2 Corinthians 4:10

New Testament Epistle (Pauline) ASV (1901)

What does 2 Corinthians 4:10 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “always bearing about in the body the dying of Jesus, that the life also of Jesus may be manifested in our body.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

always bearing about in the body the dying of Jesus, that the life also of Jesus may be manifested in our body.
2 Corinthians 4:10 — American Standard Version

Context — 2 Corinthians 4

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
10always bearing about in the body the dying of Jesus, that the life also of Jesus may be manifested in our body.

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“Always bearing about in the body, etc..] The Vulgate Latin, Arabic, and Ethiopic versions, read, “in our body”; and the Syriac version, in this and the next clause, reads, “in our bodies”, and some copies in this read, “bodies”; continually carrying about with us, in these mortal bodies of ours, wherever we go, the dying of the Lord Jesus; by which is meant, not the doctrine of the sufferings and death of Christ, and of salvation by a crucified Saviour, which they bore and carried about with them in a ministerial way, wherever they came and preached, but the sufferings they themselves underwent: so called, because of the likeness there is between the sufferings of Christ, and theirs; as he…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus--that is, having my body exposed to being put to death in the cause of Jesus (the oldest manuscripts omit "the Lord"), and having in it the marks of such sufferings, I thus bear about wheresoever I go, an image of the suffering Saviour in my own person (Co2 4:11; Co2 1:5; compare Co1 15:31). Doubtless, Paul was exposed to more dangers than are recorded in Acts (compare Co2 7:5; Co2 11:26). The Greek for "the dying" is literally, "the being made a corpse," such Paul regarded his body, yet a corpse which shares in the life-giving power of Christ's resurrection, as it has shared in His dying and death. that the life also of Jesus might be…”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Always bearing about in the body - The expression used here is designed to show the great perils to which Paul was exposed. And the idea is, that he had on his body the marks, the stripes and marks of punishment and persecution, which showed that he was exposed to the same violent death which the Lord Jesus himself endured; compare Galatians 6:17; “I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus.” It is a strong energetic mode of expression, to denote the severity of the trials to which he was exposed, and the meaning is, that his body bore the marks of his being exposed to the same treatment as the Lord Jesus was; and evidence that he was probably yet to die in a similar manner under the…”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“Always - Wherever we go. Bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus - Continually expecting to lay down our lives like him. That the life also of Jesus might be manifested in our body - That we may also rise and be glorified like him. 2 Corinthians 4:11”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“bearing: Co2 1:5, Co2 1:9; Rom 8:17, Rom 8:18; Gal 6:17; Phi 3:10, Phi 3:11; Col 1:24 that: Co2 13:4; Joh 14:19; Act 18:9, Act 18:10; Rom 8:17; Ti2 2:11; Pe1 4:13; Rev 1:17 2 Corinthians 4:11”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification