Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 2 Corinthians 4:12
So then death worketh in us, but life in you.
12. So then death worketh in us, but life in you ] See 1Co 4:9. The Apostle here enunciates a principle common to the material and the spiritual world. From death comes life, from decay regeneration. The death of Christ was the life of the world; the daily dying (1Co 15:31) of His disciples, by virtue of the same Spirit that lives in Him, is the means whereby that life spreads among mankind. Death may be said to be working in Christ’s ministers, because of their visible sorrows, anxieties, persecutions (but see 2Co 4:16); life in their converts, because of the visible change in their character and acts. Cf. Plato, Phaedo, ch. 16: “ ‘What is that which is produced from life?’ ‘Death,’ he said. ‘What then,’ replied he, ‘from death?’ ‘It must be confessed that life is.’ ”
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
So then death worketh in us – We are exposed to death. The preaching of the gospel exposes us to trials which may be regarded as death working in us. Death has an energy over us ( energeitai, is at work, is active, or operates); it is constantly employed in inflicting pains on us, and subjecting us to privation and trials. This is a strong and emphatic mode of saying that they were always exposed to death. We are called to serve and glorify the Redeemer, as it were, by repeated deaths and by constantly dying.
But life in you – You live as the effect of our being constantly exposed to death. You reap the advantage of all our exposure to trials, and of all our sufferings. You are comparatively safe; are freed from this exposure to death; and will receive eternal life as the fruit of our toils, and exposures. Life here may refer either to exemption from danger and death; or it may refer to the life of religion; the hopes of piety; the prospect of eternal salvation. To me it seems most probable that Paul means to use it in the latter sense, and that he designs to say that while he was exposed to death and called to endure constant trial, the effect would be that they would obtain, in consequence of his sufferings, the blessedness of eternal life; compare 2Co 4:15. Thus understood, this passage means, that the sufferings and self-denials of the apostles were for the good of others, and would result in their benefit and salvation; and the design of Paul here is to remind them of his sufferings in their behalf, in order to conciliate their favor and bind them more closely to him by the remembrance of his sufferings on their account.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 12. Death worketh in us, c.] We apostles are in continual danger, and live a dying life while you who have received this Gospel from us are in no danger.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
You see the difference between us and you; either the real difference, or the fancied difference. We are killed all the day long, in deaths often, delivered to death always; you are rich, and full, and want nothing;
life, that is, security, happiness, and prosperity, attends you. Or the fancied difference: You bless yourselves, that you are not in so much jeopardy as we are, and some of you are ready to curse us, because vipers stick to our hands, and we are in continually renewed and repeated troubles. Very good interpreters think these words a smart ironical expression, by which the apostle reflecteth upon a party in this church, who from his sufferings concluded against the truth of his doctrine, or his favour with God; and for themselves, because of their immunity and freedom from such sufferings. Others think the sense this, our death is your life; our sufferings are your spiritual advantage.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
12. The “death“of Christ manifested in the continual “perishing of our outwardman” (2Co 4:16), workspeculiarly in us, and is the means of working spiritual “life“in you. The life whereof we witness in our bodily dying,extends beyond ourselves, and is brought by our very dying to you.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
So then death worketh in us,…. This is the conclusion of the foregoing account, or the inference deduced from it; either the death, or dying of Christ, that is, the sufferings of his body, the church, for his sake, , “is wrought in us”; fulfilled and perfected in us; see Col 1:24 or rather a corporeal death has seized upon us; the seeds of death are in us; our flesh, our bodies are mortal, dying off apace; death has already attacked us, is working on our constitutions gradually, and unpinning our tabernacles, which in a short time will be wholly took down and laid in the dust:
but life in you. Some understand these words as spoken ironically, like those in 1Co 4:8 but the apostle seems not to be speaking in such a strain, but in the most serious manner, and about things solemn and awful; and his meaning is, ours is the sorrow, the trouble, the affliction, and death itself, yours is the gain, the joy, the pleasure, and life; what we get by preaching the Gospel are reproach, persecution, and death; but this Gospel we preach at such expense is the savour of life unto life to you, and is the means of maintaining spiritual life in your souls, and of nourishing you up unto eternal life; and which is no small encouragement to us to go on in our work with boldness and cheerfulness: or these words regard the different state and condition of the apostle, and other ministers, and of the Corinthians; the one were in adversity, and the other in prosperity.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Death worketh in us ( ). Middle voice present tense of the old verb to operate, be at work. Physical death works in him while spiritual life (paradox) works in them.
