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Scripture Story Sketch Notes · 2 Corinthians 4

Treasure in
Earthen Vessels

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

Beaten, shipwrecked and worn out, Paul compared himself to a cheap clay jar. Then he showed what was inside: the light of Jesus Christ.

Look inside the jar ↓ Read 2 Corinthians 4 first
Hand-drawn doodle map: light breaking out of a dark sky, a potter shaping a clay jar, a plain jar glowing with treasure, a person standing amid gray scribbles, a person in a maze, a person walking with a gentle companion, a person knocked down and getting up, and a person watching the stars and sunrise beside a jar shining through its cracks.

Before you begin

The story in brief

Paul had been beaten, stoned, shipwrecked and imprisoned, and some in Corinth said he was weak and unimpressive. Paul agreed. He compared himself to an earthen vessel, the plain clay jar found in every home. But God, “who commanded the light to shine out of darkness,” had put a treasure inside: “the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” The jar was plain on purpose, “that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.”

Then Paul described his life: “troubled on every side, yet not distressed; … perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed.” Though his body was wearing out, “the inward man is renewed day by day.” He called his trials “light affliction, which is but for a moment,” because he was looking at “the things which are not seen.”

Who’s who

  • Paul: an Apostle who had suffered much for Christ
  • The Corinthian Saints: some of whom doubted Paul because he seemed weak
  • Jesus Christ: the light and treasure inside the jar

Where and when

Corinth, a city known for its pottery and bronze work.

Watch for the Savior

Watch how the light inside the jar is always Jesus Christ.

Read it yourself: 2 Corinthians 4:6–18

Part 1 of 7

The jar, mapped

Eight stops from light in the darkness to the dawn. Scroll, or tap a number on the map.

    Part 2 of 7

    The story, plainly

    Four scenes: the potter, the light, the pressure and the dawn. Look for the Savior in each one.

    Read it plainly

    The words that trip people up

    Tap any dotted word for its meaning. The scripture stays exactly as written.1

    1. 2 Corinthians 4:1 “we ”
    2. 2 Corinthians 4:7 “the of the power”
    3. 2 Corinthians 4:8 “we are ”
    4. 2 Corinthians 4:9 “cast down, but not ”
    5. 2 Corinthians 4:18 “the things which are seen are ”

    Part 3 of 7

    Look closer

    Small details tell the story. Some cards are details in the text; others share insights from prophets or Church resources. Each card says which.

    0 of 9 turned

    Part 4 of 7

    Where are you?

    Feeling cracked, pressed on every side, worn out, or letting the light through. Which feels most like you right now?

    Try it

    Light through the cracks

    Paul listed four hard things, and after each one, a “but not.” Tap each crack in the jar to let the light through, and read the promise it reveals.

    “That the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.” 2 Corinthians 4:7

    Part 5 of 7

    Their world, their words

    A little background helps us see why Paul chose a clay jar. Outside sources are labeled.

    Church resource · Student manual

    Unimpressive on purpose

    The student manual: the contrast “between humble, unimpressive missionaries and the light they bear … reveals a divine purpose.”3

    So everyone knows the power is God’s.

    Church resource · Student manual

    Paul’s perils

    “Though many of these perils were extreme, Paul testified that because he was always supported by God, he was able to continue.”3

    See 2 Corinthians 11:23–28.

    Church leader · Student manual

    “Light” affliction

    Elder Paul V. Johnson, quoted in the student manual: “This comes from a person who was beaten, stoned, shipwrecked, imprisoned.”3

    Light only compared with what’s ahead.

    Prophet · Student manual

    The top of the heap

    Joseph Smith told George A. Smith to “hang on, exercise faith, and keep up good courage and I should come out on the top of the heap at last.”3

    Counsel for a hard day.

