Verse-by-Verse Commentary
The Book of 2 Corinthians
Chapter 4: Treasure in Earthen Vessels
2 Corinthians 4 shows the glory of the gospel carried by weak and suffering servants. Paul preaches honestly, 'by manifestation of the truth,' though 'the god of this world hath blinded the minds' of the lost, 'lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.' The gospel is not about the preacher: 'we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord.' And God, who made light shine at creation, 'hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.' Yet this treasure is carried 'in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us,' so Paul is 'troubled on every side, yet not distressed.' He does not lose heart, for 'though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day,' and 'our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.' The chapter shows us the glory of God in the face of Jesus, the power of God in fragile servants, and the eternal glory that outweighs all suffering.
About This Commentary
This is a verse-by-verse study of 2 Corinthians chapter 4. For each section you will find the KJV text, the Greek words that sharpen the meaning, plain explanation, and a Gospel Focus. Here Paul shows the glory of God shining in the face of Jesus Christ, the treasure of the gospel carried in fragile servants, and the eternal glory that far outweighs present affliction. Every Scripture quotation is from the King James Version.
Setting the Stage
The Glory of God in Christ's Face
The gospel is the light of God's glory seen in Jesus Christ.
Not Ourselves, but Christ
Paul preaches Christ Jesus the Lord, himself only a servant.
Treasure in Earthen Vessels
The power is of God, carried in fragile clay.
An Eternal Weight of Glory
Light, momentary affliction works an eternal weight of glory.
The Glory of God in the Face of Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 4:1-6)
Paul preaches Christ honestly; though the lost are blinded, God shines the light of His glory in the face of Jesus.
We Preach Not Ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord
"Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not; But 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. But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In 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. For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake. For 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."
Word Study
"image," Greek eikon (εἰκών). The word means an image, a likeness, a visible representation, as a portrait or the figure stamped on a coin; from it comes our word icon. Paul calls Christ "the image of God," and says the gospel gives "the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ." Christ is the eikon in whom the invisible God is made visible: "the image of the invisible God" (Colossians 1:15), in whom "dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily" (Colossians 2:9). This is not a lesser copy of God set beside Him, but God Himself made visible in flesh; to see the glory of God, look "in the face of Jesus Christ," for "he that hath seen me hath seen the Father" (John 14:9). The one invisible God has shown His own glory in the human face of Jesus, God manifest in flesh. So the light of the gospel is nothing less than the shining of God's glory in Christ; to know Jesus is to see the glory of the one God, for He is the very image in whom that God stands revealed.
Explanation
Because his ministry is a mercy, Paul says, "we faint not," and he renounces "the hidden things of dishonesty," refusing to handle "the word of God deceitfully." If the gospel is "hid," it is hidden only "to them that are lost," whose minds "the god of this world hath blinded," lest the light of Christ's glory shine on them. But Paul preaches "Christ Jesus the Lord," not himself. And the God of creation performs a new creation: "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."
Gospel Focus
Because his ministry is a mercy, Paul says, "we faint not." He serves with integrity, having "renounced the hidden things of dishonesty," refusing to manipulate or twist God's word, but setting forth "the manifestation of the truth" plainly before "every man's conscience in the sight of God." If such a clear gospel is still rejected, the fault is not in the message but in the blinded heart: "if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: in whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not." Satan, the "god of this world" in the sense that the world follows him, works to keep sinners from seeing "the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God." The gospel's light is the glory of Christ, and the enemy's whole aim is to keep that light from shining in. Paul insists the gospel is never about the preacher: "we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake." The messenger is only a servant; the message is Christ the Lord. And then Paul gives one of Scripture's most glorious statements of what conversion is: "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." As at creation God spoke light into the dark, so in the new creation He shines into the dark heart, and the light He gives is the knowledge of His own glory seen "in the face of Jesus Christ." To be saved is to have God shine into the heart so that we behold His glory in Jesus, the image of God, God manifest in flesh. That is the treasure Paul carries, and the light no darkness can finally resist.
