Glory to Glory - Treasure in Earthen Vessels: 2 Corinthians 3-4 Bible Study

Understanding 2 Corinthians 3:18 - Beholding the Glory of the Lord

All believers behold the glory of the Lord in the Scripture and are transformed into the image of God. Christ is the image of God (4:4). 

From Glory to Glory: The Progressive Process of Sanctification Enabled by the Holy Spirit

glory to glory: An ever-growing glory. As believers behold the glory of God in the Word of God, the Spirit of God transforms them into the likeness of Jesus Christ. This is a description of the gradual process of sanctification enabled by the Holy Spirit.

By beholding the Lord's glory with unveiled faces (through faith and Scripture), Christians are inwardly changed, growing from one degree of spiritual maturity to another.

We Go From Glory to Glory  

• Continuous Transformation: This is not a one-time event, but an ongoing process of sanctification and becoming more like Jesus.

• Beholding the Lord: As believers fix their focus on Jesus and the Gospel (the "mirror"), they reflect His character and are transformed.
• Unveiled Faces: Unlike Moses, who wore a veil, Christians have direct access to God through the Spirit, allowing them to see and experience His glory directly.
• The Work of the Spirit: This change is not achieved through human effort alone but is enacted by the Lord, who is the Spirit.
• Moving Beyond the Old Covenant: The "glory" moves from the temporary, fading glory of the Old Testament Law to the permanent, increasing glory of the New Covenant in Chris

The Light of Christ's Gospel: Ministry of the New Testament

Paul's Bold Ministry Motivated by God's Mercy (2 Corinthians 4:1-3)

In 2 Corinthians 4:1-3, Paul now draws a conclusion from what he said about his ministry in chapter 3, verse 4. 

A Ministry of the Spirit, Life, and Righteousness (2 Corinthians 3:6-9)

This ministry is the NT ministry (3:6), a ministry of the Spirit (3:6), of life (3:7), and of righteousness (3:9). It is a glorious ministry (3:7-12) of liberty (3:17). Paul did not achieve this ministry by his own human ability but by God's mercy (3:5-6). Paul always spoke boldly because he was motivated by the grace of God (3:12; 1 Thessalonians 2:1-12).

The Treasure in Earthen Vessels: 2 Corinthians 4:7 Explained

2 Corinthians 4:7 "But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us."

What is the Treasure? The Light of the Knowledge of God's Glory

This verse teaches that the invaluable Gospel message and God's glory (the treasure) are housed in fragile, imperfect human bodies (jars of clay) to highlight that divine power comes from God, not human strength. 

• The Treasure: Refers to the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ, the Gospel, and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.
• Jars of Clay: Represents human beings—fragile, mortal, and ordinary, similar to inexpensive pottery.
• The Purpose:
  God places His supreme power within human weakness so that, when great things are accomplished, the glory goes to God rather than the human vessel.

Context: Christians possess this inner power that proves the Gospel's power is divine. 

This verse emphasizes humility, acknowledging that personal weaknesses or limitations do not hinder God's ability to work through people.

The Gospel's Surpassing Power Comes From God, Not Man

The "surpassing power" evident in believers' lives, is clearly God's, not our own, highlighting His glory and preventing pride. This metaphor shows that our human weakness and suffering reveal God's strength, as the perishable container allows the priceless content to shine through, demonstrating that the extraordinary ability to share the faith comes from Him.

Seven Characteristics of the Gospel Ministry  2 Corinthians 2:14-6:18

Demonstration of the Nature of the Ministry

A Triumphant Ministry: God Assures Us of Total Victory (2 Corinthians 2:17)

A.  It is a triumphant one (2:14-16)

         God has thus assured us of victory - total victory: 

1. Regardless of WHEN the problems arise.
2. Regardless of WHERE the problems arise.

To illustrate this promise, Paul likens the ministry to a victorious Roman parade during which the successful general (in this case, Jesus) would lead the procession.

The Fragrance of Christ

The Aroma of Incense in the Triumphal Procession (2 Corinthians 2:14-16)

     From the marching parade there would ascend a sweet fragrance, caused by the burning of incense. However, it smells like death to those who are being perishing but like life to those who are being saved (2 Corinthians 2:16).

Biblical Examples in Old Testament: Joseph's Interpretation and the Two Thieves

In the Old Testament, Joseph's interpretation was death for the baker (Genesis 40:16-19,22), but life for the butler (Genesis 40:9, 13,21).  Likewise, in the New Testament, Jesus' presence meant death for the unrepentant thief (Luke 23:39), but life for the repentant thief (Luke 23:40-43).

A Sincere Ministry: Preaching With Pure Motives (2 Corinthians 2:17)

B. It is a sincere one (2 Corinthians 2:17; see also 2 Peter 3:14-16).

An Approved Ministry: Written In Hearts, Known and Read by All (2 Corinthians 3:1-3)

C. It is an approved one, by God himself - 2 Corinthians 3:1-3. 

     The legalistic Judaizing teachers who plagued Paul's work carried formal and impressive letters of introduction from Jerusalem. Prior to his conversion, the apostle had done this also (acts 9:2). But now all that had changed. Paul's letters were:

1. Personal ("Ye are our epistle")
2. Permanent ("written in our hearts")
3. Public ("known and read of all men")

A Dependant Ministry: Our Sufficiency Comes From God (2 Corinthians 3:4-5)

D. It is a dependant one (2 Corinthians 3:4-5; see also Philippians 4:13)

The Superior Ministry of the New Covenant

E. It is a superior one (2 Corinthians 3:16-18)

Superior Program: The Spirit and The Letter (2 Corinthians 3:16-13)

     1. It's program is superior. Here Paul refers back to Exodus 34:29-35, when Moses came down from Mt. Sinai after receiving the Ten Commandments. On that occasion his face had so radiated God's glory that he wore a veil, lest he frighten the waiting Israelites below. But in 2 Corinthians 3:13, Paul explains that the real reason for the veil was to prevent Israel from viewing the glory that soon faded away.

     But God's New Testament grace program: "the Spirit" is superior to Moses' Old Testament law program: "the letter", for it's glory, as given by Christ, will never fade away. (see also Matthew 26:28; Hebrews 8:8, 13)

Superior Power: Liberty in the Spirit (2 Corinthians 3:17)

     2. It's power is superior (2 Corinthians 3:17).

Superior Two-fold Purpose: Removing the Veil and Transforming Believers (2 Corinthians 4:2)

     3. It's purpose is superior. God's new ministry in Christ had a twofold purpose:

         a. Concerning Israel: to remove the veil of unbelief from their eyes (2 Corinthians 3:16)

         b. Concerning the church: to transform Christians into the very image of Christ (2 Corinthians 3:18)

An Open Ministry

F. It is an open one (2 Corinthians 4:1-4)

     1. An open walk - "But have renounced the things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness" (2 Corinthians 4:2)

     2. An open talk - "Nor handling the Word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God" ( 2 Corinthians 4:2)

A Christ Honoring Ministry

Preaching Christ as Lord: Who He Is and What He Has Done

G. It is a Christ honoring one (2 Corinthians 4:5-7)

        Paul's message highlighted three points.

1. Who Christ is - he is the Lord.
2. What Christ has done.

"For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness (a reference to creation), hath shined in our hearts (a reference to redemption), to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God" 2 Corinthians 4:6

     3. Why Christ chose to use Paul:

2 Corinthians 4:7 "But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us."