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
1) “So then death worketh in us,” (hoste ho thanatos en humin energeitai) “So then death operates in us;” as we “die daily,” putting to death the “old man,” others are helped to live, Rom 6:11.
2) “But life in you,” (he de zoe en humin) “But the life (genuine) in you all;” growth of spiritual stature, maturity, and Christian fruit appeared in the lives of the Corinthian brethren, as a result of the labors of Paul and his missionary helpers, 2Co 1:6; Php_2:17.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
12. Hence death indeed. This is said ironically, because it was unseemly that the Corinthians should live happily, and in accordance with their desire, and that they should, free from anxiety, take their ease, while in the mean time Paul was struggling with incessant hardships. (477) Such an allotment would certainly have been exceedingly unreasonable. It was also necessary that the folly of the Corinthians should be reproved, inasmuch as they contrived to themselves a Christianity without the cross, and, not content with this, held in contempt the servants of Christ, because they were not so effeminate. (478) Now as death denotes all afflictions, or a life full of vexations, so also life denotes a condition that is prosperous and agreeable; agreeably to the maxim: “Life is — not to live, but to be well. ” (479)
(477) “ Eust… combatre contre tant de miseres et calamitez;” — “Had to struggle against so many miseries and calamities.”
(478) “ Comme eux;” — “As they.”
(479) “ Non est vivere, sed valere, vita.” — Martial. Ep. 6:70. — Ed.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(12) So then death worketh in us, but life in you.Life is here clearly used in its higher spiritual sense, as in the preceding verse. We trace in the words something of the same pathos as in 1Co. 4:8-13, without the irony which is there perceptible. You, he seems to say, reap the fruit of my sufferings. The dying is all my own; you know nothing of that conflict with pain and weakness; but the life which is the result of that experience works in you as well as in me, and finds in you the chief sphere of its operation.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
12. So then Thus far both sides of the antithesis have united in the apostles. In this verse they are divided between the apostles and the Corinthians. The death side is effective to magnifying God’s power in us, but the life side, alone in you. The life in you is manifested not by supernatural conservation amid martyrdoms, for those you do not encounter; but as vitalizing you even now with a resurrection life from Christ. See 2Co 4:14.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
‘So then death works in us, but life in you.’ A further contrast is given, that the death that works in them, crucifying their flesh with its worldly hopes, affections and desires (Gal 5:24), results in life working in the Corinthians.
The picture of the faithful servant of Christ ministering in difficult conditions is aptly described in 2Co 4:7-11. Things can press them in, bear down on them, perplex them, almost crush them, even seem to knock them down, but always God is there to stop them from being boxed in, to stop them being crushed, to prevent despair, to enable them to get up again and carry on. And as they experience these things they may rejoice in that they are sharing the sufferings of Christ, so necessary for the ongoing of His work, and that through their dying with Christ their lives are being purified so as to ensure that their experience of ‘dying’ results in life in the church.
It is noteworthy that in this section Paul refers constantly to ‘Jesus’. He is closely aligning his words with Jesus’ earthly life and death. They walk as He walked.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Consideration of the Consequences of the Difference In the Two Covenants ( 2Co 4:12-18 )
Having been described as earthen vessels, the practical application of this is now made. As earthen vessels which bear the message of the Glory of Christ they can expect nothing but trouble from the god of this world, for he who drove Jesus to His death will surely seek to drive them to the same destination eternally. But again he will fail for behind them is the One Who raises the dead, the Victor over death.
That is why they are unafraid, because they know that whatever afflictions he brings on them they will be as nothing compared with the glory that awaits.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
2Co 4:12. So then death worketh in us, Or, is wrought in us. “So that the preaching of the Gospel procures sufferings and danger of death to me, but to you it procures life; that is, the energy of the Spirit of Christ, whereby he lives in and gives life to, those who believe in him.”
