Living by Faith

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

Other Translations of 2 Corinthians 4:7

New International Version

Living by Faith

7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.

English Standard Version

Living by Faith

7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.

The Message

Living by Faith

7 If you only look at us, you might well miss the brightness. We carry this precious Message around in the unadorned clay pots of our ordinary lives. That's to prevent anyone from confusing God's incomparable power with us.

New King James Version

Living by Faith

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

New Living Translation

Living by Faith

7 We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves.

Matthew Henry's Commentary on 2 Corinthians 4:7

Commentary on 2 Corinthians 4:1-7

(Read 2 Corinthians 4:1-7)

The best of men would faint, if they did not receive mercy from God. And that mercy which has helped us out, and helped us on, hitherto, we may rely upon to help us even to the end. The apostles had no base and wicked designs, covered with fair and specious pretences. They did not try to make their ministry serve a turn. Sincerity or uprightness will keep the favourable opinion of wise and good men. Christ by his gospel makes a glorious discovery to the minds of men. But the design of the devil is, to keep men in ignorance; and when he cannot keep the light of the gospel of Christ out of the world, he spares no pains to keep men from the gospel, or to set them against it. The rejection of the gospel is here traced to the wilful blindness and wickedness of the human heart. Self was not the matter or the end of the apostles' preaching; they preached Christ as Jesus, the Saviour and Deliverer, who saves to the uttermost all that come to God through him. Ministers are servants to the souls of men; they must avoid becoming servants to the humours or the lusts of men. It is pleasant to behold the sun in the firmament; but it is more pleasant and profitable for the gospel to shine in the heart. As light was the beginning of the first creation; so, in the new creation, the light of the Spirit is his first work upon the soul. The treasure of gospel light and grace is put into earthen vessels. The ministers of the gospel are subject to the same passions and weaknesses as other men. God could have sent angels to make known the glorious doctrine of the gospel, or could have sent the most admired sons of men to teach the nations, but he chose humbler, weaker vessels, that his power might be more glorified in upholding them, and in the blessed change wrought by their ministry.

8 We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; [1]

Other Translations of 2 Corinthians 4:8

New International Version

8 We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair;

English Standard Version

8 We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair;

The Message

8 As it is, there's not much chance of that. You know for yourselves that we're not much to look at. We've been surrounded and battered by troubles, but we're not demoralized; we're not sure what to do,

New King James Version

8 We are hard pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;

New Living Translation

8 We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair.

Matthew Henry's Commentary on 2 Corinthians 4:8

Commentary on 2 Corinthians 4:8-12

(Read 2 Corinthians 4:8-12)

The apostles were great sufferers, yet they met with wonderful support. Believers may be forsaken of their friends, as well as persecuted by enemies; but their God will never leave them nor forsake them. There may be fears within, as well as fightings without; yet we are not destroyed. The apostle speaks of their sufferings as a counterpart of the sufferings of Christ, that people might see the power of Christ's resurrection, and of grace in and from the living Jesus. In comparison with them, other Christians were, even at that time, in prosperous circumstances.

4 But in all things approving [2] ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses,

Other Translations of 2 Corinthians 6:4

New International Version

4 Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses;

English Standard Version

4 but as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: by great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities,

The Message

4 Our work as God's servants gets validated - or not - in the details. People are watching us as we stay at our post, alertly, unswervingly . . . in hard times, tough times, bad times;

New King James Version

4 But in all things we commend ourselves as ministers of God: in much patience, in tribulations, in needs, in distresses,

New Living Translation

4 In everything we do, we show that we are true ministers of God. We patiently endure troubles and hardships and calamities of every kind.

Matthew Henry's Commentary on 2 Corinthians 6:4

Commentary on 2 Corinthians 6:1-10

(Read 2 Corinthians 6:1-10)

The gospel is a word of grace sounding in our ears. The gospel day is a day of salvation, the means of grace the means of salvation, the offers of the gospel the offers of salvation, and the present time the proper time to accept these offers. The morrow is none of ours: we know not what will be on the morrow, nor where we shall be. We now enjoy a day of grace; then let all be careful not to neglect it. Ministers of the gospel should look upon themselves as God's servants, and act in every thing suitably to that character. The apostle did so, by much patience in afflictions, by acting from good principles, and by due temper and behaviour. Believers, in this world, need the grace of God, to arm them against temptations, so as to bear the good report of men without pride; and so as to bear their reproaches with patience. They have nothing in themselves, but possess all things in Christ. Of such differences is a Christian's life made up, and through such a variety of conditions and reports, is our way to heaven; and we should be careful in all things to approve ourselves to God. The gospel, when faithfully preached, and fully received, betters the condition even of the poorest. They save what before they riotously spent, and diligently employ their time to useful purposes. They save and gain by religion, and thus are made rich, both for the world to come and for this, when compared with their sinful, profligate state, before they received the gospel.

5 In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, [3] in labours, in watchings, in fastings;

Other Translations of 2 Corinthians 6:5

New International Version

5 in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger;

English Standard Version

5 beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger;

The Message

5 when we're beaten up, jailed, and mobbed; working hard, working late, working without eating;

New King James Version

5 in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in sleeplessness, in fastings;

New Living Translation

5 We have been beaten, been put in prison, faced angry mobs, worked to exhaustion, endured sleepless nights, and gone without food.

Matthew Henry's Commentary on 2 Corinthians 6:5

Commentary on 2 Corinthians 6:1-10

(Read 2 Corinthians 6:1-10)

The gospel is a word of grace sounding in our ears. The gospel day is a day of salvation, the means of grace the means of salvation, the offers of the gospel the offers of salvation, and the present time the proper time to accept these offers. The morrow is none of ours: we know not what will be on the morrow, nor where we shall be. We now enjoy a day of grace; then let all be careful not to neglect it. Ministers of the gospel should look upon themselves as God's servants, and act in every thing suitably to that character. The apostle did so, by much patience in afflictions, by acting from good principles, and by due temper and behaviour. Believers, in this world, need the grace of God, to arm them against temptations, so as to bear the good report of men without pride; and so as to bear their reproaches with patience. They have nothing in themselves, but possess all things in Christ. Of such differences is a Christian's life made up, and through such a variety of conditions and reports, is our way to heaven; and we should be careful in all things to approve ourselves to God. The gospel, when faithfully preached, and fully received, betters the condition even of the poorest. They save what before they riotously spent, and diligently employ their time to useful purposes. They save and gain by religion, and thus are made rich, both for the world to come and for this, when compared with their sinful, profligate state, before they received the gospel.