Reading: 2 Cor. 4:7-18

But we have this treasure in clay jars, so that it may be made clear that this extraordinary power belongs to God and does not come from us. 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 made visible in our bodies. For while we live, we are always being given up to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus may be made visible in our mortal flesh. So death is at work in us, but life in you. But just as we have the same spirit of faith that is in accordance with scripture--"I believed, and so I spoke"--we also believe, and so we speak, because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus, and will bring us with you into his presence. Yes, everything is for your sake, so that grace, as it extends to more and more people, may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God. So we do not lose heart. Even though our outer nature is wasting away, our inner nature is being renewed day by day. For this slight momentary affliction is preparing us for an eternal weight of glory beyond all measure, because we look not at what can be seen but at what cannot be seen; for what can be seen is temporary, but what cannot be seen is eternal.

Introduction
This reading is in the midst of a section describing Paul's ministry from at least five different perspectives. What does it mean for the treasure to be in earthen vessels? Three majors themes of 2 Corinthians can be identified from the first two chapters:

• 1:9-12, the POWER for ministry is from God, deliverance, not worldly wisdom, God's grace
  
• 1:15-2:11, the INTEGRITY of ministry must be apparent to all, based on the Christian's IDENTITY with the faithfulness of God, the "yes" of Jesus Christ, and the presence of the Holy Spirit
  
• 2:12-17, the RESULTS of ministry are from God, for his purposes

Body
These three themes run throughout the Pauline defense as he describes ministry from five perspectives:

• 1. The Ministry of the New Covenant, 3:1-18
  The POWER (competence, confidence) is from God
  The IDENTITY of the ministers demonstrates INTEGRITY in those evangelized (the Corinthians), the presence of the Spirit, and changed lives
  The RESULTS are hope and surpassing glory
• 2. The Forever, Eternal Ministry, 4:1-5:10
  [Note that 4:2-15 are treated as parenthetical in this outline]
  The POWER is from God, in his word, in his truth, in his light, and is manifested in our frailty here, and will be made obvious in our eternal home
  IDENTITY and INTEGRITY are interwoven in the ministry, methods, message, and manner of life of the messengers
  The RESULTS are knowledge (faith) and glory
• 3. The Ministry of Reconciliation, 5:11-6:3
  The POWER is from God, compelled by love, re-created in Christ
  The INTEGRITY and IDENTITY of the messengers is reflected in vv. 11-13, 16, 19-20
  The RESULTS are righteousness before God
• 4. The Ministry based on integrity that brings Integrity, 6:4-7:1
  The POWER of such ministry is from God, "God's servants" (6:4), God's presence, person, and promises (6:16-18; 7:1)
  The INTEGRITY of the ministers, 6:3-13
  The RESULTS are holiness and reverence before God
• 5. The Ministry of Relationship, 7:2-16
  The POWER of such ministry is the comforting God, 7:6ff
  The INTEGRITY of Paul, 7:2-4
  The RESULTS are repentance and relationship, 7:8-16)