Who has shone in our hearts?

The same God who in the beginning commanded the light to shine out of darkness.

What light has God shed in our hearts?

The light of the knowledge of the Glory of God in the face of Christ.

In what vessel are we holding this treasure, the light of the knowledge of the Glory of God in the face of Christ?

In the earthen vessel of our human form.

Why has God given us such a treasure while we are in a state of humiliation, of weakness, of frailty, of corruption?

So that the exceeding greatness of the power may be of God and not from ourselves.

Again we have the theme (suffering and comfort; death and resurrection) we encountered first in Chapter One— that of ministry from the cross, strength from weakness, life from death, the Glory of God proceeding from our flesh and blood inabilities and perplexities.

Paul was beginning to understand that the tribulations that came upon him continually were accomplishing a Divine purpose. They were keeping king self off the throne of Paul's life so that King Jesus, the Lord of glory, would be able to bring the fullness of the Glory of God to the imprisoned human race.

Name some of the forms of tribulation that were keeping Paul in a state of suffering.

Trouble, afflictions, perplexity, persecution—especially from the Jews, being struck down by people and circumstances.

Notice that these pains and problems were not coming on Paul as a judgment on his sins or to purge him from fleshly behavior. Rather, they were given so that the power of Paul's ministry would come from God and not from Paul's own abilities.

Paul was a helpless, suffering human being. But from the first century the Glory of God in Christ has poured through Paul's writings until the fruit that has resulted passes human ability to measure.

In your estimation, how many people of the world have been saved, strengthened, or otherwise affected for good through the letters of the Apostle Paul?

We have mentioned the trouble, afflictions, perplexity, persecution, being struck down. These are the sufferings of Christ.

In the sixth chapter of the Book of Romans we are commanded to count ourselves as crucified with the Lord Jesus and risen with Him. Here, in the fourth chapter of II Corinthians, we see the crucifixion and resurrection worked out in daily life. Everyone who suffers with Christ reigns with Christ. The power by which Christ rules is that of eternal, indestructible, resurrection life, the life that proceeds only from crucifixion with Christ.

The power of resurrection life insured that Paul was not bound, was not crushed, was not in despair, was not at a loss, was not forsaken, was not destroyed.

What was Paul carrying around in his mortal body?

The death of the Lord Jesus.

For what purpose was Paul bearing about the death of Jesus in his mortal body?

So the resurrection life of Jesus might be revealed in his mortal body.

To be continued.