    Word study · Greek

    ostrakinos ὀστράκινος · “earthen” (2 Corinthians 4:7)

    Bible Hub: “Earthen, made of clay.”4 Outside · lexicon

    Ordinary pottery, easily broken.1

    Word study · Greek

    stenochōreō στενοχωρέω · “distressed” (2 Corinthians 4:8)

    Bible Hub: “To be distressed, to be in difficulty, to be in a narrow place.”5 Outside · lexicon

    Pressed on every side, but never squeezed into a corner with no way out.1

    What the text does not say

    The story does not say faithful people won’t be troubled, perplexed or cast down. Paul was all of those. It says they will not be destroyed or forsaken.1

    Part 6 of 7

    Look to Him

    The treasure is Jesus Christ. His light shines in our hearts and out through our cracks.

    Paul’s promise: “For which cause we faint not.”

    2 Corinthians 4:161
    “We can remember that Christ was also troubled on every side, but not distressed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed.”
    Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, quoted in the student manual3
    “Our afflictions truly are light.”
    Elder Paul V. Johnson, quoted in the student manual3
    “These are your days—to stand strong as disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ.”
    Elder Neil L. Andersen2

    Paul

    The face of Jesus Christ

    “To give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” 2 Corinthians 4:6

    Paul

    The life of Jesus

    “Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.” 2 Corinthians 4:10

    Part 7 of 7

    Seek Him today

    A question to ask in prayer

    Where can Your light shine through my weakness? 2 Corinthians 4:7

    Ask Heavenly Father to show you one “crack” He can use. Write down what comes to mind.

    Try it today

    One step each day. It saves on this device, one day at a time.

    0 of 7 today

    This week:0 of 7 days

    A quiet moment

    “Renewed day by day.”

    Read 2 Corinthians 4:6–9 and 16–18 slowly. Then thank Jesus Christ for His light in you, and ask Him to renew you today. 2 Corinthians 4:16–18

    A verse to hold

    Talk about it

    1. Why would God put a treasure in a clay jar?
    2. What is the treasure Paul talks about?
    3. Which “but not” in verses 8–9 means the most to you?
    4. How can hard things be “light affliction”?
    Open

    For adults and deeper study

    Go deeper

    Longer readings, harder questions, and where to study next. Each one says what it is before you click.
    Apostle

    Elder Neil L. Andersen, “Spiritual Whirlwinds” (2014)

    Standing strong when pressures swirl, with the temple, the Book of Mormon and the Savior’s promise not to leave us comfortless.2

    Read the talk →
    Church resource

    New Testament Student Manual: 2 Corinthians 1–5

    Clay jars, Paul’s perils, and keeping mortal afflictions in perspective.3

    Read the chapter →
    Scripture

    2 Corinthians 11:23–28

    Paul’s own list of what he suffered: beatings, stonings, shipwrecks and more.

    Read 2 Corinthians 11 →
    Book of Mormon

    Ether 12:27

    The Lord’s promise that He gives us weakness so we can be humble, and that “weak things become strong.”

    Read Ether 12 →
    To ponder

    Harder questions

    • Why might Paul say the treasure is in us, rather than us being the treasure?
    • How is each of Paul’s four “but nots” true of the Savior?
    • What “things not seen” help you keep going?

    Sources

    Every quotation, gloss, and piece of background on this page is listed here: scripture first, then Church sources, then outside scholarship (labeled).

    Scripture

    1. 2 Corinthians 4: “But we have this treasure in earthen vessels.”

    Church leaders and Church resources

    1. Elder Neil L. Andersen, “Spiritual Whirlwinds”, general conference, April 2014.
    2. New Testament Student Manual, “2 Corinthians 1–5”, Gospel Library. Includes Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, Elder Paul V. Johnson, President George A. Smith and the Prophet Joseph Smith.

    Outside sources (labeled on the page)

    1. Strong’s 3749, ostrakinos, Bible Hub lexicon.
    2. Strong’s 4729, stenochōreō, Bible Hub lexicon.

    Quotations checked against the linked pages on October 10, 2026. Scripture is quoted from the King James Version as published in the Gospel Library.

    “Of God, and not of us”

    His light shines best through the cracks. 2 Corinthians 4:7

    Back to this week: September 6–12 Earlier: Three Glories of the Resurrection Next story: The Cheerful Giver All New Testament Story Sketch Notes
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    Independent study notes from Weak Things, not an official publication of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Scripture quotations are from the King James Version. The teaching is in 2 Corinthians 4; the insights in “Look closer” are labeled by source.