2 Corinthians 4:7 (WEB)
But we have this treasure in clay vessels, that the exceeding greatness of the power may be of God and not from ourselves.
Catechism · 1
“Now we carry this life "in earthen vessels," and it remains "hidden with Christ in God."” — Catechism footnote: 2 Cor 4:7; Col 3:3.
Fathers and councils · 21
Jerome
“Whereas the same chosen vessel openlywrites, “We have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the exceeding greatness of the power may be of God, and not from ourselves.”” — editor's note: 2 Cor. iv. 7.
Read the whole comment“And a treasure is often stowed in earthen vessels.” — editor's note: 2 Cor. iv. 7.
Read the whole comment“So long as we are held down by this frail body, so long as we have our treasure in earthen vessels; so long as the flesh lusteth against the spirit and the spirit against the flesh, there can be no sure victory.” — editor's note: 2 Cor. iv. 7.
Read the whole comment“As was only natural, you turned deadly pale; for there are few persons, if any, who do not burst into tears when the earthen vessel breaks.” — editor's note: 2 Cor. iv. 7.
Read the whole comment“In her frequent sicknesses and infirmities she used to say, “when I am weak, then am I strong:” “we have our treasure in earthen vessels” until “this corruptible shall have put on incorruption and this mortal shall have put on immortality” and again “as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so…” — editor's note: 2 Cor. iv. 7.
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Cyril of Jerusalem
“But His forefather David was not ignorant of Him, when he said, I have ordained a lamp for mine Anointed: which lamp some have interpreted to be the brightness of Prophecy, others the flesh which He took upon Him from the Virgin, according to the Apostle’s word, But we have this treasure in earthen vessels.” — editor's note: 2 Cor. iv. 7. The reference of the ‘lamp’ to Christ’s Incarnation is mentioned by Eusebius (u.s.) and other Fathers.
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Ambrose of Milan
“You too have this treasure if you look into yourself: “For we have this treasure in earthen vessels.”” — editor's note: 2 Cor. iv. 7.
Read the whole comment““For we have a treasure in earthen vessels.”” — editor's note: 2 Cor. iv. 7.
Read the whole comment“So, too, the Apostle says: “We have this treasure in earthen vessels.”” — editor's note: 2 Cor. iv. 7.
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Origen
- Origen, De Principiis IV.1Book IV
“…wisdom being hid in the vulgar and unpolished vessels of words, as the apostle also points out when he says, “We have this treasure in earthen vessels,” that the virtue of the divine power may shine out the more brightly, no colouring of human eloquence being intermingled with the truth of the doctrines.” — editor's note: Cf. 2 Cor. iv. 7.
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Theodoret of Cyrus
“But what we say is that of a virgin’s womb the Christ took pure flesh, holy and without spot, and made impervious to all sin, and restored the body that was His own.”” — editor's note: σκεῦος. cf. 2 Cor. iv. 7. 1 Thess. iv. 4. 1 Peter iii. 7. Cicero. Tusc. 1. 22 calls the body “vas animi.”
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Augustine of Hippo
“For “we have this treasure in earthen vessels.”” — editor's note: 2 Cor. iv. 7.
Read the whole comment“Howsoever firm thou be by the grace of God, so long as thou still bearest an earthly vessel, wherein the treasure of God is, something must be dreaded even from that same vessel of clay.” — editor's note: 2 Cor. iv. 7.
Read the whole comment“Hear the Apostle: “We have this treasure in earthen vessels.”…Behold our Lord Himself, how He showeth Himself a potter.” — editor's note: 2 Cor. iv. 7.
Read the whole comment“Hear that it is from the earth: “We have,” saith St. Paul, “this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.”” — editor's note: 2 Cor. iv. 7.
Read the whole comment“…do I say, what the Apostle in his humility saith, “We have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.”” — editor's note: 2 Cor. iv. 7.
Read the whole comment““That the excellency of the power may be of God?”” — editor's note: 2 Cor. iv. 7.
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Tertullian
“We are corrupt—earthen vessels.” — editor's note: Isa. lxiv. 8; 2 Cor. iv. 7.
Read the whole comment“…hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of the Lord in the person of Jesus Christ,” and says that “we have this treasure in earthen vessels,” meaning of course the flesh, which is meant—that the flesh shall be destroyed, because it is “an earthen vessel,” deriving its origin from clay; or that it is…” — editor's note: Ver. 7.
Read the whole comment“But how does it happen, that “the treasure which we have in these earthen vessels of ours” should not be regarded as belonging to the God who owns the vessels?” — editor's note: 2 Cor. iv. 7.
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Clement of Alexandria
“And they rave about the carcase, which they despise as weak, being blind to the wealth within; knowing not what a “treasure in an earthen vessel” we bear, protected as it is by the power of God the Father, and the blood of God the Son, and the dew of the Holy Spirit.” — editor's note: 2 Cor. iv. 7.
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Cross-references · 18
Cited together in Catechism §1420.
Cited together in Concerning Widows Chapter 5.
Cited together in On Patience Chapter 10.
Cited together in Catechism §1420.
Cited together in On Patience Chapter 10.
Cited together in Concerning Widows Chapter 5.
Cited together in Concerning Widows Chapter 5.
Cited together in On the Duties of the Clergy II.28.
Cited together in On the Duties of the Clergy II.28.
Cited together in On the Resurrection of the Flesh Chapter 44.
Cited together in On Patience Chapter 10.
Cited together in On Patience Chapter 10.
Cited together in Concerning Widows Chapter 5.
Cited together in On the Duties of the Clergy II.28.
Cited together in On the Duties of the Clergy II.28.
Cited together in On the Duties of the Clergy II.28.
Cited together in Concerning Widows Chapter 5.
Cited together in Concerning Widows Chapter 5.