“But
we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is
from God, and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed,
perplexed but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down but
not destroyed.” 2 Corinthians 4:7-9
In this scripture the writer (Paul) compares the ‘gospel
minister’ to a piece of pottery. ‘We have this treasure in jars of clay’. This
treasure is the good news about Christ. Jars of clay actually means “earthenware
vessels”. (Greek word: “ostrakinois skeuesin”) The noun “skeuos” refers to a
vessel serving a specific purpose, such as a cup, jar, pot or pan. When used of
people it often carries the sense of ‘implement’ or ‘instrument’. So to be God’s
vessel is to be his instrument in carrying out a specific purpose, the purpose
in this case is sharing the gospel.
Paul goes on to say that this all-surpassing power is
from God and not us. The adjective “all-surpassing power” focuses on the
extraordinary quality or extend or something, that ‘something’ being the power
of Christ. The Greek word “dynamis” is a term from the word ‘dynamite’. I love
this quote that I found in a commentary on biblegateway.com. The author said “Paul
is saying that the gospel is not merely a message that confronts the mind but
an explosive power that turns a person’s life upside down!” (IVP New Testament
Commentaries)
In one of my classes here at NHCC I was able to take a
class going verse by verse through Corinthians. I learned that the book we know of 2 Corinthians is not the second letter Paul wrote to the church at
Corinth, it’s actually the fourth and last letter. With this being the last
letter Paul is stressing the power of Christ, the importance of his Word, and
the power of what Christ has ordained all of us to do; share the gospel and be
a gospel minister. We may be pressed on every side, perplexed, persecuted, and
struck down but Paul gives us hope. We won’t be crushed, we won’t be in
despair, we won’t be abandoned, and we won’t be destroyed.
Paul stood strong and maintained that God’s power is
able to make itself known through hardships and distress. The church at Corinth
believed that the power of Christ was only seen in miracles, signs and wonders.
Paul is showing the church at Corinth otherwise. The power of Christ is not
seeing through wonders it is seen in dire straits in a believer’s life,
through our hardships and distress. So how do we live on? Not by our own
strength but Christ’s. In our weakness Christ’s power is revealed. Find Christ’s
strength and power in your weakness, for it is an explosive power that can turn your life
upside down if you let it.
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