Several things I took away from this chapter:
"On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God. 3 and even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. 4 The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 5 For we do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake"
^ this passage reminded me that we should not try to make the gospel falsely appealing when talking to others. We should not try to preach the "Prosperity Gospel." If our frank depiction of what Christianity truly is does not interest someone, we should still not try to distort it. (Of course, like Konny said, we should always emphasis the hope that we have in Him and the joy that comes with a relationship with God.)
"7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us."
^My student NIV interprets this verse this way: "Where would you keep expensive jewelry? You would want a safe, secure place, not a cardboard box. Yet this image comes close to the one Paul used to describe his ministry: "Jars of clay." In his day jars were as common as cardboard boxes are today. The treasure Paul refers to is the incredible message of the gospel: God's good news of forgiveness and the promise of life forever. Yet, amazingly God chose to enclose that treasure in people who are lie "jars of clay." Clay jars are ordinary and highly breakable, and Paul tells us he is both. An immortal God chooses mere humans as his personal representatives."
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