John Wesley

Now we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this surpassingly great power is from God and not from us.

“Have this treasure - Of divine light, love, glory. In earthen vessels - In frail, feeble, perishing bodies. He proceeds to show, that afflictions, yea, death itself, are so far from hindering the ministration of the Spirit, that they even further it, sharpen the ministers…”

We are hard pressed on all sides, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair;

“We are troubled, &c. - The four articles in this verse respect inward, the four in the next outward, afflictions. In each clause the former part shows the "earthen vessels;" the latter, "the excellence of the power."”

For we who are alive are always consigned to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our mortal body.

“For we who yet live - Who are not yet killed for the testimony of Jesus. Are always delivered unto death - Are perpetually in the very jaws of destruction; which we willingly submit to, that we may "obtain a better resurrection."”

And in keeping with what is written: “I believed, therefore I have spoken,” we who have the same spirit of faith also believe and therefore speak,

“Having the same spirit of faith - Which animated the saints of old; David, in particular, when he said, I believed, and therefore have I spoken - That is, I trusted in God, and therefore he hath put this song of praise in my mouth.”

All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is extending to more and more people may overflow in thanksgiving, to the glory of God.

“Are for your sakes - For the profit of all that believe, as well as all that preach. That the overflowing grace - Which continues you alive both in soul and body.”

So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

“The things that are seen - Men, money, things of earth. The things that are not seen - God, grace, heaven.”

For in this tent we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling,

“Desiring to be clothed upon - This body, which is now covered with flesh and blood, with the glorious house which is from heaven.”

And God has prepared us for this very purpose and has given us the Spirit as a pledge of what is to come.

“Now he that hath wrought us to this very thing - This longing for immortality. Is God - For none but God, none less than the Almighty, could have wrought this in us.”

For we walk by faith, not by sight.

“For we cannot clearly see him in this life, wherein we walk by faith only: an evidence, indeed, that necessarily implies a kind of "seeing him who is invisible;" yet as far beneath what we shall have in eternity, as it is above that of…”

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive his due for the things done in the body, whether good or bad.

“For we all - Apostles as well as other men, whether now present in the body, or absent from it. Must appear - Openly, without covering, where all hidden things will be revealed; probably the sins, even of the faithful, which were forgiven long before.”

If we are out of our mind, it is for God; if we are of sound mind, it is for you.

“For if we are transported beyond ourselves - Or at least, appear so to others, treated of, 2 Cor. v, 15-21, speaking or writing with uncommon vehemence. It is to God - He understands (if men do not) the emotion which himself inspires.”

For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that One died for all, therefore all died.

“While we thus judge, that if Christ died for all, then are all, even the best of men, naturally dead - In a state of spiritual death, and liable to death eternal.”

And He died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died for them and was raised again.

“Should not henceforth - From the moment they know him. Live unto themselves - Seek their own honour, profit, pleasure. But unto him - In all righteousness and true holiness.”

So from now on we regard no one according to the flesh. Although we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer.

“We consider all, only in order to save all. Who is he that thus knows no one after the flesh? ln what land do these Christians live?”

Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away. Behold, the new has come!

“Therefore if any one be in Christ - A true believer in him. There is a new creation - Only the power that makes a world can make a Christian.”

that God was reconciling the world to Himself in Christ, not counting men’s trespasses against them. And He has committed to us the message of reconciliation.

“Namely - The sum of which is, God - The whole Godhead, but more eminently God the Father. Was in Christ, reconciling the world - Which was before at enmity with God.”

Therefore we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making His appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ: Be reconciled to God.

“Therefore we are ambassadors for Christ-we beseech you in Christ's stead - Herein the apostle might appear to some "transported beyond himself." In general he uses a more calm, sedate kind of exhortation, as in the beginning of the next chapter.”

God made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.

“He made him a sin offering, who knew no sin - A commendation peculiar to Christ. For us - Who knew no righteousness, who were inwardly and outwardly nothing but sin; who must have been consumed by the divine justice, had not this atonement been…”

As God’s fellow workers, then, we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain.

“We then not only beseech, but as fellow-labourers with you, who are working out your own salvation, do also exhort you, not to receive the grace of God - Which we have been now describing.”

Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships, and calamities;

“In much patience - Shown, 1. In afflictions, necessities, distresses - All which are general terms. In stripes, imprisonments, tumults - Which are particular sorts of affliction, necessity, distress 3.”

in beatings, imprisonments, and riots; in labor, sleepless nights, and hunger;

“In tumults - The Greek word implies such attacks as a man cannot stand against, but which bear him hither and thither by violence.”

in purity, knowledge, patience, and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love;

“By prudence - Spiritual divine; not what the world terms so. Worldly prudence is the practical use of worldly wisdom: divine prudence is the due exercise of grace, making spiritual understanding go as far as possible.”

in truthful speech and in the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left;

“By the convincing and converting power of God - Accompanying his word; and also attesting it by divers miracles. By the armour of righteousness on the right hand and the left - That is, on all sides; the panoply or whole armour of God.”

through glory and dishonor, slander and praise; viewed as imposters, yet genuine;

“By honour and dishonour - When we are present. By evil report and good report - When we are absent. Who could bear honour and good report, were it not balanced by dishonour?”

as unknown, yet well-known; dying, and yet we live on; punished, yet not killed;

“As unknown - For the world knoweth us not, as it knew him not. Yet well known - To God, and to those who are the seals of our ministry. As dying, yet behold - Suddenly, unexpectedly, God interposes, and we live.”