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A plain, cracked clay jar on a stone windowsill at dawn, warm light spilling from inside it through the crack.

The Book of

2 Corinthians 4

Paul is worn, pressed and often struck down. So why won’t he lose heart? Because of what God has put inside a very ordinary jar.

18 verses≈ 3 min1 personBSB

Images are artistic interpretations.

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In this chapter

Where we are

  1. 1–2:13ComfortWhy Paul changed his plans
  2. 2:14–5:10Treasure in clayThe glory of the new covenantChapter 4
  3. 5:11–7Be reconciledOpen your hearts; joy restored
  4. 8–9Generous givingThe gift for the saints
  5. 10–13Strong in weaknessPaul's defence of his ministry

The Light of the Gospel

Therefore, since God in His mercy has given us this ministry, we do not lose heart. Instead, we have renounced secret and shameful ways. We do not practice deceit, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by open proclamation of the truth, we commend ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.

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And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing.

The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

For we do not proclaim ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake.

2 Corinthians 4:5

The first thin line of light breaking along a dark sea horizon before sunrise, the water still in deep shadow.

For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made His light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

0:10

Narrated by Bob Souer · BSB audio, public domain

Question

Quick question

Paul borrows a line from the very first page of the Bible to describe what happened in his heart.

When Paul writes of the God who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” which moment is he recalling?

Treasure in Jars of Clay

Now we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this surpassingly great power is from God and not from us.

2 Corinthians 4:7

Paul

For we who are alive are always consigned to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our mortal body. So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.

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, knowing that the One who raised the Lord Jesus will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you in His presence. 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.

Reflect

Pressed, but not crushed

Paul doesn’t pretend. He was “hard pressed on all sides” and “perplexed,” and sometimes “struck down.” But each line has a “but not.” Where are you hard pressed right now? Write it down honestly. Then write the “but not” that God has kept true for you, even if it is only that you have not been forsaken.

Outer and inner

is producingOuter self“wasting away”Inner self“renewed day by day”Affliction“light and momentary”Glory“an eternal weight ofglory”What is seen“temporary”What is unseen“eternal”

Whiteboard

Paul puts two columns side by side. On one side is everything we can see: a body growing older, troubles that are real and heavy now. On the other is what God is doing that we can’t yet see: an inner life made new each day, and a glory being prepared that will outweigh it all. The arrow runs across the middle. The affliction is not wasted; it “is producing for us an eternal weight of glory.”

Therefore we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, yet our inner self is being renewed day by day.

For our light and momentary affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory that is far beyond comparison. 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.

2 Corinthians 4:17–18

So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen.

2 Corinthians 4:18

Pray

Eyes on what is unseen

Thank God that the light of the gospel has shone in your heart, and that the treasure is His, not yours. Bring Him the things that are wearing you down, and ask Him to renew your inner self today. Ask for eyes fixed “not on what is seen, but on what is unseen,” and for courage to speak of Jesus, because you believe.

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2 Corinthians 4

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A verse to carry with you

Therefore we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, yet our inner self is being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory that is far beyond comparison. 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.

2 Corinthians 4:16–18

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