TREASURE IN JARS OF CLAY: GOD’S PURPOSES IN ADVERSITIES IN 2 CORINTHIANS 4:7-15

Abstract

Human suffering is one of the most recurrent themes in the Holy Scriptures and occupies a central position in Pauline theology. In 2 Corinthians 4:7-15, the apostle Paul presents a reflection on human frailty and God’s sovereign action through the well-known metaphor of the “treasure in jars of clay,” emphasizing that divine power is manifested amid the limitations, persecutions, and adversities faced by God’s servants. This study aims to understand God’s purposes in adversities through an exegetical analysis of 2 Corinthians 4:7-15. It is a bibliographical study developed through an exegetical approach based on the historical-grammatical method, using biblical commentaries, Greek lexicons, theological dictionaries, and specialized works concerning the context of the epistle. The findings demonstrate that Paul understands adversities not as evidence of divine abandonment, but as instruments through which God reveals His grace, strengthens faith, manifests the power of the resurrection, and promotes believers’ spiritual growth. The analysis further shows that the metaphor of jars of clay highlights the fragile human condition, while the treasure represents the gospel and the glory of God revealed in Christ. It is concluded that suffering, in Pauline theology, has a redemptive and pedagogical purpose, contributing to the maturation of faith and to the manifestation of God’s glory in the lives of Christians.