Focused Passage

2 Corinthians 4:7-15

Merciful Ministry, Treasure in Jars of Clay, and Unseen Eternal Glory

Because Paul has received mercy, he refuses manipulative ministry, proclaims Christ rather than himself, carries gospel treasure in fragile humanity, and interprets affliction through resurrection hope and unseen eternal glory.

Berean Standard Bible, Public Domain - Translation notes - Reference sources

7 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.

10 We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.

11 For we who are alive are always consigned to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our mortal body.

12 So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.

13 And in keeping with what is written, “I believed, therefore I have spoken,” we who have the same spirit of faith also believe and therefore speak,

14 knowing that the One who raised the Lord Jesus will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you in His presence.

15 All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is extending to more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow, to the glory of God.

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 7

Original words

Now δὲ G1161 Conjunction we have Ἔχομεν G2192 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Plural this τοῦτον G3778 Demonstrative Pronoun - Accusative Masculine Singular - τὸν G3588 Article - Accusative Masculine Singular treasure θησαυρὸν G2344 Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular in ἐν G1722 Preposition jars σκεύεσιν G4632 Noun - Dative Neuter Plural of clay ὀστρακίνοις G3749 Adjective - Dative Neuter Plural to show that ἵνα G2443 Conjunction [this] G3588 Article - Nominative Feminine Singular surpassingly great ὑπερβολὴ G5236 Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular - τῆς G3588 Article - Genitive Feminine Singular power δυνάμεως G1411 Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular is G1510 Verb - Present Subjunctive Active - 3rd Person Singular - τοῦ G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Singular from God Θεοῦ G2316 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular and καὶ G2532 Conjunction not μὴ G3361 Adverb from ἐξ G1537 Preposition us ἡμῶν G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Plural
Verse 8

Original words

We are hard pressed θλιβόμενοι G2346 Verb - Present Participle Middle or Passive - Nominative Masculine Plural on ἐν G1722 Preposition all [sides] παντὶ G3956 Adjective - Dative Neuter Singular but ἀλλ’ G235 Conjunction not οὐ G3756 Adverb crushed στενοχωρούμενοι G4729 Verb - Present Participle Middle or Passive - Nominative Masculine Plural perplexed ἀπορούμενοι G639 Verb - Present Participle Middle - Nominative Masculine Plural but ἀλλ’ G235 Conjunction not οὐκ G3756 Adverb in despair ἐξαπορούμενοι G1820 Verb - Present Participle Middle or Passive - Nominative Masculine Plural
Verse 9

Original words

persecuted διωκόμενοι G1377 Verb - Present Participle Middle or Passive - Nominative Masculine Plural but ἀλλ’ G235 Conjunction not οὐκ G3756 Adverb forsaken ἐγκαταλειπόμενοι G1459 Verb - Present Participle Middle or Passive - Nominative Masculine Plural struck down καταβαλλόμενοι G2598 Verb - Present Participle Middle or Passive - Nominative Masculine Plural but ἀλλ’ G235 Conjunction not οὐκ G3756 Adverb destroyed ἀπολλύμενοι G622 Verb - Present Participle Middle or Passive - Nominative Masculine Plural
Verse 10

Original words

{We} always πάντοτε G3842 Adverb carry around περιφέροντες G4064 Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Plural in ἐν G1722 Preposition [our] τῷ G3588 Article - Dative Neuter Singular body σώματι G4983 Noun - Dative Neuter Singular the τὴν G3588 Article - Accusative Feminine Singular death νέκρωσιν G3500 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular - τοῦ G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Singular [of] Jesus Ἰησοῦ G2424 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular so that ἵνα G2443 Conjunction the G3588 Article - Nominative Feminine Singular life ζωὴ G2222 Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular - τοῦ G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Singular of Jesus Ἰησοῦ G2424 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular {may} also καὶ G2532 Conjunction be revealed φανερωθῇ G5319 Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Passive - 3rd Person Singular in ἐν G1722 Preposition our ἡμῶν G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Plural - τῷ G3588 Article - Dative Neuter Singular body σώματι G4983 Noun - Dative Neuter Singular
Verse 11

