Jars of Clay

But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. (2 Corinthians 4:7)

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. (Matthew Henry’s Commentary on 2 Corinthians 4)

Why did God choose to spread His Gospel through feeble men? And why does He allow His Church to undergo such harsh persecution and torment, as it has gone through in the past and continues to endure today? These are difficult questions.

Paul provides some insights in verses 8-12.

We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. So death is at work in us, but life in you. (2 Cor. 4:8-12)

Some people fail to understand the two-fold nature of Christ’s redemption, namely, that He both lived and died to procure our salvation. Were it not for His perfect life, we would have no righteousness before God, and were it not for His substitutionary death, we would remain in our sins. In the same way, “we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.” Our lives, when we are afflicted ("given over to death"), will begin to manifest the life of Christ (that is, His righteousness).

...Heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. (Romans 8:17)

It is often when we are at our weakest that God demonstrates His power most mightily in our lives. When our self-confidence is shattered and exposed, we realize that “the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.” (2 Cor. 4:7, emphasis added)

“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Cor. 12:9)

So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal. (2 Cor. 4:16-18, emphasis added)