2 Corinthians 4:7–18

Treasure in Earthenware Jars

⁷But we have this treasure in earthenware jars, in order that the extraordinary degree of the power may be from God and not from us. ⁸We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; ⁹persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed; ¹⁰always carrying around the death of Jesus in our body, in order that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. ¹¹For we who are alive are continually being handed over to death because of Jesus, in order that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our mortal flesh. ¹²So then, death is at work in us, but life in you. ¹³But because we^* have the same spirit of faith in accordance with what is written, “I believed, therefore I spoke,”^d we also believe, therefore we also speak, ¹⁴because we^* know that the one who raised Jesus^e will also raise us together with Jesus and present us together with you. ¹⁵For all these things are for your sake^f, in order that the grace that is increasing through the many may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God.

¹⁶Therefore we do not lose heart, but even if our outer person is being destroyed, yet our inner person is being renewed day after day. ¹⁷For our momentary light affliction is producing in us an eternal weight of glory beyond all measure and proportion^g, ¹⁸because^* we are not looking at what is seen, but what is not seen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is not seen is eternal.