2 Corinthians 4 (WK) - Bible Truth Library

Library Home>2 Corinthians 4 (WK)

Verse 6

Go

Verse 8

Articles on

2 Corinthians 4

2 Cor. 4:7 KJV (With Strong’s)

+

7

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellencyu of the power may be of God, and not of us.

u

1 Cor. 2:5• ⁵that your faith might not be in man's wisdom but in God's power. (1 Cor. 2:5)

More on:

+

God,

Power

Cross References

+

Ministry on This Verse

+

this.

2 Cor. 4:1• ¹On this account, having this ministry, according as we obtained mercy, we faint not, (2 Cor. 4:1)

;

2 Cor. 6:10• ¹⁰as grieved but always rejoicing, as poor but enriching many, as having nothing and possessing all things. (2 Cor. 6:10)

;

Matt. 13:44,52• ⁴⁴Again, the kingdom of the heavens is like a treasure hidden in the field, which a man found and hid, and for the joy of it goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth the field.
⁵²{i}And he said to them, For this reason every scribe discipled to the kingdom of the heavens is like a man [that is] a householder who brings out of his treasure things new and old.{/i} (Matt. 13:44,52)

;

Eph. 3:8• ⁸To me who am less than the least of all saints was this grace given to preach to the nations the unsearchable riches of the Christ, (Eph. 3:8)

;

Col. 1:27• ²⁷to whom God wished to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: (Col. 1:27)

;

Col. 2:3• ³in which are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. (Col. 2:3)

in.

2 Cor. 5:1• ¹For we know that if our earthly tabernacle-house be dissolved, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, everlasting in the heavens. (2 Cor. 5:1)

;

2 Cor. 10:10• ¹⁰because his letters, saith one, [are] weighty and strong, but the presence of the body weak and the speech contemptible. (2 Cor. 10:10)

;

Judg. 7:13‑14,16‑20• (Judg. 7:13‑14,16‑20)

;

Lam. 4:2• (Lam. 4:2)

;

1 Cor. 1:28• ²⁸and the low-born things of the world and those despised God chose, [and] the things that are not, that he might bring to nought the things that are, (1 Cor. 1:28)

;

1 Cor. 4:9‑13• ⁹For, I think, b God set us the apostles last as devoted to death, because we became a spectacle to the world, to both angels and men:
¹⁰we, fools for Christ, but ye prudent in Christ; we weak, but ye strong; ye illustrious, but we disgraced.
¹¹Until the present hour we both hunger and thirst, and are naked and are buffeted and are homeless wanderers,
¹²and we toil, working with our own hands; reviled, we bless, persecuted, we suffer;
¹³slandered, we beseech. We became as the world's scum, off-scouring of all, until now. (1 Cor. 4:9‑13)

;

Gal. 4:13‑14• ¹³but ye know that in weakness of the flesh I preached to you the first time;
¹⁴and my temptation which was in my flesh ye slighted not nor loathed, but as an angel of God ye received me(as Christ Jesus. (Gal. 4:13‑14)

;

2 Tim. 2:20• ²⁰Now in a great house there are vessels not only of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earthenware, and some unto honour, and some unto dishonour. (2 Tim. 2:20)

that.

2 Cor. 3:5‑6• ⁵not that we are competent from ourselves to reckon anything as of ourselves, but our competency [is] of God,
⁶who also made us competent [as] servants of a new covenant, not of letter but of spirit, for the letter killeth but the spirit quickeneth. (2 Cor. 3:5‑6)

;

2 Cor. 12:7‑9• ⁷And that I should not be uplifted by the exceeding greatness of the revelations, there was given to me thorn for the flesh, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, that I might not be uplifted overmuch.
⁸For this I thrice besought the Lord that it might depart from me;
⁹and he hath said to me, My grace is sufficient for thee; for [my] power is perfected in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather boast in my weaknesses that the power of Christ may rest on me. (2 Cor. 12:7‑9)

;

2 Cor. 13:4• ⁴for although he was crucified in weakness, yet he liveth by God's power; for indeed we are weak in him, but shall live with him by God's power toward you), (2 Cor. 13:4)

;

1 Cor. 2:3‑5• ³And I in weakness and in fear and in much trembling was with you;
⁴and my word and my preaching, not in persuasive words of wisdom but in demonstration of [the] Spirit and of power;
⁵that your faith might not be in man's wisdom but in God's power. (1 Cor. 2:3‑5)

;

Eph. 1:19‑20• ¹⁹and what the surpassing greatness of his power toward us that believe, according to the working of the might of his strength,
²⁰which he wrought in the Christ in having raised him out of the dead, and seated [him] at his right hand in the heavenly [places], (Eph. 1:19‑20)

;

Eph. 2:5,8‑9• ⁵even us being dead in our offences he quickened with the Christ (by grace are ye saved),
⁸For by grace ye are saved through faith; and this not of yourselves(God's is the gift:
⁹not of works, that no one might boast. (Eph. 2:5,8‑9)

;

Col. 2:12• ¹²buried with him in baptism, in which ye were also raised with [him] through faith in the working of God that raised him out of the dead. (Col. 2:12)

;

1 Thess. 1:5• ⁵because our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power and in [the] Holy Spirit and in much assurance; even as ye know what we were among you for your sake. (1 Thess. 1:5)

• What treasure? Christ. Paul has seen the One who has put away his sin—who is his righteousness—who is in glory. He sees Him, and he says, That is what I want. In seeing Him I see One who has the power of life, who has passed through death, and overcome it. I have this One—Christ. He is the treasure. I have it in an earthen vessel; still I have it. (“We Have This Treasure” by J.N. Darby)

• In an apostle they had looked for a grand style of speech, for lofty speculation and subtle argument, as well as a dignified and attractive presence, backed up by such a display of power as would overawe all the world….The very object is to make evident, by the contrast of man, weak and fragile and suffering, that the power is God's. (“Notes on 2 Corinthians 4:7-11” by W. Kelly)

• The testimony was rendered, the work was done, the result was produced, even when man broke down and found himself without resource in presence of the opposition raised up against truth. (“2 Corinthians 4” by J.N. Darby)

• We learn that God has chosen for His service men with bodies liable to suffering, decay, and death. The treasure is thus placed in earthen vessels. (“2 Corinthians 4” by H. Smith)

• If the light shines from a poor weak man, it is evident that the power is of God. If two unlearned and ignorant fishermen can make a lame man perfectly whole, and so preach that five thousand men are converted, in the face of all the opposition of the religious leaders and social rulers of this world, it is evident that they are sustained by some surpassing power — a power that is greater than all the power arrayed against them. This power is the mighty power of God present with His people by the Holy Spirit. (“2 Corinthians 4” by H. Smith)

• The earthen vessel, with the light shining forth, seems to be an allusion to Gideon and his three hundred followers. (“2 Corinthians 4” by H. Smith)

• Weak, clay vessels (the frailty of humanity). (“A True Christian Minister Has Personal Exercises Regarding the Ministry He Carries: 2 Corinithains 4” by B. Anstey)

J. N. Darby Translation

+

7

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the surpassingness of the power may be of God, and not from us:

W. Kelly Translation

+

7

But we have this treasure in earthenware vessels, that the surpassingness of the power may be God’s, and not of us,