Original words

For γὰρ G1063 Conjunction we ἡμεῖς G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 1st Person Plural who οἱ G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Plural are alive ζῶντες G2198 Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Plural {are} always ἀεὶ G104 Adverb consigned παραδιδόμεθα G3860 Verb - Present Indicative Middle or Passive - 1st Person Plural to εἰς G1519 Preposition death θάνατον G2288 Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular for Jesus’ Ἰησοῦν G2424 Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular sake διὰ G1223 Preposition so that ἵνα G2443 Conjunction the G3588 Article - Nominative Feminine Singular life ζωὴ G2222 Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular - τοῦ G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Singular of Jesus Ἰησοῦ G2424 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular {may} also καὶ G2532 Conjunction be revealed φανερωθῇ G5319 Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Passive - 3rd Person Singular in ἐν G1722 Preposition our ἡμῶν G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Plural mortal θνητῇ G2349 Adjective - Dative Feminine Singular - τῇ G3588 Article - Dative Feminine Singular body σαρκὶ G4561 Noun - Dative Feminine Singular
Verse 12

Original words

So then ὥστε G5620 Conjunction - G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular death θάνατος G2288 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular is at work ἐνεργεῖται G1754 Verb - Present Indicative Middle - 3rd Person Singular in ἐν G1722 Preposition us ἡμῖν G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 1st Person Plural but δὲ G1161 Conjunction - G3588 Article - Nominative Feminine Singular life [is at work] ζωὴ G2222 Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular in ἐν G1722 Preposition you ὑμῖν G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 2nd Person Plural
Verse 13

Original words

And δὲ G1161 Conjunction in keeping with κατὰ G2596 Preposition - τὸ G3588 Article - Accusative Neuter Singular what is written γεγραμμένον G1125 Verb - Perfect Participle Middle or Passive - Accusative Neuter Singular I believed Ἐπίστευσα G4100 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular therefore διὸ G1352 Conjunction I have spoken ἐλάλησα G2980 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular we ἡμεῖς G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 1st Person Plural who have Ἔχοντες G2192 Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Plural the τὸ G3588 Article - Accusative Neuter Singular same αὐτὸ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Neuter 3rd Person Singular spirit πνεῦμα G4151 Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular - τῆς G3588 Article - Genitive Feminine Singular of faith πίστεως G4102 Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular also καὶ G2532 Conjunction believe πιστεύομεν G4100 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Plural and καὶ G2532 Conjunction therefore διὸ G1352 Conjunction speak λαλοῦμεν G2980 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Plural

BSB notes

  • Psalm 116:10 (see also LXX)
Verse 14

Original words

knowing εἰδότες G1492 Verb - Perfect Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Plural that ὅτι G3754 Conjunction the [One who] G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular raised ἐγείρας G1453 Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular the τὸν G3588 Article - Accusative Masculine Singular Lord Κύριον G2962 Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular Jesus Ἰησοῦν G2424 Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular vvv καὶ G2532 Conjunction will also raise us ἐγερεῖ G1453 Verb - Future Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular . . . ἡμᾶς G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 1st Person Plural with σὺν G4862 Preposition Jesus Ἰησοῦ G2424 Noun - Dative Masculine Singular and καὶ G2532 Conjunction present [us] παραστήσει G3936 Verb - Future Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular with σὺν G4862 Preposition you [ in His presence ] ὑμῖν G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 2nd Person Plural

BSB notes

  • SBL who raised Jesus
Verse 15

Original words

- γὰρ G1063 Conjunction - τὰ G3588 Article - Nominative Neuter Plural All this [is] πάντα G3956 Adjective - Nominative Neuter Plural for your benefit δι’ G1223 Preposition . . . ὑμᾶς G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 2nd Person Plural so that ἵνα G2443 Conjunction the G3588 Article - Nominative Feminine Singular grace χάρις G5485 Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular that is extending πλεονάσασα G4121 Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Feminine Singular to διὰ G1223 Preposition - τῶν G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Plural more and more [people] πλειόνων G4119 Adjective - Genitive Masculine Plural - Comparative may cause thanksgiving to overflow περισσεύσῃ G4052 Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 3rd Person Singular . . . τὴν G3588 Article - Accusative Feminine Singular . . . εὐχαριστίαν G2169 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular to εἰς G1519 Preposition the τὴν G3588 Article - Accusative Feminine Singular glory δόξαν G1391 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular - τοῦ G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Singular of God Θεοῦ G2316 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular

Berean Standard Bible (BSB): CC0 Public Domain Scripture text. Focused passages are drawn from the same reader contract as the full chapter. Reference sources explains external study-link sources.