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
2Co 4:12 . An inference from 2Co 4:11 ; hence the meaning can be no other than: Accordingly , since we are continually exposed to death, it is death whose working clings to us ; but since the revelation of the life of Jesus in us goes to benefit you through our work in our vocation, the power opposed to death, life, is that which exercises its working on you . and can, according to 2Co 4:10-11 , be nothing else than the bodily death and the bodily life, both conceived of as personal powers, and consequently the life not as existent in Jesus (Hofmann). It was death to which Paul and those like him were ever given up, and it was life which, in spite of all deadly perils, retained the victory and remained preserved. And this victorious power of life, presenting in His servants the life of the risen Lord, was active (comp. Phi 1:22 ; Phi 1:24 ) through the continuance thereby rendered possible of the apostolic working among the Christians, and especially among the Corinthians ( ), although they were not affected in like manner by that working of death. Estius (following Lombard) and Grotius (comp. Olshausen) take . passively: “in nobis mors agitur et exercetur ut vicissim per nostra pericula nostramque quotidianam mortem vobis gignitur, augetur, perficitur vita spiritualis” (Estius). But in the N. T. . never occurs in a passive sense (see on 2Co 1:6 ), and according to 2Co 4:10-11 , cannot be vita spiritualis , as even Osiander (comp. Ewald) here again interprets it. Calvin, Menochius, and Michaelis find in it something ironical: we are in continual deadly peril, while you are in comfort . Comp. Chrysostom, who, however, does not expressly signalize the ironical character of the passage. On , vita frui , see Jacobs, ad Anthol. X. p. 70; comp. , Dissen, ad Dem. de Cor . p. 239. But the context gives no suggestion whatever of irony or of any such reference of ( , , Chrysostom). As foreign to it is Rckert’s view, which refers the first half of the verse to Paul’s alleged sickness, and the second half to the state of health of the Corinthians , which, as Paul had recently learned through Titus, had considerably improved after a sickness that had been prevalent (1Co 11:30 ).
We may add that the first clause is set down without , because Paul purposely avoids paving the way for the contrast, in order thereupon to bring it forward by way of surprise. “Infert particula novam rem cum aliqua oppositione,” Klotz, ad Devar. p. 356.
Fuente: Heinrich August Wilhelm Meyer’s New Testament Commentary
12 So then death worketh in us, but life in you.
Ver. 12. Death worketh in us ] It hath already seized upon us, but yet we are not killed with death, as those were, Rev 2:23 . As a godly man said, that he did aegrotare vitaliter; to be mortally ill so as to give life, so the saints do mori vitaliter, die to live for ever.
But life in you. ] q.d. You have the happiness to be exempted, while we are tantum non interempti, yet not killed, little less than done to death.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
12. ] By it is also brought out that which is here the immediate subject, the vast and unexampled trials of the apostolic office, all summed up in these words: So that death works in us, but life in you; i.e. ‘ the trials by which the dying of Jesus is exhibited in us, are exclusively and peculiarly OUR OWN, whereas (and this is decisive for the spiritual sense of ) the life, whereof we are to be witnesses, extends beyond ourselves, nay finds its field of action and energizing IN YOU.’ Estius, Grot., and apparently Olsh., take passively, ‘is wrought’ (‘mors agitur et exercetur perficitur vita.’ Est.): but it is never so used in N. T. Chrys., Calv., al., take the verse ironically, , , but such a sentiment seems alien from the spirit of the passage. Meyer, as unfortunately, limits to natural life, whereas (as above) the context plainly evinces spiritual life to be meant, not merely natural.
In Rom 8:10-11 , the vivifying influence of His Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead is spoken of as extending to the body also; here , the upholding influence of Him who delivers and preserves the body, is spoken of as vivifying the whole man: LIFE, in both places, being the higher and spiritual life, including the lower and natural. ‘And, in our relative positions, of this life , YE are the examples, a church of believers, alive to God through Christ in your various vocations, and not called on to be [cf. 1Co 4:9 ; Heb 10:33 ] as WE are, who are (not indeed excluded from that life , nay it flows from us to you, but are) more especially examples of conformity to the death of our common Lord: in whom DEATH WORKS.’
Fuente: Henry Alford’s Greek Testament
2Co 4:12 . The manifestation of Christ’s Life in the Apostle’s daily is thus visible to the world and especially to his converts. . . .: so then Death worketh in us (see on 2Co 1:6 ), but Life in you, i.e. , the Risen Life of Christ, the source of present grace as of future glory. It is this latter aspect of , viz. , as the life after death, to which his thoughts now turn.
