4:7 “This treasure” is Christ. Colossians 1:27 says that “the riches of the glory of this mystery…is Christ in you, the hope of glory.” Colossians 2:2-3 says that “all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” are hid in Christ.

“Earthen vessels” = no glorified body yet. Why? Christ’s strength is made perfect in weakness. When I am weak, Christ is strong in me (12:9-10). Having this treasure in earthen vessels gets rid of our pride. Proverbs 16:18 says that “pride goeth before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.” “Let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall” (I Corinthians 10:12). Look at Lucifer: “Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness” (Ezekiel 28:17).

4:8 “Troubled” (external) means that we have a problem. Jesus said, “These things I have spoken unto you, that in ME ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). Therefore, we are “not distressed” (internal), meaning that we do not have extreme anxiety. We are “careful for nothing.” Instead, “in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving” we let our requests be made known unto God. Then “the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep [our] hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7). We can rejoice evermore when we pray without ceasing and give thanks IN every thing (I Thessalonians 5:16-18).

“We are perplexed” (4:8), meaning that we are completely baffled by what happens to us. But, “the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world” “in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Galatians 6:14). Therefore, we are “not in despair” (4:8). Someone in despair has no hope. Because we know that we have eternal life with Christ in heavenly places (Ephesians 2:5-6), we are not like “others which have no hope” (I Thessalonians 4:13). “Nay, IN all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us” (Romans 8:37). “The Lord Jesus Christ…is our hope” (I Timothy 1:1). When our hope is in Christ, then we “have turned the world upside down” (Acts 17:6), because God has destroyed “the wisdom of the wise.” God has “made foolish the wisdom of this world” by “Christ crucified” (I Corinthians 1:19-20,23).

4:9 Persecuted means to be mistreated. Forsaken means to be abandoned.

Romans 8:31-39 tells us that no one and no thing can separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. God is for us, and so no one can be against us. God freely gives us all things, as evidenced by the fact that He spared not His Own Son.

II Chronicles 15:2 says that God would forsake Asa, while Deuteronomy 31:6 and Hebrews 13:5 says that He would not. Why the difference? Asa was not a believer. God will not forsake believers, but He will forsake unbelievers.

Cast down means to be demeaned and trampled on. Job 19:2 “How long will ye vex my soul, and break me in pieces with words.” Our response should be “Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not” (Romans 12:14), and “Recompense to no man evil for evil” (Romans 12:17).

Destroyed means to be defeated or ruined. I Corinthians 15:57-58 “Thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Our labour is not in vain in the Lord. John 10:10 the thief comes to steal, kill, and destroy. Jesus came to give us abundant life.