2 Corinthians 4:7 (GNV)

Passage

But we haue this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellencie of that power might be of God, and not of vs.

Nearby Context

2 Corinthians 4:5 For we preach not our selues, but Christ Iesus the Lord, and our selues your seruaunts for Iesus sake.

2 Corinthians 4:6 For God that commanded the light to shine out of darknesse, is he which hath shined in our hearts, to giue the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Iesus Christ.

2 Corinthians 4:7 But we haue this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellencie of that power might be of God, and not of vs.

2 Corinthians 4:8 Wee are afflicted on euery side, yet are we not in distresse: we are in doubt, but yet wee despaire not.

2 Corinthians 4:9 We are persecuted, but not forsaken: cast downe, but we perish not.

Study Lenses

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

The nearby context moves from verse 6's "For God that commanded the light to..." into verse 8's "Wee are afflicted on euery side yet...", so "haue" and "treasure" 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 "haue" and "treasure" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.