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
worketh. Greek. energeo. See Rom 7:5.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
12.] By it is also brought out that which is here the immediate subject,-the vast and unexampled trials of the apostolic office, all summed up in these words: So that death works in us, but life in you; i.e. the trials by which the dying of Jesus is exhibited in us, are exclusively and peculiarly OUR OWN,-whereas (and this is decisive for the spiritual sense of ) the life, whereof we are to be witnesses, extends beyond ourselves, nay finds its field of action and energizing IN YOU. Estius, Grot., and apparently Olsh., take passively, is wrought (mors agitur et exercetur perficitur vita. Est.): but it is never so used in N. T. Chrys., Calv., al., take the verse ironically, , ,-but such a sentiment seems alien from the spirit of the passage. Meyer, as unfortunately, limits to natural life, whereas (as above) the context plainly evinces spiritual life to be meant, not merely natural.
In Rom 8:10-11, the vivifying influence of His Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead is spoken of as extending to the body also; here, the upholding influence of Him who delivers and preserves the body, is spoken of as vivifying the whole man: LIFE, in both places, being the higher and spiritual life, including the lower and natural. And, in our relative positions,-of this life, YE are the examples,-a church of believers, alive to God through Christ in your various vocations, and not called on to be [cf. 1Co 4:9; Heb 10:33] as WE are, who are (not indeed excluded from that life,-nay it flows from us to you,-but are) more especially examples of conformity to the death of our common Lord:-in whom DEATH WORKS.
Fuente: The Greek Testament
2Co 4:12. , death) of the body [by the corruption (decay) of the outward man.-V. g.]-, life) viz., that of the Spirit.
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
2Co 4:12
2Co 4:12
So then death worketh in us,-His labors and teachings-that they might live spiritually-exposed him to persecution, suffering, and death.
but life in you.-So that death worked in him, but life in Christ was taught to them. [And as long as spiritual life was working correspondingly in the Corinthians he was content.]
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary
death: 2Co 12:15, 2Co 13:9, Act 20:24, 1Co 4:10, Phi 2:17, Phi 2:30, 1Jo 3:16
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
2Co 4:12. On account of his work as an apostle and being on the “firing line,” Paul had to face this danger of death constantly. The Corinthian brethren were not thus exposed to death as Paul was, yet they were receiving the spiritual benefit of the sufferings imposed upon the apostle, and it meant spiritual life for them.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
So then death worketh in us, but life in you. [The apostle has been speaking of having and holding the knowledge of God in a mortal body. But the knowledge of God brings with it the eternal life that is within God, so that to have divine knowledge is to have divine life (1Jo 1:3; 1Jo 5:19). The knowledge of 2Co 4:6; therefore, gives place in this passage to the life which it produces. The minister of Christ, having in him the life of Christ (Gal 2:20), becomes in a large measure a reduplication of the life and experiences of Christ. He is, as it were, constantly dying and being resurrected. With Paul death was a matter of daily experience (1Co 15:31). But by thus constantly dying and yet continuing to live, Paul typically re-enacted the crucifixion and resurrection of the Lord. By surviving so many trials he made it evident to the world that he was sustained by a life other than human, viz.: the life of Jesus. Moreover, the daily sacrifice of the life of Paul, like the sacrifice of Christ, worked out life and blessing for others, notably the Corinthians, to whom he wrote.]
Fuente: McGarvey and Pendleton Commentaries (New Testament)
Verse 12
The meaning is, we give ourselves up to the power and dominion of death, that spiritual life may be bestowed upon you.
Fuente: Abbott’s Illustrated New Testament
4:12 {7} So then death worketh in us, but life in you.
(7) A very wise conclusion: as if he would say, “Therefore, to be short, we die that you may live by our death”, because they ventured into all those dangers for the building of the Church’s sake, and they ceased not to strengthen and encourage all the faithful with the examples of their patience.
Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes
There is another paradox. While Christ’s ministers suffer because of their testimony for the Savior, those to whom they minister experience new and greater spiritual life because of those ministers’ faithfulness (cf. 2Co 1:3-7). The more faithful Paul and his companions remained to God’s will the more they suffered and the more the Corinthians prospered spiritually.