7 Treasure is kept in clay jars. In the same way, we have the treasure of the good news in these earthly bodies of ours. That shows that the mighty power of the good news comes from God. It doesn't come from us.
8 We are pushed hard from all sides. But we are not beaten down. We are bewildered. But that doesn't make us lose hope.
9 Others make us suffer. But God does not desert us. We are knocked down. But we are not knocked out.
10 We always carry around the death of Jesus in our bodies. In that way, the life of Jesus can be shown in our bodies.
11 We who are alive are always in danger of death because we are serving Jesus. So his life can be shown in our earthly bodies.
12 Death is at work in us. But life is at work in you.
13 It is written, "I believed, and so I have spoken." (Psalm 116:10) With that same spirit of faith we also believe. And we also speak.