2 Corinthians 4:7-18 Celebrities and Clay in Corinth
We live in a celebrity culture. Magazines, blogs, Instagram accounts and television shows present us with people to follow.
The red carpet is an object of fascination in the 21st century, but the culture of celebrity is nothing new.
People have always engaged in versions of this kind of behaviour.
We’ve been exploring 2 Corinthians and have seen how Paul has found himself in the midst of a popularity contest that he never signed up for.
Paul wasn’t the best speaker; he wasn’t the favourite amongst the Corinthians and his opponents have raised questions about his ministry.
In the first few chapters of the letter we have seen how Paul has defended his ministry and consistently brought the focus back to Jesus. We saw this last week and we see it once again as we continue in Chapter 4.
So, let’s dive in together. We are in Chapter 4:7-18 today.
Clay Jars (verse 7)
Paul begins this section with a metaphor. He says: “We have this treasure in jars of clay.”
The treasure refers to the Gospel – the message of Jesus saving and redeeming this broken world through his life, death, and resurrection.
The clay jars refer to the carriers of the Gospel.
The image of clay jars doesn’t refer to grand Grecian art pieces or fine pieces of pottery. Rather, here Paul is talking about a cheap and very humble pot. Paul might even be referring to night-time oil lamps that were manufactured and sold in Corinth.
These were thin and delicate so light would shine through them but because of this were also very easy to break and were cheap.
Paul is highlighting the clay jar is cheap, humble, and simple.
This metaphor isn’t to denigrate the messengers of the Gospel. It isn’t saying they don’t count for anything. Rather it is to accentuate the treasure of the Gospel.
A celebrity preacher draws attention to the cheap pot which is not the point. The point is the treasure, that is the good news of Jesus. This is the point Paul makes.
There is a saying from a Rabbinic tradition: “Just as wine cannot keep well in silver or gold vessels, but only in the lowliest of vessels—earthen ones—so words of Torah do not keep well in one who considers himself to be the same as silver or gold vessels, but only in one who considers himself the same as the lowliest of vessels—earthen ones.”[1]
The clay jar is a good image for Paul’s ministry as the jar is a humble instrument which carries the true treasure. This is food for thought for us in a world in which Christian celebrities are not only possible but even prolific, and in which we, like the Corinthians, might be tempted to gaze at the jar itself rather than the treasure.
Paul knows that the surpassing power belongs to God, and he develops his point by sharing in verse 8-12 a catalogue of his sufferings as an apostle.
Catalogue of suffering (8-12)
We see that not only are Paul and his co-ministers clay jars, they are a like cracked pots full of stress fractures, but nonetheless held together by divine glue.
Paul gives us pairings which illustrate his ministry as one which fits in a pattern which mirrors Jesus’ death and resurrection.
You can see the pairings here:
-Afflicted but not crushed.
Paul is afflicted by trouble but not crushed by the pressure.
-Perplexed but not driven to despair
Paul faces confusion about what to do, at times he is perplexed yet not driven to total despair. His calling remains firm.
-Persecuted but not forsaken
Paul is persecuted. Outside of the New Testament literature this word can refer to an animal being hunted. Yet even in this Paul is never completely abandoned by God.
-Struck down but not destroyed.
Paul is struck down. This image might be drawing on the sport of boxing or wrestling, both popular in the Isthmian games held in Corinth. Paul gets knocked over but doesn’t lose the match, he isn’t destroyed.
This list of Paul’s suffering shows Paul’s attitude to hardship and it is vastly different to the common views of his day.
Trial and pain in the world of Greco-Roman philosophers may be viewed either with virtue on one hand or detachment on the other.
It may be seen with virtue as something which one overcomes as a hero.
Or in line with the Stoic school of philosophy suffering may be seen a something a person views with dispassion and detachment. We still use the term “stoic” to refer to this way of dealing with pain and trouble. We might say “Oh she was pretty stoic about it.”
As one commentator puts it:
“Paul regarded his suffering as inconsequential only when compared to the eternal glory that awaits him (4:17). In the meantime, he freely confesses that he is not untouched by despair (1:8; 4:8), sleeplessness, or anxiety (11:27–28). He is not dispassionate about what has happened to him.”[2]
Paul has as view that God will ultimately deliver him through suffering in light of the reality of the death and resurrection of Jesus. This is Paul’s foundational story.
Resurrection Life and Faith (13-15)
We see this reflected in verses 13-15.
The cracked pot will be made whole. Paul speaks of resurrection life and faith. Paul draws on the language of the Psalms to direct attention to God’s action of salvation. He quotes Psalm 116 which reflects on David’s testimony of God rescuing him from illness.
Again, the attention and spotlight is on God and his power to save and deliver in the midst of trouble and suffering.
The response that is called on is faith and belief in what God has done in Jesus.
Characters in the Bible aren’t presented as heroes on their own merit. Though sometimes we read it this way. Rather, they are people who in the trials and tribulations they face give example to God’s goodness and mercy. Think Daniel, David, Rahab, and Mary. God works in them, they are active and responsive in faith. They aren’t heroes though, but rather clay jars through whom God does great things.
Through faith in Jesus, Paul can see God at work even in the midst of the troubles he faces, in fact especially through them.
In verse 16-18, Paul gives another important perspective.
The Long Game – An eternal perspective (16-18)
Here Paul lays out ministry with an eternal perspective. He talks about the seen and the unseen and what really matters in God’s economy.
Paul talks about the inner and the outer self. He goes into this more in chapter 5 and we will delve into this some more next week.
What Paul is doing here isn’t really to do with the material vs the spiritual but rather it is about the present world and the future world. It is a matter of perspective.
William Baker in his commentary puts it well:
“Paul wants his Corinthian readers to realize that evaluating truth simply on the basis of physical appearance is foolish. Paul’s opponents may be flashy. They may register observable signs of success in healthy bodies, fine clothes, and cultured speech. Does the visible equate with the eternal? Based on what Paul has just said, doesn’t his battered body and tenacious, outspoken message suggest the eternal truthfulness of his message and ministry?”[3
Paul’s ministry is presented as being a humble clay jar in which precious treasure is kept. This clay jar is cracked and under pressure but never completely busted. God is using it for a purpose to bring healing and wholeness to a broken world.
Paul describes his ministry as being like a clay jars which contain great treasure. The power of God works in us and through us. Today is Social Services Sunday and Steve McCoy is going to share with us some ways in which we can exercise our humble ministry too as clay jars, caring for others in our community in practical ways and sharing God’s love.
Check out t what is going on in SC with Anglican Care here: https://www.anglicancare.org.nz/
[1] David E. Garland “THE NEW AMERICAN COMMENTARY Volume 29 2 Corinthians.”
[2] David E. Garland “THE NEW AMERICAN COMMENTARY Volume 29 2 Corinthians.”
[3] William R Baker “The College Press NIV Commentary: 2 Corinthians”