2 Corinthians 4:7Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

He said this both to shame the arrogance of those who boast in themselves and to show everyone that in the works of his ministry there is nothing human.

For the power of God is seen especially when it accomplishes great works through weak instruments. This is clear from what the Lord said to this same Apostle: "My power is made perfect in weakness" (2 Cor 12:9).

Thus, by sending only twelve men, He subjected the world to Himself, and this while those twelve themselves were persecuted.

Let us marvel at the power of God in this, be amazed at it, and worship.

Let us ask the Jews and ask the Greeks: who persuaded the whole world to abandon ancestral customs and change its way of life?

Was it not fishermen, tentmakers, publicans, unlettered and simple men?

How could this have happened if the power of God had not acted through them?

Moreover, what did they say when they persuaded people? "Be baptized in the name of the Crucified."

Of which Crucified One? Of Him Whom they had not known and had not seen.

And yet, despite what they said and preached, Christ nailed to the Cross drew all men to Himself.

From where came such persuasive power? From nowhere else than the power of God.

The newness of the preaching was contrary to all, and the preachers came from a people despised by all. They were poor and unlearned.

How then did they subject the world to themselves? Does this not clearly show that they had God as their helper?

For it belongs not to human power to produce such effects, but to the power of almighty God.

It is rightly called earthen, because it was created from the earth. Or else they mean that we have the wealth of divine wisdom in the Holy Scriptures enclosed in lowly and simple words and examples.

That this is what the Apostle means is shown by the reason he adds: “that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.”

Those who saw that the preachers of the Word were unlearned, ignorant, and weak men, beaten and persecuted everywhere, yet overcoming and surpassing all, glorified God. For the power of God was most clearly revealed and shone forth in the weakness of the Apostles.

Though weak, they overcame the strong. Though poor, they mastered the rich. Though ignorant, they overcame the wise.

You do not seem to me to know the condition of the Church in its earliest times. If you knew it, you would not have doubted this.

As for me, after shedding hot tears because, having bags of wealth among us, through negligence, I speak of myself, we have lost the true wealth, I shall proceed to explain what you asked.

The Apostles had mortal bodies, weaker than any clay. They were driven and persecuted, yet they raised the dead, lifted up the paralytic, healed the sick, cast out demons, foretold the future, and manifested the presence of the Holy Spirit.

Have you not heard what Simon said to them? “Give me also this power, that on whomever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Spirit” (Acts 8:19).

What can be compared with this wealth? What is more precious than this? Suppose someone gathered into one all the kingdoms of the earth, the Assyrian, Persian, Macedonian, and Roman kingdoms, and by his word made them one.

If he then compared them with this wealth, I would condemn him as a senseless child who does not know how to distinguish the nature of things.

Even if you imagine something greater, you will see that this wealth is higher still.

The Apostles became fellow-dwellers and table-companions of the Master of all. They were counted worthy of divine conversation, supernatural teachings, adoption, and fellowship.

They were like certain provincial governors around the King, and like stars accompanying the Sun of righteousness. They received not writings on ivory, which may be a human privilege, but an authority that earthly kings do not possess.

For it was said to them, “Whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose will be loosed” (Mt 18:18).

If you also imagine the blessings promised to them, you will come to still greater wonder. If someone does not believe the future, let him take the present as proof.

The one who reigns on land and sea descends into the tomb of a fisherman to kiss his bones. Do you see this untouchable wealth lying in earthen vessels?

Turn your gaze also to divine Wisdom, mingled with lowly words and examples. If God had looked only to His own dignity, and not to the benefit of those who would read, He would have used heavenly and divine words and examples.

On the contrary, since He was giving the law to men who are weak and need human words, and only in this way could they easily understand what is above them, He mingled divine lessons with simple words.

Thus a woman, a child, and the most unlearned person of all may gain some benefit from hearing alone.

Since the Word was concerned for the salvation of many, even of the unskilled, It was mingled with such clarity through the love for mankind of the Lawgiver. It deprives no one of the benefit possible to him.

Nor has It neglected the wiser. In such clarity, as in certain treasures, teachings so mysterious are hidden that the wisest and most learned people are perplexed by the depth of the thoughts. Often they cannot penetrate the incomprehensibility of the wisdom.

He could have, but He was not pleased to do so. This was so that nothing of ours would be seen in our activity, and nothing of ours would draw the eye. Everything would be ascribed to the power of God.

Looking at us, so weak and humiliated, no one could think that when a powerful word comes from us, or some extraordinary deed is done by us, this and such things depend on us.

Rather, everyone would directly ascribe all this to the power of God acting through us. This power is not obscured by anything on our part. It is seen in all its nakedness and fullness.

If this is so, then everyone should conclude in the words of the Lord: if these men do all this by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon us. One must submit to their word and believe, lest he become a fighter against God.

Saint Chrysostom says on this passage, “This is especially wonderful and is the greatest miracle of the power of God, that an earthen vessel can contain such light and preserve such a treasure.

‘That the excellence,’ he says, ‘of the power may be of God and not of us.’ For both the greatness of the gifts and the weakness of those who received them show the power of God.

They show it both in that God granted such great blessings, and especially in that He granted them to weak men.

By the earthen vessel he means the weakness of our nature and the infirmity of our flesh. Our flesh is in no way stronger than an earthen vessel.

It is just as easily broken, and is shattered just as easily by death, by diseases, by changes in the air, and by countless other causes.

He said this both to shame the arrogance of those who pride themselves and to show everyone that there is nothing human in the works of his ministry.

For the power of God is especially visible when it accomplishes great works through weak instruments. This is clear from what the Lord said to this same Apostle: ‘My power is made perfect in weakness’ (2 Cor 12:9).

Thus, by sending only twelve men, He subdued the world, and did so when these twelve were themselves being persecuted.

Let us marvel at the power of God in this. Let us wonder at it and worship. Let us ask the Jews and inquire of the Greeks: who persuaded the whole world to abandon ancestral customs and change its manner of life?

Was it not fishermen, tentmakers, tax collectors, illiterate and simple men? How could this have happened if the power of God had not acted through them?

Moreover, what did they say when they persuaded others? ‘Be baptized in the name of the Crucified.’ Which Crucified One? The One whom they had neither known nor seen.

Yet despite what they said and preached, Christ, nailed to the Cross, drew all to Himself.

From where came such persuasive power? From nowhere else but the power of God. The novelty of the preaching was opposed to all, and the preachers came from a people despised by all. They were poor and unlearned.

How, then, did they subdue the world? Does this not clearly show that they had God as their helper? Such effects do not belong to human power, but to the almighty power of God.”