Our passage starts with a “But”, signalling a continuation of an argument/point made in the previous verses. In 2 Cor 4:4, Paul has just said that Satan blinds the minds of unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ. In 2 Cor 4:6, Paul then says that for Christians, for believers: God has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. Paul uses the language of creation to describe how one comes to Christ, that is why later in 2 Cor 5:17, we see that Paul describes those who are in Christ to be a new creation.
This idea and context is important in helping us to understand today’s passage!
(A) Treasure in Jars of Clay to the Glory of God (2 Cor 4:7-15)
How does 2 Cor 4:7 link to the previous verses? Paul speaks of treasures in jars of clay and this treasure is the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ shining into our hearts. This is none other than God giving us the knowledge or contents of the gospel (good news) of the glory of God in Christ. God shines this light into our dark hearts, hearts that were previously blinded by the god of this world, to effect new loves and desires. God shines this light that we might see and behold this glory of God in Christ, and trust in it for our righteousness.
The “jars of clay” is a common metaphor for human weakness. Clay is fragile and brittle; it is easily broken. These fragile jars of clay refer to our weak bodies, and our weak hearts that are prone to wander away from God, prone to sin against God, prone to be blinded by Satan to love this world. It is in these fragile jars that the treasure is stored in.
We don’t come to know God on our own! We only come to know Him because He has shone His light in our weak bodies that are easily broken. If you are a Christian today, do you see your faith and the light that God has shone into your heart as a treasure. It is nothing short of miraculous that we believe what we believe and love what we love. On our own, we are jars of clay, weak vessels that are easily broken. We are blind on our own. We don’t come to trust in Christ on our own strength, but by God’s grace alone
However, when we think about treasures, and where people usually store them, we realise that people don’t store them in jars of clay. People tend to store precious items in vaults, in safes, in banks’ safe deposit boxes etc. But here, Paul is saying that this is stored in a weak vessel.
What is the reason? It is to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us (2 Cor 4:7b). We have treasure not in the strongest vaults, or safe deposit boxes but in weak bodies to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.
This is similar to what we have been reading in this letter. Paul emphasises the weakness of humans in contrast to God’s power and strength. In 2 Cor 1:8-9, Paul says that when they felt that they received a death sentence, it was to make us rely not on themselves, but on God who raises the dead. This is our God who chooses what is foolish in the world to shame the wise, what is weak in the world to shame the strong so that no human being can boast in the presence of God (1 Cor 1:27-29). Paul never points to his own strength but always emphasises God’s strength.
How can we apply this? This affects how we think about and live out some truths. It changes how we think about salvation. Our faith in Christ as treasure is not something we achieved ourselves by worldly know-how, or something we earned. We know how fragile our bodies and hearts are. We didn’t see any treasure in the gospel until God shone his light into our hearts. It is only by grace that we can see the glory of Christ, and all praise is due only to God because he is the surpassing power at work in us. We have no power in ourselves, and so we cannot boast. In our weakness, God’s surpassing power is shown. As Christians, we might do many things that might be seen as foolishness to the world, but it shows God’s surpassing power.
It also affects our evangelism. This reminds us that we are not the ones converting anyone. In fact, we cannot change anyone’s heart, only God can. He alone must shine the light into human hearts to cause one to see the good news of the glory of God in Christ. If you are sharing the gospel today, and you are disappointed with the results, or even encouraged by the result, remember that it is God working, and only he can change human hearts. This should make us humble and prayerful as we share God’s word. How often have we prayed for those around us to have their “eyes” open to the gospel?
This also speaks to suffering. Do you sometimes feel powerless or weak? All of us have or will come to some circumstances that we have no control or power over. We might like to live as if we can plan and dictate everything in our lives. Not that plans are bad, but here, Paul reminds us that when life throws us a curve ball, it is making us not rely on ourselves but on God who raises the dead. How might this truth comfort you today? Our God uses our weakness to show his surpassing power and glory.
Paul goes on to speak about Christian suffering in 2 Cor 4:8-9.
“Afflicted in every way, but not crushed”: afflicted or hard pressed on every side, as if the walls are closing in, but never crushed.
“Perplexed, but not driven to despair”: be at a loss mentally/doubt/not knowing what to do, but not in despair or without hope
“Persecuted, but not forsaken”: to be hunted down, to be pursued, but not forsaken or abandoned
“Struck down, but not destroyed”: Knocked down like in a boxing match, but not destroyed
The Bible is clear in telling us that Christians will suffer at some point (c.f. 2 Cor 4:8-9). We have this baseline expectation that things will go well: we will get good food for breakfast, car will start, our public transportation will arrive on time, our jobs will go smoothly, our bodies will be healthy etc. But we don’t have to be very old to see that things do not always go our way, especially with regard to our “treasure”. Unbelievers and the world do not see nor regard this treasure.
Jesus himself tells his disciples that the world will persecute them just as they did persecute Jesus (c.f. Jn 15:18-20). The world will hate those who follow Christ because Jesus chose them out of the world. There is a mismatch between those of Christ and those of the world. What they call treasure is what the world calls rubbish!
1 Peter 4:12 also tells us to not be surprised at the fiery trial as though something strange were happening to you but rejoice so that you will be glad when Christ’s glory is revealed. Therefore, it is not about whether we find ourselves suffering, but when we will suffer.
Christians in suffering are like the bug that just won’t die. You can keep pressing on it with pressure, but they will continue crawling away. Christians in their suffering are never fully defeated. That is what Paul is saying about those who have treasure in jars of clay. Isn’t this what we all want? How are we able to have this sort of grit?