This Treasure in Earthen Vessels (2 Corinthians 4:7-12)
The surpassing power is God's, carried in fragile human vessels that bear the dying and the life of Jesus.
The Excellency of the Power May Be of God
"But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. For 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. So then death worketh in us, but life in you."
Word Study
"earthen vessels," Greek ostrakinois skeuesin (ὀστρακίνοις σκεύεσιν). The phrase means vessels of baked clay, ordinary, fragile, cheap pottery, easily cracked and broken. "We have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us." The treasure is the priceless gospel, the glory of Christ; the vessels are frail, mortal human beings like Paul, weak, suffering, and breakable. God deliberately entrusts His glorious treasure to such humble containers so that when His power shines out, everyone can see it comes from God and not from the vessel. If the messengers were strong and impressive in themselves, the glory might be credited to them; but precisely because they are weak clay, the "excellency of the power" is unmistakably God's. This is God's pattern throughout Scripture: He uses the weak to shame the strong, that no flesh should glory. The believer need not despair at his own frailty; the very weakness of the vessel displays the strength of the God who fills it.
Explanation
Paul confesses that "we have this treasure in earthen vessels" — the priceless gospel carried in fragile clay pots — and gives the reason: "that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us." God uses weak, breakable people so the glory is unmistakably His. Then a string of paradoxes: "troubled on every side, yet not distressed... perplexed, but not in despair... cast down, but not destroyed." Bearing "the dying of the Lord Jesus" in his body, Paul finds that "death worketh in us, but life in you" — his sufferings become the channel of life to the church.
Gospel Focus
Paul now explains why God entrusts so great a treasure to such weak servants: "we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us." The frailty is the point. Then, in a famous series of contrasts, Paul describes the paradox of the suffering servant sustained by God: "troubled on every side, yet not distressed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed." Pressure, confusion, opposition, and blows come, but never the final word, because the power that holds him is God's, not his own. The clay pot is battered but not shattered. Paul sees in his sufferings a deeper meaning: "always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body." In his constant danger and death for Christ's sake, Paul relives the pattern of Jesus, dying, so that the risen life of Jesus might shine through him. "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." The very sufferings that seem to be killing the servant become the stage on which the resurrection life of Jesus is displayed. And there is fruit for others: "so then death worketh in us, but life in you." Paul's dying labors bring life to the churches. This is the shape of true ministry, and of the Christian life: not a triumph that avoids suffering, but the life of Jesus shining through servants who share His sufferings, weak clay vessels through whom the power and life of God are revealed.
A Far More Exceeding and Eternal Weight of Glory (2 Corinthians 4:13-18)
Sustained by faith in the resurrection, Paul does not lose heart, for present affliction is working an eternal weight of glory.
The Inward Man Is Renewed Day by Day
"We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak; Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you. For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God. For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While 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."
Word Study
"weight," Greek baros (βάρος). The word means weight, heaviness, a burden of mass. "Our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory." Paul weighs two things against each other: present affliction, which he calls "light" and "but for a moment," and the coming glory, an eternal "weight." There is a wordplay behind it, for the Hebrew word for glory, kabod, also means weight or heaviness; glory is weighty, substantial, massive. Paul says the sufferings of this life, real as they are, are feather-light and momentary compared to the crushing, everlasting weight of the glory they are producing. And note that the affliction "worketh" the glory, our present sufferings are not meaningless but are actually accomplishing an eternal reward, adding to its weight. So the believer weighs the two in the balance: on one side, brief and light trouble; on the other, an eternal and exceeding baros of glory. Seen rightly, there is no comparison; the glory infinitely outweighs the pain.
Explanation
Sustained by faith, Paul does "not faint," knowing that God "which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also." So "the inward man is renewed day by day" even as the outward decays. And he sets the scales of eternity against present pain: "our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory." What feels heavy and long is, measured against glory, light and momentary. The secret is where one looks: "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."
