4:7 What is "this treasure in earthen vessels"?
4:7 What is "this treasure in earthen vessels"?
This treasure in earthen vessels is the gospel of Christ entrusted to believers.
Earthen vessels are weak and fragile, and Paul uses them to symbolize human beings. Paul is contrasting weak and fragile humans here with the priceless treasure of the gospel entrusted to them (CP Job 12:17-25; Isa 29:13-14; 44:24-25; Mt 11:25; 1Cor 1:18-29; 2:5-8; 2Cor 12:9-10).
By entrusting weak human beings with the gospel, God makes it clear that its power to save is from Him and not men.