2 Corinthians 4:7

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels -I grant you that the exterior of the ministers of the Gospel is by no means in accordance with the description I have just given of the Gospel they preach. But why is this? but because, as I have said before, they desire not, they are not intended, to claim the glory and power as their own. It is stamped in their character, appearance, demeanour, sufferings, that they seek nothing for themselves, but are simply the servants of God, while the extraordinary results of their labours prove that it is He Whose messengers they are." The metaphor of the glory is dropped, and the Apostles represented as the earthenware vessels in which treasures were frequently in those days kept, and often (see Wordsworth in loc.) carried in triumphal processions. Cf. ch. 2 Corinthians 2:14. The treasure is Christ Himself, ministered by His disciples. See ch. 2 Corinthians 3:3, and cf. Matthew 13:44.

excellency This word has somewhat lost its force in modern English, its place has been taken by the word superiority. See 2 Corinthians 4:17, where the Greek is the same as here.

of us The Greek implies from ourselves as a source.