A Treasure in a Fragile Vessel

Introduction:

Human beings, we, often struggle to understand human suffering and how it can benefit our lives.

The Corinthians found it difficult to make sense of Paul’s constant sufferings.

They had fallen prey to an old false doctrine.

Paul has already explained to them that he is not fainting.

One form of fainting would have been to engage in deception.

Paul has made it clear, pun intended, that he has been open and honest with the Corinthians.

Had he “fainted,” he would be dishonest.

He has not hidden the gospel from them.

He has explained that he does not wish to have control or power over them.

Have we lost the ability to see the power of God.

Motivation: Power

We should not be too eager to discredit the charge of seeking power.

2 Corinthians 4:5 indicates Paul’s opponents had accused him of wanting power.

Notice 2 Peter 2 and Jude.

They both warn of false teachers who wold come verbally abusing believers and gaining power over them.

Paul was careful not to abuse his authority in Christ.

Paul explains that he was not preaching himself as Lord.

He was preaching Jesus as Lord.

He was also preaching himself as their slave because of Jesus.

In other words, Jesus was the cause of Paul being the Corinthians’ slave, he was the not the excuse for Paul to gain lordship over them.

Why was that true?

Paul explains with the “causal” clause of 2 Cor. 4:6 “ὅτι ὁ θεὸς ὁ εἰπών· ἐκ σκότους φῶς λάμψει, ὃς ἔλαμψεν ἐν ταῖς καρδίαις ἡμῶν πρὸς φωτισμὸν τῆς γνώσεως τῆς δόξης τοῦ θεοῦ ἐν προσώπῳ [Ἰησοῦ] Χριστοῦ.”

Notice this has everything to do with the person of God.

It is because of who Jesus is. It is because of what God has done.

God has shown in our hearts with the result being the illumination of the knowledge of the glory of God in face/person of Christ.

Fragility: Has a Purpose

Paul wants the Corinthians to grasp what God has done.

This might be the root of their susceptibility. They don’t understand why God has done it this way.

We could understand “ostraca” has fragile, clay earthenware.

Notice how Paul characterizes his apostleship and the message he bears (i.e. treasure).

Such a fragile message-bearer like Paul enables God’s power to be superior.

Paul then illustrates the opposite of what might be expected through a series of contrasting participles.

What would be the normal human response to being subjected to tribulation?

From the outset of the letter, Paul wanted them to understand that his sufferings had value.

See 2 Corinthians 1.

Here, we get to a bigger biblical principle as well. See Galatians 6:1-3 “Ἀδελφοί, ἐὰν καὶ προλημφθῇ ἄνθρωπος ἔν τινι παραπτώματι, ὑμεῖς οἱ πνευματικοὶ καταρτίζετε τὸν τοιοῦτον ἐν πνεύματι πραΰτητος, σκοπῶν σεαυτὸν μὴ καὶ σὺ πειρασθῇς. Ἀλλήλων τὰ βάρη βαστάζετε καὶ οὕτως ἀναπληρώσετε τὸν νόμον τοῦ Χριστοῦ. εἰ γὰρ δοκεῖ τις εἶναί τι μηδὲν ὤν, φρεναπατᾷ ἑαυτόν.”

Now, Paul gives them another way to look at his sufferings. This way is not defined by the first term but by the second.

What must be explained is not why Paul keeps going in honesty. Instead, why does he not lose heart, faint, feel abandoned, etc.

If Paul is not responding to his circumstances in the normal, human way, then what explains his ability to keep going?