7But we have this treasure in clay jars, so that the surpassingness of the power may be of God and not from us. [4:8] We are being hard pressed in every way but not crushed; perplexed but not despairing; [4:9] persecuted but not abandoned; struck down but not destroyed — [4:10] always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be made visible in our body. [4:11] For we who are living are always being handed over to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus may also be made visible in our mortal flesh. [4:12] So then, death is at work in us, but life in you. [4:13] And having the same spirit of faith, according to what has been written — 'I believed, therefore I spoke' — we also believe, and therefore also speak, [4:14] knowing that the one who raised the Lord Jesus will also raise us through Jesus and will present us together with you. [4:15] For all things are for your sake, so that grace, having multiplied through the greater number, may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God. [4:16] Therefore we do not lose heart. But even if our outward person is wasting away, yet the inward person is being renewed day by day. [4:17] For the present momentary lightness of pressure is producing for us an eternal weight of glory that surpasses all measure — [4:18] as we fix our eyes not on the things seen but on the things unseen; for the things seen are temporary, but the things unseen are eternal.
2CO 4:7-18
Treasure in Jars of Clay
In the world it was spoken into
In the Greco-Roman world, earthenware jars were common, inexpensive, and fragile, used for everyday tasks like storing water or grain. They were disposable, easily broken, and carried no intrinsic value. For Paul’s audience, the metaphor of treasure in such jars would have been jarring—treasure was typically stored in secure, durable containers. This imagery underscores the paradox of divine power residing in human frailty. The term (surpassingness) would have evoked the idea of something extraordinary, beyond human capacity, aligning with Stoic and Epicurean philosophical debates about divine power and human limitation. The hardships described—being hard-pressed , perplexed, persecuted, and struck down—reflect the realities of Paul’s missionary life, marked by Roman hostility and Jewish opposition. Yet, the emphasis on not being crushed or destroyed mirrors the Stoic ideal of endurance, though Paul redefines it as a manifestation of Christ’s life in mortal flesh. The audience would have understood this as a radical reimagining of strength and honor in weakness, counter to the Roman valorization of power and invincibility.
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How other translations render this
2CO 4:7
- KJV
- But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.
- BSB
- Now we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this surpassingly great power is from God and not from us.
- Koinōnos
- But we have this treasure in clay jars, so that the surpassingness of the power may be of God and not from us.
2CO 4:8
- KJV
- We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;
- BSB
- We are hard pressed on all sides, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair;
- Koinōnos
- We are being hard pressed in every way but not crushed; perplexed but not despairing;
2CO 4:9
- KJV
- Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;
- BSB
- persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed.
- Koinōnos
- persecuted but not abandoned; struck down but not destroyed —
2CO 4:10
- KJV
- 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.
- BSB
- We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.
- Koinōnos
- always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be made visible in our body.
2CO 4:11
- KJV
- 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.
- BSB
- For we who are alive are always consigned to death for Jesusʼ sake, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our mortal body.
- Koinōnos
- For we who are living are always being handed over to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus may also be made visible in our mortal flesh.
2CO 4:12
- KJV
- So then death worketh in us, but life in you.
- BSB
- So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.
- Koinōnos
- So then, death is at work in us, but life in you.
2CO 4:13
- KJV
- 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;
- BSB
- And in keeping with what is written: “I believed, therefore I have spoken,” we who have the same spirit of faith also believe and therefore speak,
- Koinōnos
- And having the same spirit of faith, according to what has been written — 'I believed, therefore I spoke' — we also believe, and therefore also speak,
2CO 4:14
- KJV
- Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you.
- BSB
- knowing that the One who raised the Lord Jesus will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you in His presence.
- Koinōnos
- knowing that the one who raised the Lord Jesus will also raise us through Jesus and will present us together with you.
2CO 4:15
- KJV
- For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God.
- BSB
- All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is extending to more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow, to the glory of God.
- Koinōnos
- For all things are for your sake, so that grace, having multiplied through the greater number, may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.
2CO 4:16
- KJV
- For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.
- BSB
- Therefore we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, yet our inner self is being renewed day by day.
- Koinōnos
- Therefore we do not lose heart. But even if our outward person is wasting away, yet the inward person is being renewed day by day.
2CO 4:17
- KJV
- For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;
- BSB
- For our light and momentary affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory that is far beyond comparison.
- Koinōnos
- For the present momentary lightness of pressure is producing for us an eternal weight of glory that surpasses all measure —
2CO 4:18
- KJV
- 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.
- BSB
- So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
- Koinōnos
- as we fix our eyes not on the things seen but on the things unseen; for the things seen are temporary, but the things unseen are eternal.
Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.
Translator's notes
2CO 4:7
- earthen:The word translated 'earthen' refers to something made of clay, specifically common, fragile pottery used for everyday purposes, not fine ceramics.
- surpassingness:The term used here for 'surpassingness' conveys an extraordinary, overwhelming abundance or excellence that goes far beyond what is expected or normal.
2CO 4:8
- being hard pressed:The word translated 'being hard pressed' literally means to be squeezed or crushed, like grapes in a winepress, indicating intense and severe pressure.
2CO 4:17
- weight:The word translated 'weight' here carries the sense of a heavy burden or a significant, substantial mass, often implying something of great value or importance.