“God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty” 1 Cor 1:27

“But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 10That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” 2 Cor 12:9-10

Paul DELIGHTS in weaknesses!
Its one of those “upside-down” Bible teachings.

I believe that one could make a valid argument about what it means, exactly, to be a “weaker vessel”.

There is a form of strength in “seeming” weakness.

Some make the argument that Christ on the Cross was weak “where is your God now…”.

It seems almost a blasphemy for me to come here and comment. As a man, I have zero authority on the subject of feminine nature (other than having dated a far too many).

But, I suppose, from the outside, sounding boards and observations can be a good thing…a sort of “outside, looking in”.

It could be said that women are weak due to what we males perceive as a cruel and unfortunate twist of biology, nature and “architecture”.

From our perspective, we truly have it easy. Our “fixtures” are designed for ease of use. We do not, for the most part, have any special concerns, or artificial apparatus to which we are chained on a regular cycle (also something that might “confuse” those thinking about weak vessels – unable to contain the passion).

Additionally, we do not have to go through that whole birthing process; those pangs betwixt life, and death.

But enough of the obvious (the arguments, you see, can be made for strength or weakness in this – we have a tendency to not worry with preparation and just, all-too-often, simply charge forward, where you ladies “might” have the central tendency to ask about preparation before charging – an obvious strength).

“Weak vessel”, could also quite adeptly refer to the overall human condition as well. We are all subject to sin.

I’ve heard arguments in psychology, sociology and religious classes that men should be the moral center of the household (perhaps as the woman has so many other things on which to concentrate, perhaps?).

I don’t know any of the answers, to be 100% honest, but I do not perceive that women are “weak”; I do, however, know that they are most assuredly different from us.

I do not think it makes them better, or worse. Simply different.

As to the “weak vessel”, I believe it is something that affects us all, especially on the subject of sin. Christ is our example, and we should each challenge ourselves to rise to his level.

It is in this struggle that we become truly divine.

Even the weakest vessel, if maintained intact through faith, can carry the full spirit of God. There can be no weakness in that!

When our Lord faced either people with all the forces of evil in them, or people who were clean-living, moral, and upright, He paid no attention to the moral degradation of one, nor any attention to the moral attainment of the other.

yet the self righteous delude themselves into a false sense of security. Help me LORD, not to do that!!! I am NOT “holier than thou”! LORD HAVE MERCY!

Thank you for sharing your thoughts on “vessel”. You have given me some food for thought about what Jesus was saying in Gethsemanee…

An additional passage which I enjoy about our identity as “vessels” is the passage in 2Tim 2:20-26 which talks about how to be transformed from a pot full of refuse to a “vessel fit for the master’s use”. Interesting how the master has both “in HIS house”. I think some people will choose to remain an ignoble vessel their whole life and go to heaven that way. They are, after all, “in HIS house” according to the scriptures.

20 In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for noble purposes and some for disposal of refuse. 21 Those who cleanse themselves from the latter will be instruments for noble purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work. 2 Tim 2 (TNIV)

I thought the ignoble pot might be a bedpan or a chamber pot. Did they have those in NT times? “The Message” puts the pots in the kitchen:

“In a well-furnished kitchen there are not only crystal goblets and silver platters, but waste cans and compost buckets—some containers used to serve fine meals, others to take out the garbage. Become the kind of container God can use to present any and every kind of gift to his guests for their blessing.” 2 Tim 2: 20-21

I’ve been in the process of having the uncleanness purged out of the vessel that is ME. The process is not easy, but it it GOOD and I want to continue!

I have a perspective on this, as recently I was (and still am) in a bible study and at once I had this enlightening moment.

What if, in Gethsemane, Christ is NOT asking God to take this “burden” when He asks that the “cup” be taken; what if, instead, He was telling His heavenly Father that it was time to take “this body”?

I agree with you, completely.

The cup is a symbol of that compartment that carries the spirit.

Just as a goblet carries wine (spirits), so does the body house the soul.

What we have in our minds and hearts are important, especially where what we hold in our hearts affects those around us.

For instance, let’s say a man has a secret grudge against his brother. He carries this grudge (let’s say it is jealousy because his brother is fair and women are attracted to him)…this feeling he carries within the vessel (even in the soul) – it affects the way he relates to his brother. He doesn’t realize it, but he mistreats his brother as a result of what he carries in his mind.

I believe that purification goes beyond an instant in time. I believe that when we purify our bodies and “sanctify our souls”, it is incumbent upon us to keep them this way.

Well, that’s enough out of me.

You have an interesting blog, and I like reading your thoughts.

Stay well !

So instead of treating their wives like so much replaceable breeding stock and slave labor, husbands were told to cherish their wives and treat them like they treated the precious, delicate vessels they showed off when they had guests in their homes: with care and tenderness, and not just a little pride. Even poor Christians who didn’t own precious vessels would have known how they should treat such things.

I, too, have always loved the Zephaniah passage. It makes me think of being in a crib, God getting a little foolish over me, making funny faces to see me smile, singing and carrying on, then proudly turning to everyone and saying, “Yes, I’m a fool over this one. Who wouldn’t be? She’s perfect, and she’s MINE!” Just like any proud papa, eh?