Gospel Focus
What keeps a battered clay vessel from breaking in despair? Faith. Paul quotes the psalmist, "I believed, and therefore have I spoken," and claims "the same spirit of faith": because he believes, he keeps preaching, whatever it costs. And the content of that faith is the resurrection: "he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you." The God who raised Jesus will raise Paul and all believers; death is not the end, so Paul can pour out his life without fear. Even his sufferings serve others and God's glory: "all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God." Therefore, Paul repeats, "we faint not." He faces a real decline, "though our outward man perish", the body wearing down under age, toil, and persecution, "yet the inward man is renewed day by day." As the outer shell weakens, the inner life is daily refreshed by God. Then comes the great weighing of the scales: "our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory." However heavy present suffering feels, set beside the eternal glory it is producing, it is light and brief. The secret is where we fix our eyes: "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." The visible troubles are passing; the unseen realities, God, glory, the resurrection, eternal life, are forever. So the believer does not lose heart. He carries the treasure in a breaking vessel, endures light and momentary affliction, and keeps his eyes on the eternal weight of glory that his very sufferings are working out, renewed within day by day by the God who raises the dead.
Chapter 4 in Review
2 Corinthians 4 sets the glory of the gospel against the weakness of its bearers. Paul preaches Christ honestly, "by manifestation of the truth," though "the god of this world hath blinded the minds" of the lost against "the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God." He preaches "not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord," for God "hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ." Yet this treasure is carried "in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God," so Paul is "troubled on every side, yet not distressed," bearing "the dying of the Lord Jesus" that His life might be shown. So "we faint not," for "though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day," and "our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory."
For the Apostolic reader this chapter fixes the eye on Christ and eternity. The gospel's light is the glory of the one God shining "in the face of Jesus Christ," the image of God, God manifest in flesh; to see Jesus is to see the glory of God. That glorious treasure is carried in weak, breakable servants on purpose, so the power is plainly God's and not ours; the very sufferings of the servant become the place where the life of Jesus shines. So the believer does not lose heart under affliction. The outward man perishes, but the inward is renewed daily; present trouble is light and brief, while it works an eternal weight of glory; and the eyes of faith look past the seen and temporal to the unseen and eternal. Behold the glory of God in the face of Jesus, carry His treasure faithfully in your frailty, and endure, for the affliction is momentary and the glory is forever.
- Christ is "the image of God"; His face reveals "the glory of God" (4:4, 6).
- "We preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord" (4:5).
- The treasure is in "earthen vessels," that the power may be of God (4:7).
- Suffering servants bear "the dying" and the "life" of Jesus (4:10-11).
- "The inward man is renewed day by day" (4:16).
- Light, momentary affliction works "a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory" (4:17).
Questions for Reflection
- Have you seen "the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ"? Does His light shine in your heart?
- Do you rest in the truth that your frailty displays God's power, not your own?
- How does the promise of resurrection keep you from losing heart?
- Do you look at "the things which are not seen," weighing affliction against eternal glory?
References & Sources
Scripture is quoted from the King James Version (KJV). Supporting passages are listed so every claim can be verified in its own setting. Christ the image of God; the glory of God in His face: 2 Corinthians 4:4-6; Colossians 1:15; 2:9; John 14:9; Hebrews 1:3; Genesis 1:3. Preaching Christ, not ourselves: 2 Corinthians 4:5; 1 Corinthians 1:23; 2:2; John 3:30. The treasure in earthen vessels; power of God: 2 Corinthians 4:7-12; 1 Corinthians 1:27-29; 2 Corinthians 12:9; Philippians 3:10. The resurrection hope and eternal glory: 2 Corinthians 4:13-18; Psalm 116:10; Romans 8:11, 18; 1 Corinthians 6:14; Colossians 3:1-4. If anything here does not look right, a verse, a reference, or a wording, please tell us at info@FruitBearers.net. Thank you for helping us keep Bible Learning error free.
- The glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ, the image of God: 2 Corinthians 4:1-6; Colossians 1:15; John 14:9.
- The treasure in earthen vessels; the life of Jesus in suffering: 2 Corinthians 4:7-12; 2 Corinthians 12:9.
- Renewed daily; the eternal weight of glory: 2 Corinthians 4:13-18; Romans 8:18; Colossians 3:1-4.