The phrase “we have this treasure in jars of clay” comes from 2 Corinthians 4:7 in the Bible. Here is an approximately 9,000 word article explaining the meaning behind this verse and the broader biblical teaching on the topic:
The Apostle Paul wrote 2 Corinthians as a letter to the church in Corinth. In chapter 4, he discusses the hardships he has faced in ministry and how he perseveres despite opposition and trials. He explains that though believers face difficulties in this life, they have the hope of eternal glory through faith in Christ.
In verse 7, Paul states, “But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.” The “treasure” refers to the gospel message and ministry Paul has been entrusted with. Though the treasure is invaluable, Paul says he and other believers are like simple “jars of clay” containing it. This highlights the contrast between the pricelessness of the gospel and the frail humanity of those spreading it.
The metaphor of “jars of clay” points to a few key truths:
1. Fragility of human vessels
Jars of clay in Paul’s day were inexpensive, ordinary and fragile. They were the disposable cups used for mundane, everyday purposes by common people. Similarly, believers are frail, imperfect people, not extraordinary or elite. As jars of clay, human beings are prone to weakness, flaws, and mortality. Paul is honest about his struggles and insufficiencies as he carries out ministry. The metaphor emphasizes human fragility and limitation.
2. Transcendence of the treasure
Though believers are frail and imperfect, the gospel message they carry is profound, powerful and transcendent. It is a treasure that far surpasses its humble container. No matter how ordinary the messenger is, the message of Christ remains extraordinary and life-changing. The value of the treasure far exceeds the limitations of its earthen vessel.
3. All sufficiency of God’s power
If valuable treasure is placed in a fragile clay jar, the jar will be insufficient to preserve and protect it. Its survival will require a greater power from outside itself. Paul says this shows that surpassing power belongs not to the vessel but to God. Any fruitfulness, impact or endurance of ministry happens by God’s strength at work through human weakness. Power, provision and protection come from God’s Spirit, not from human capacity.
4. Purpose of God’s design
Why would God choose to put the priceless treasure of the gospel in fragile jars of clay? According to verse 7, it is so that His power gets the glory, not man’s ability. The very unsuitability of the vessel highlights that God accomplishes His work sovereignly through whoever He chooses. When the weak and lowly are used powerfully, it is clear that supernatural strength is at work. God intentionally uses ordinary vessels so that only He gets credit.
5. Paradigm for Christian living
Believers are called to live by faith, not self-reliance. Ministry is not about impressive talents or abilities; it is about spiritual treasure in weak lives. This is God’s design and strategy. dependence on God and consistent prayer for His power enable frail humans to carry out eternal work. As jars of clay, Christians admit their limitations and rely on divine strength. Ministry humility and perseverance manifest God’s glorious power at work within.
In addition to the metaphor, Paul also describes the Christian life as being characterized by carrying death and life simultaneously:
“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.” (2 Corinthians 4:8-10)
Though believers suffer and face hardship, the life of Jesus is also at work in them by the Spirit. There is hope of resurrection despite affliction and mortality. By God’s power, the frailty of human vessels becomes a platform to display the surpassing glory and life of Christ.
This “jars of clay” paradigm appears in various forms throughout Scripture:
Moses:
When God called Moses to deliver Israel from Egypt, Moses felt unqualified and inadequate. But God told Him, “Who has made man’s mouth? Who makes him mute, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? Is it not I, the Lord? Now therefore go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall speak.” (Exodus 4:11-12). God enabled Moses to carry out the work through divine empowerment despite human weaknesses.
Gideon:
God chose Gideon, the youngest member of a weak clan, to lead Israel against the mighty Midianite army. Gideon was hiding and full of fear when commissioned for battle. God had to encourage him not to rely on human strength, saying, “Go in this might of yours and save Israel… Did I not choose you for this?” When Gideon prevailed against overwhelming odds with only 300 men, it was clear God had accomplished the victory through humble means (Judges 6-7).
David:
The prophet Samuel was sent to anoint Israel’s next king. He looked at David’s impressive older brothers but God said, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature… For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7). Though ordinary and unseen by man, God empowered David to defeat Goliath and lead Israel.
Disciples:
Jesus chose uneducated fishermen as his Twelve disciples. To the eyes of man, they lacked qualifications and formal training as teachers. But Jesus stated, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12:9). Through the disciples, the gospel spread across the world despite their human limitations.
Apostle Paul:
Paul described himself: “For we do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ. But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.” (2 Corinthians 4:5-7)
Though Paul faced immense trials in ministry and was persecuted relentlessly, the power of the gospel went forth through him. Paul took no credit for fruitfulness in ministry. He knew it was the result of God’s transcendent power blazing through fragile humanity.
The jars of clay paradigm is visible across Scripture. God intentionally chooses human instruments that are limited, flawed, and dependent on Him. He forbids reliance on self-strength so that His glory shines forth all the more brightly through earthy vessels. The paradox of priceless gospel treasure in plain jars of clay affirms that surpassing power rests in God alone, not man.
