guaranteed by the presence of the Spirit (2 Cor. 5:5), just as death is precursor to resurrection. This thought leads directly to the second point of the metaphor, why it is necessary to have the treasure in clay jars. Clay jars are fragile, expendable, and cheap. As such they constitute an apt metaphor for the physical body, subject as it is to suffering, death, and decay. The metaphor is not new with Paul. The makes much of it (Isa. 29:16; 45:9; 64:8; Jer. 18:1–11; 19:1–13; cf. Gen. 2:7). Paul’s