Let’s break down what Paul is saying in 2 Cor 4:10-15.
What can we see about Paul’s priority from these verses? The life of Jesus is made known (manifested) in his life, so that grace extends to more and more people, leading to thanksgiving to the glory of God (c.f. 2 Cor 4:15). Paul sees his suffering and his body being given over to death so that the life of Jesus can be made known, so that the gospel and good news of the life of Jesus might be known to more and more, Paul is most interested in his mission to spread the gospel to more people, that more may praise and give thanks to God, leading more to repent and to give God glory. This is what Paul is willing to go through for the sake of the gospel. He holds onto God’s promise that he will be raised with the Corinthians into the presence of Jesus
Paul is suffering for the sake of the gospel reaching the Corinthians, this is how much he loves them and also am willing to go through so that grace extends to more and more. He wants more and more to experience the light that God shines into hearts. To what lengths are we willing to have our bodies be given over death for grace to extend? This is not a call for us to all leave comfortable urban Singapore, but what are we willing to give up so that grace extends? It could be going out of Singapore, but our sometimes our witness of the gospel can be more subtle: it could mean a less comfortable relationship with your friend or even family as you speak about the gospel, it could mean a less comfortable lifestyle as you work less or even work more to support your witness of the gospel. Paul is clear that his suffering is for a reason, and that is for grace to extend so that more will give thanks and glory to God.
What keeps Paul going in this ministry? It is seeing that Christ is manifested in his suffering, and knowing that God who raised Christ will also raise us and bring us into Christ’s presence (2 Cor 4:14). All this leads to more glory to God which is what Paul is living for.
(B) Preparation for an Eternal Weight of Glory Beyond All Comparison (2 Cor 4:16-18)
This table summarises Paul’s arguments in 2 Cor 4:16-17.
What is the word connecting the contrast in 2 Cor 4:17? It is “preparing for us”. The light and momentary affliction of this life is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison. Paul is saying that the suffering of today prepares us for the glory to come. If you read some other translations, it says achieving for us, or producing for us. There is a glorious fruit that comes out of our affliction, it is not even worth comparing to the sufferings of today.
Paul is saying that this suffering is so worth it when you look at the outcome of it. Our suffering is not wasted. Some of us enjoy looking for a good deal and feel so satisfied when we find it. But often, part of the joy of a good deal also lies in sharing with others about this find. This is what Paul is saying: if we look at the glory that is promised us, this affliction is such a good deal! You will be silly not to suffer this easily for so much glory. This suffering produces/prepares us for this glory. Paul says the same in Rom 8:18, that our sufferings are not worth comparing to the glory that is to be revealed to us. The sufferings will be so insignificant
How are you suffering today? It could be from a health condition, a loss of loved ones, unemployment, difficult employment, relationships, ministry, church, etc. All this Paul says prepares us for the glory to come. Can you believe it? Our suffering is not all meaningless and purposeless. It prepares us to look further ahead than this life to the glory that is to come
But how do we prepare ourselves for an eternal weight of glory during affliction according to Paul (2 Cor 4:18)? How can we practise this? We look to the things that are unseen instead of the things that are seen. Because the things that are seen are transient/fades away/temporary, but the things that are unseen are eternal/forever. Paul calls us to look to eternal, unseen things as we suffer, the things that are invisible to this world that the world cannot see.
We are to meditate on these eternal and unseen things, we are to hope in them. What is this eternal, unseen thing that Paul is referring to? It is the coming again of Jesus, and the sure resurrection that he mentions in 2 Cor 4:14. It is the renewal of all things. That is what Paul is calling us to look to
How can we practise this? We need our minds to be renewed by God’s truth, and so that we might be transformed as we behold his truths (Rom 12:2). We are made more like Jesus each day as our inner selves are being renewed and refreshed in God’s word daily. We preach the truths of God into our hearts as we pray through them in humbleness. This is not easy to do during times of affliction. We are prone to wander from God, to look for outcomes, to be bitter about what we don’t have, to be envious of the good gifts that God gives to others. It can be so difficult to rejoice with others as one suffers. I don’t know if you have felt the bitterness of your heart when you are suffering. Suffering can seem purposeless and inexplicable. But God here promises that our suffering is not purposeless, but is preparing us for glory. God promises us that while we are suffering, we are being renewed. We claim this in the darkest of times, in the thick of suffering because we know that God is working out in us something glorious beyond comparison. We stake our hope and joy on the good promises of God, just as Paul did
In our suffering, we are not to suffer alone. During this COVID period, it is even easier for us to live isolated lives. Heb 10:25 calls us to meet together to encourage each other. Sometimes, the natural response is for us to suffer silently and to put up a brave front. We put up walls to hide and cover our suffering so that we look good. But as we ask others to help us and to pray for us, we even allow them to be prepared for glory, and should the outcome even be good by God’s grace, we find even more people giving thanks and praising God. Do you have fellow brothers and sisters in Christ who suffer with you? Are you encouraging another in their suffering (Rom 12:15)?
We started this study by speaking about a treasure we have which God has given to those of us who have placed our faith in Christ. This is a treasure in human weakness. In the gospel, we can suffer well in all the worst circumstances that are to come because we know that God is working out the good of those who love him (Rom 8:28) and changing them into the likeness of Christ. We pray for God to help us see the eternal and unseen, and to renew us daily as we seek to be faithful disciples of Christ. In this, we ask that God’s surpassing power might be made known to all.