2 Corinthians 4 Study Notes

4:7 Treasure is the unfading glory that accompanies the new covenant (3:8). The power to bring this about lies only with God. Clay jars is a metaphor for fragile and mortal human bodies. Sometimes the more humble the container, the more glorious its precious contents appear.

4:8-9 These verses contain four pairs of opposites. The first element of each pair characterizes frail humanity, especially humans in service to God. The second element gives evidence of God’s power.

4:10-11 In his humanity Jesus was subject to death; by God’s power he was raised to resurrection life. Paul (and indeed all the saints) would follow Jesus’s example, although for Paul the resurrection life had already been displayed in our mortal flesh. See Eph 2:4-6, where believers are already made alive, raised, and seated with Christ.

4:12 Paul’s trials as a minister led ultimately to his experiencing a martyr’s bodily death; however, his trials were instrumental in bringing spiritual life to the Corinthians.

4:13 The Hebrew text of Ps 116:10 is, “I believed, even when I said ‘I am severely oppressed.’” Paul quoted the Septuagint (the ancient Greek translation of the OT). The main point is that trust in the Lord motivates a person to action.

4:14 At Christ’s coming, God will raise believers. This must be distinguished from the new spiritual life that Paul enjoyed while still in bodily life (vv. 10-11). The words us with you show that the resurrection of the saints is not individualistic. See 11:2 for the other instance of the verb present in 2 Corinthians, which also emphasizes the corporate nature of the church (as a bride).

4:15 On the glory of God, see notes at vv. 4,6.

4:16 The words we do not give up are repeated from v. 1. Between these two statements Paul explains why he was not defeated even in extremely negative circumstances. The apostle is the ideal for all believers.

4:17-18 These verses contrast the experiences of frail humanity with the evidences of God’s power (see note at vv. 8-9). They also remind all believers that our focus must remain on the eternal.