What's In a Name?

A friend advised me to read 2 Corinthians: 4 before going to Honduras. Most of what I read made sense and was wonderful like verses 17-18, "For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us and eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal."

The reference to the jars of clay is what threw me. Verse 7, "But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us". What were the jars of clay? Why did God put treasure in them? I looked up a commentary on the verse and had an "ah-ha" moment. I have posted an except from it below because it explains the passage better than I could!

"In verses 7-15 Paul compares the gospel minister to a piece of Palestinian pottery. We have this treasure in jars of clay (v. 7). This treasure is the glorious good news about Christ (vv. 1-6). Jars of clay is actually "earthenware vessels" (ostrakinois skeuesin). The noun skeuos refers to a vessel serving a specific purpose (such as a jug, cup, pan or pot). When used of people it often carries the sense of "implement" or "instrument" (Maurer 1971:358-67). So to be God's "vessel" is to be his instrument in carrying out a specific service--in this case, the gospel ministry.

The marvel of Paul's statement is not to be overlooked. The gospel minister is a vessel made of common, run-of-the-mill clay--fragile and easily broken. And yet God has entrusted the treasure of the gospel to such a vessel, just as Palestinians stored their valuables in common clay pots. Why does God do this? According to Paul, he does it to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. God uses what is fragile and yet serviceable so that there might be no mistaking the origin of the gospel minister's power."

-This IVP New Testament Commentary is made available by the generosity of InterVarsity Press. And was found at https://www.biblegateway.com/resources/commentaries/IVP-NT/2Cor/Gods-Power-Made-Known

We are the jars of clay! How amazing?? That's why I decided to title this blog "Jars of Clay", so that I am reminded every day that even though I am fragile, common and cracked, God chose to use me to spread His love and help advance His kingdom!