despairing” – the power of God provides a way out;

2. “persecuted” – the earthen vessel, “but not forsaken” – God is there with His power;

3. “struck down” – the earthen vessel, “but not destroyed” – God prevents by His power.

When the weakness of the earthen vessel is felt, God gets the opportunity to make tangible the excellence of His power. Otherwise we would get the honor and not God, while the whole point is that He gets the honor.

We read the same thing in Judges 7. God wants to prevent Israel from usurping the honor which belongs to Him alone (Jdg 7:2). Therefore He reduces the army to three hundred men and then says: “I will deliver you with the 300 men” (Jdg 7:7). We understand one thing for certain: the more thoroughly the vessel is broken, the brighter shines the light of the torch.

Here you get an explanation (I do not say the explanation) for the trials you perhaps are going through or you might see in others. They serve to make visible God’s treasure while we disappear from view.

2Cor 4:10. So the servants of God are constrained by the force of extreme circumstances to have “the dying of Jesus” in their mind always. If you look at that, you see your own death. This view prevents you living for yourself. This creates room for “the life of Jesus”. His life is then seen in all your walk and talk, in your behavior and manners.

2Cor 4:11-12. Well, that is why Paul is constantly being delivered over to death. You see he says “constantly”? Whatever happened to him did not happen occasionally. His dedication to the service of God took him to the greatest dangers. Think again on what he said in chapter 1 and read about it in chapter 11. All that happened to him had a wonderful result for the Corinthians. He risked his life to let others, among them the Corinthians, share in the true life.

2Cor 4:13. There is only one way to persevere in life like Paul and that is only in the power of faith. He had the same spirit of faith as the believers in the Old Testament had. That is why he cites Psalm 116 in this verse (Psa 116:10). Where true faith is present, it will be spoken about, whatever the opposition is. You simply cannot keep silent.

2Cor 4:14. When you remember God always has the last word then things cannot go wrong. God raised the Lord Jesus from the dead, didn’t He? The Lord Jesus had to pay with His life for the testimony He gave. Of course much more is connected with His death than His testimony. By His death He saved us from judgment. But the point here is that in the resurrection of the Lord Jesus there is a great encouragement.

God raised Him. Then the encouragement is that certainly God will raise you too when you testify at the cost of your life. Then you will stand before Him along with Paul. No circumstance in your life can change that. It is anchored in the power of God.

2Cor 4:15. When you view the difficulties in your service for the Lord Jesus Christ in this manner you will see the grace of God shining. The more fellow believers you serve in the midst of your trials and difficulties the more praises to the glory of God there will be. Is not the smashing of the earthen vessel worth it when you think of the fact that finally God will be glorified in those who belong to Him?

Now read 2 Corinthians 4:7-15 again.

Reflection: What is your experience in having ‘a treasure in an earthen vessel’?