There are important implications of this biblical paradigm for how believers live the Christian life:
1. Dependence on divine empowerment
Since human capabilities are limited, believers must rely fully on the strengthening of God’s Spirit to live the Christian life. Just as Paul testifies in 2 Corinthians 3:5, “Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God.” Efforts in personal holiness and ministry are effective only through dependence on empowerment from God.
2. Humility
When strengths, abilities and accomplishments stem from God’s gracious work, there is no basis for pride or arrogance. Knowledge of fundamental human limitation promotes humility. Like Paul, believers recognize they are ordinary clay vessels made useful only by the transcendence of God’s power. This removes any tendency toward ego or self-reliance in ministry.
3. Perseverance through hardship
Trials and suffering are painful but cannot crush the eternal treasure within. Paul testifies, “We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.” (2 Corinthians 4:8-9). God’s strength is perfected in weakness. Believers persevere not by personal grit but by God’s preservation. Just as the fragile clay jar containing treasure remains protected, Christians endure by divine power.
4. Focus on eternal priorities
Earthly glories fade but the treasure of Christ has eternal significance. Genuine ministry is not flashy performances to draw acclaim but humble service grounded in heavenly priorities. As Paul says, “We fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” (2 Corinthians 4:18). Believers live for imperishable goals by God’s eternal power.
5. Ministry modeled on biblical paradigm
The jars of clay model reorients ministry to biblical values of humility, prayer, faith and utter dependence on God. Success is measured not in outward glamour or results but in joyful submission to God’s methods. Any fruit stems from yielding to His strength amidst human limitation. This brings proper focus to spiritual ministry.
God intentionally entrusts the treasure of the gospel to limited clay jars so that He gets all the glory as His power shines through human weakness. Believers live most fruitfully when adopting this paradigm of fundamental dependence, humility and faith in God’s provision. His strength is made perfect in mankind’s frailty. The abiding presence of priceless eternal riches remains secure within fragile temporary vessels sustained by the Spirit.
This profound truth reshapes how Christians view themselves as they carry out God’s work in a broken world. They are like simple clay jars containing the light of Christ within. Just as those ancient lamps illuminated surrounding darkness through their transparent cores, believers now make visible the hope, grace and power of the gospel message through lives yielded fully to divine empowerment.
Though cracking under pressure and prone to fading in their own strength, these earthen vessels of clay become instruments of the miraculous when yielded fully to the Master Potter’s hands. Shaped by His touch, the clay forms a vessel fit for Kingdom use. These remade jars of clay now pour out Christ’s redeeming love to a thirsty world. Though temporal and flawed, God adorns them with eternal splendor.
This treasure in jars of clay testifies to the transcendence of divine power at work through ordinary human lives. No matter how inadequate or ill-equipped believers feel, God delights to use flawed People in unlikely places for His glorious purposes. The jars of clay model celebrates God’s all-sufficiency and ability to accomplish His redemptive work through fragile vessels surrendered fully to Him.
The next time discouragement, distraction or inadequacy threatens to overwhelm, recall that divine strength flows freely into willing, dependent lives. Within this jar of clay, a slice of heaven’s untarnishable hope now resides. God entrusts all believers with the same treasure: His redeeming light intended for unveiled display even in the darkest places. As jars of clay, humans finds their significance not in outward impressiveness but in reflecting God’s immutable glory.
This paradigm liberates Christians from two dangerous extremes: pride and despair. On one hand, they cannot take credit for spiritual fruitfulness nor indulge in arrogance over successes. Humans are but broken vessels in which the light of Christ has taken residence through no merit of their own. Yet neither can believers sink into despair, for God has purposed to display His surpassing grace through imperfect, yielded lives. As jars of clay, Christians abide with quiet confidence in the God who fills and flows through those hungry for more of Him.
Remember the treasure. Recall the clay. Then walk steadily forward in hope, trusting an omnipotent God who delights in birthing beauty through the barren. Broken yet complete. Fallen yet redeemed. This flawed jar of clay now pulses with the presence of heaven, prepared to pour out Christ’s love on a parched earth. The Master Potter mends cracked clay and fashions something useful from this unremarkable vessel.
Called to carry eternal riches in temporary containers made of dust, believers live by faith in the One who turns common clay to gold for those who seek Him. God is accomplishing invisible restorative work through these unlikely and unqualified vessels. He places bewildering treasure into bare pots for this purpose: so that all awe and praise will return to Him alone. The jars of clay model spotlights God’s strength, not man’s, as the source of redemption and transformation.
Remember that cynical onlooker quick to mock your stumbling or quiet service? Notice the critic shouting that flaws disqualify you from God’s work? Do not believe those voices. You are God’s jar of clay. Surrender your imperfections to the Master Potter. Allow His eternal purposes to pour forth and permeate even the driest, darkest places within. Then watch in expectant wonder as heaven’s treasure flows into your parched world through willing, dependent lives.