2 Corinthians 4:7
5 For we do not proclaim ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake.
6 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 the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
Now we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this surpassingly great power is from God and not from us.
8 We are hard pressed on all sides, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair;
9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed.
Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- Now we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this surpassingly great power is from God and not from us.
- KJV
- But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.
- WEB
- But we have this treasure in clay vessels, that the exceeding greatness of the power may be of God and not from ourselves.
- ASV
- But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the exceeding greatness of the power may be of God, and not from ourselves;
- DARBY
- But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the surpassingness of the power may be of God, and not from us:
- BLB
- Now we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the supereminence of the power may be from God and not from us,
- ÅB
- Men vi har denne skatt i lerkar, for at den rike kraft skal være av Gud og ikke av oss,
- OTB
- Men vi har denne skatten i leirkar, så den overveldende storhet av kraften kan være av Gud og ikke fra oss selv;
- B1930
- Men vi har denne skatt i lerkar, forat den rike kraft skal være av Gud og ikke av oss,
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
2 Corinthians 3:5–6
Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim that anything comes from us, but our competence comes from God.
Read in context2 Corinthians 5:1
Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is dismantled, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands.
Read in contextEphesians 2:8–9
For it is by grace you have been saved through faith, and this not from yourselves; it is the gift of God,
Read in context1 Corinthians 1:28
He chose the lowly and despised things of the world, and the things that are not, to nullify the things that are,
Read in contextColossians 2:3
in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
Read in context1 Corinthians 2:3–5
I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling.
Read in contextLamentations 4:2
How the precious sons of Zion, once worth their weight in pure gold, are now esteemed as jars of clay, the work of a potter’s hands!
Read in contextEphesians 1:19–20
and the surpassing greatness of His power to us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of His mighty strength,
Read in context