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2 Corinthians 4:12

New Testament Epistle (Pauline) ASV (1901)

What does 2 Corinthians 4:12 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “So then death worketh in us, but life in you.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

So then death worketh in us, but life in you.
2 Corinthians 4:12 — American Standard Version

Context — 2 Corinthians 4

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
9pursued, yet not forsaken; smitten down, yet not destroyed;
10always bearing about in the body the dying of Jesus, that the life also of Jesus may be manifested in our body.
11For we who live are always delivered unto death for Jesus` sake, that the life also of Jesus may be manifested in our mortal flesh.
12So then death worketh in us, but life in you.
13But having the same spirit of faith, according to that which is written, I believed, and therefore did I speak; we also believe, and therefore also we speak;
14knowing that he that raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also with Jesus, and shall present us with you.
15For all things [are] for your sakes, that the grace, being multiplied through the many, may cause the thanksgiving to abound unto the glory of God.
← 2 Corinthians 4:112 Corinthians 4:13 →
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“So then death worketh in us, etc..] 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, energeitai, “is wrought in us”; fulfilled and perfected in us; (see <510124> Colossians 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…”
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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
“The "death" of Christ manifested in the continual "perishing of our outward man" (Co2 4:16), works peculiarly 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.”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“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 (ἐνεργεῖται 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…”
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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
“So then death worketh in us, but life in you - You live in peace; we die daily. Yet - Living or dying, so long as we believe, we cannot but speak. 2 Corinthians 4:13”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“4:12 Through his life of danger and exposure to mortal peril (see 1 Cor 15:30), Paul was reinforcing the faith of the Christians in the churches that he founded (cp. Col 1:24; 2 Tim 2:10).”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“death: Co2 12:15, Co2 13:9; Act 20:24; Co1 4:10; Phi 2:17, Phi 2:30; Jo1 3:16 2 Corinthians 4:13”
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Related study paths

Read 2 Corinthians 4 in contextBrowse Greek word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification