Paul defends his ministry by pointing out how real apostles live and speak (2:14-7:4). True apostles speak God’s word with sincerity (2:14-17), with confidence (3:1-6), and with boldness (3:7-18). Because of the power of God’s word, Paul is able to persevere in the midst of suffering (4:1-5:10). He does not lose heart even if some do not believe, because of God’s power to save (4:1-6). Paul overcomes all of his afflictions because we know that God’s power is at work within his weaknesses (4:7-15). 

Translation

7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay, so that the surpassing power would be from God and not from ourselves. 8 We are in all things: afflicted but not crushed; perplexed but not driven to despair; 9 persecuted but not forsaken; cast down but not destroyed; 10 always carrying around the death of Jesus in our body so that the life of Jesus would also be manifested in our bodies. 11 For we who live are always being delivered to death on account of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus would also be manifested in our mortal flesh. 12 So then, death works in us, but life in you. 

13 But we indeed believe, because we have the same spirit of faith according to what is written, “I believed, therefore, I also spoke.” 14 Therefore, we also speak, because we know that the One who raised the Lord Jesus will also raise us with Jesus and will present us with you. 15 For all things are for your sake, so that the grace, which is abounding through many people, would increase the giving of thanks to the glory of God. 

Commentary

Just like a precious treasure hiding in an ordinary jar, so the glorious news of the gospel is spoken by frail human beings (4:7a). God arranges his mission this way so that all the glory would be given to him, not his apostles (4:7b). Paul then gives an example of this power-through-weakness dynamic: although he suffers horribly, it is not the “kill shot” to him or his ministry (4:8-9). Furthermore, the apostles suffer just like Jesus did so that they can have opportunity to minister the life giving news of Jesus, even their martyrdom is an opportunity for ministry (4:10-11). Paul’s suffering is not generic but specific: he constantly suffers but it brings life to the Corinthians 4:12). Although Paul suffers, he believes and speaks the gospel (4:13-15). How could Paul still have faith in the face of suffering? Because he stands in a long line of believers who have faced suffering and yet still carried out their ministry (4:13). Since Paul has faith, he then speaks because he knows that his future is secure (4:14). Moreover, everything Paul does is for the good of the Corinthians (4:15). 

7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay, so that the surpassing power would be from God and not from ourselves. 

God’s kingdom is “upside-down.” His values are often the complete opposite of the kingdom of man. In God’s kingdom, the last is first (Matt. 20:16), the low is high (Luke 14:11), and exemplified by Paul is this passage, the weak is strong (cf. 12:9). God uses weak and frail people to advance his mission in the world. It is like God encloses a priceless treasure in an ordinary plastic kitchen container. God arranges things this way to demonstrate that any good thing that comes through Paul actually is sustained by his power. God deserves all the glory because it is his power flowing through Paul. 

8 We are in all things: afflicted but not crushed; perplexed but not driven to despair; 9 persecuted but not forsaken; cast down but not destroyed; 

Paul provides many examples of this power-in-weakness dynamic: although he suffers horribly, he is not finally destroyed or disqualified from ministry. He faces many trials, tribulations, and tragedies but he will not finally be crushed under the weight of those things (cf. 1:8; Ps. 34:19; Rom. 5:3-4). He faced regular intervals of being confused and unable to figure life out, yet he did not totally give up (Hab. 1:2-3; Ps. 73:16-17). 

The book of Acts recounts the relentless opposition Paul faced. In almost every city he traveled to, Paul was persecuted in some form. In Damascus, Jews plotted to kill him (Acts 9:23-25). In Jerusalem, the Hellenistic Jews attempted to kill him (Acts 9:29). In Pisidian Antioch, the Jews stirred up opposition against him and Barnabas (Acts 13:45, 50). In Iconium, Paul was chased out of the city (Acts 14:5-6). In Lystra, Paul was pelted with stones and left for dead (Acts 14:19). In Philippi, Paul was beaten and thrown in prison (Acts 16:22-24). In Thessalonica, he had to flee by night to escape a mob (Acts 17:5-10). In Berea, the Jews stirred up opposition against him (Acts 17:13-14). In Corinth, Paul was falsely accused and dragged before the Roman authorities (Acts 18:12-17). In Ephesus, a riot broke out in response to all the conversions caused by Paul’s preaching (Acts 19:23-41). In Greece, another plot against Paul’s life emerged (Acts 20:3). In Jerusalem, Paul was captured in the temple and beaten (Acts 21:27-36). Forty Jews even took an oath to assassinate Paul (Acts 23:12-24). 

In all things, Paul suffered and was maligned, but he was still “standing.”

10 always carrying around the death of Jesus in our body so that the life of Jesus would also be manifested in our bodies. 11 For we who live are always being delivered to death on account of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus would also be manifested in our mortal flesh. 

The apostles were conduits of the life-giving news about Jesus. The only catch was that they had to continually suffer and face death regularly. They were like icons of Jesus’ death. They were lowly, humiliated and suffering so that God’s power would be made clear through them. When people saw the apostles suffering, yet still clinging to their faith, it became a powerful apologetic for the truth of the gospel. In some sense, God appointed the apostles to suffer for the good of the church. Paul describes this dynamic as filling up Christ’s afflictions on behalf of the church (Col. 1:24). It seems like Paul is saying that he suffers so that the church does not have to. The apostles—and other leaders of the church—became like a buffer, standing between the afflictions of the world and the church. 

12 So then, death works in us, but life in you. 

Paul now applies the principle of apostles’ suffering to the Corinthians: “death works in us, but life in you.” Paul’s suffering is slowly killing him. But Paul’s suffering has given him a ministry platform to present the life-giving news of Christ to the Corinthians. Even though he is “dying,” the Corinthians are growing stronger in their faith (cf. 13:9; Rom. 8:39; 2 Tim. 2:10). Paul is a like parent who takes on the brunt of suffering in the world so that his children can be spared. 

13 But we indeed believe, because we have the same spirit of faith according to what is written, “I believed, therefore, I also spoke.” 

How can Paul continue to serve God and keep his faith when he suffers so much? He serves God because he stands in a lineage of those who have kept the faith despite suffering. He has the “same spirit of faith” as the ancient Psalmist does, quoting from Psalm 116:10. Although Paul only quotes a snippet of this Psalm, he probably wants the Corinthians to remember the larger context of the Psalm. In the Psalm the author expresses his love for the Lord because of the Lord’s work to save him from death (116:1-4). He goes on to extol the Lord’s attributes and various ways God delivered him from affliction (116:5-9). The Psalmist trusts the Lord and believes what he can do. Therefore, he speaks. It is the same way with Paul. He really believes all of this stuff, and so, he speaks about it. But the opposite is true as well: if you don’t actually believe the gospel, then you need to shut up. Paul may be subtly jabbing at the “super-apostles”  and also exhorting the Corinthians to not listen to them. 

14 Therefore, we also speak, because we know that the One who raised the Lord Jesus will also raise us with Jesus and will present us with you.

Paul boldly proclaims the gospel (cf. 3:12), because he has seen God’s power at work in his past but also has firm hope for the future. The central pillar upholding Paul’s hope was the resurrection of Jesus. The New Testament authors regularly spoke of how God had raised Jesus bodily from the dead (Acts 2:24; Rom. 4:24; 10:9; 1 Cor. 6:14). In fact, every person of the Trinity was involved in raising Jesus from the dead: Father (Rom. 6:4), Son, Jesus himself (John 10:17-18), and Holy Spirit (Rom. 8:11; 1 Pet. 3:18). God will also raise all believers in Christ from the dead on the last day (Rom. 8:11; 1 Cor. 15:20–23; 1 Thess. 4:14; Phil. 3:10–11). After believers are raised from the dead, they will be presented to Christ like a bride is presented to her husband (cf. 11:2; Eph. 5:27). One day, believers will be forever with Jesus, never to suffer again. Paul also subtly links himself and his co-laborers to the Corinthians (“[God] will present us with you”). He wants to forge solidarity with them and also wean them off of dependency on the super apostles (cf. 1:6-7; 1:24; 3:2-3). 

 15 For all things are for your sake, so that the grace, which is abounding through many people, would increase the giving of thanks to the glory of God. 

Everything Paul does, he does for the good of the Corinthians (cf. 1:6; Phil. 1:24-25; 2 Tim. 2:10). Through his ministry, God’s grace is overflowing in the lives of the Corinthians, it is “bounding through many people.” As the Corinthians experience more of God’s grace, it would, in turn, cause more people to give thanks to God for what he’s doing in their lives (cf. 1:11; 9:11-12). Paul boldly testifies because he has experienced God’s salvation and deliverance. As Paul testifies to God’s grace, it works in the hearts of the Corinthians who themselves become a living testimony of God’s goodness and grace.