2 Corinthians 4:7 (DRB)

Passage

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

Nearby Context

2 Corinthians 4:5 For we preach not ourselves, but Jesus Christ our Lord: and ourselves your servants through Jesus.

2 Corinthians 4:6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God, in the face of Christ Jesus.

2 Corinthians 4:7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency may be of the power of God and not of us.

2 Corinthians 4:8 In all things we suffer tribulation: but are not distressed. We are straitened: but are not destitute.

2 Corinthians 4:9 We suffer persecution: but are not forsaken. We are cast down: but we perish not.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "treasure", "earthen", "vessels", "excellency", and "power". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "treasure" and "earthen", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 6's "For God who commanded the light to..." into verse 8's "In all things we suffer tribulation but...", so "treasure" and "earthen" belong inside that flow. In 2 Corinthians context, the local focus is Christ, faith, and discipleship.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "treasure" and "earthen" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.