2 Corinthians 4:12 kjv
So then death worketh in us, but life in you.
2 Corinthians 4:12 nkjv
So then death is working in us, but life in you.
2 Corinthians 4:12 niv
So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.
2 Corinthians 4:12 esv
So death is at work in us, but life in you.
2 Corinthians 4:12 nlt
So we live in the face of death, but this has resulted in eternal life for you.
2 Corinthians 4 12 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 2 Cor 4:8 | We are hard-pressed on every side, but not crushed… | Suffering and endurance |
| 2 Cor 4:9 | Persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. | Persecution without destruction |
| 2 Cor 4:10 | Always carrying the dying of Jesus in the body… | Bearing Christ's suffering |
| Gal 6:17 | I bear on my body the marks of Jesus. | Shared suffering with Christ |
| Phil 3:10 | That I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and share his sufferings… | Experiencing Christ's death |
| Rom 8:17 | If indeed we suffer with him, so that we may also be glorified with him. | Suffering leads to glory |
| 1 Cor 15:31 | I declare by that boasting in you which I have in Christ Jesus… | Boasting in suffering |
| 1 Cor 1:18 | For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing… | Paradox of the cross |
| 1 Cor 2:14 | The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit… | Spiritual discernment |
| John 12:24 | Unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone… | Death bringing life |
| John 14:12 | Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do… | Works of Jesus continuing |
| Acts 9:15-16 | Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine… I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name. | Suffering for Christ’s name |
| 1 Pet 4:12-13 | Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial… rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings… | Rejoicing in suffering |
| 2 Tim 2:11 | The saying is trustworthy: If we died with him, we will also live with him. | Dying with Christ means living |
| Rom 8:36 | For your sake we are being killed all day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered. | Constant persecution |
| Col 1:24 | Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I do my upfill of Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body… | Suffering for the church |
| 2 Cor 11:23-28 | Accounts of Paul's suffering and ministry. | Detailed suffering |
| 2 Cor 5:15 | And he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised. | Motive for service |
| John 6:63 | It is the Spirit who gives life. The flesh is no help at all. | Source of life |
| 1 Cor 2:5 | So that your faith might not depend on the wisdom of men but on the power of God. | Power of God, not human wisdom |
| 2 Cor 4:7 | We have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. | God's power in human weakness |
| 1 Cor 4:9 | For I think God has exhibited us apostles as last, like men sentenced to death… | Apostles as spectacle |
2 Corinthians 4 verses
2 Corinthians 4 12 Meaning
In this verse, Paul declares that death is actively working in the apostles, but life is evident in the believers they serve. This highlights the contrast between the suffering and afflictions Paul and his companions endured for the gospel (death's work in them) and the spiritual life and growth that resulted in the Corinthian believers (life's work through them). It's a testament to the power of God working through seemingly weak and persecuted vessels.
2 Corinthians 4 12 Context
Second Corinthians chapter 4 details Paul's defense of his ministry amidst opposition and criticism from some in Corinth. He contrasts the superficial glories of the Old Covenant with the glorious, though hidden, ministry of the New Covenant through the gospel. Paul emphasizes that his sufferings for Christ are not a sign of weakness but a means through which God's power is revealed, especially in contrast to the pride and superficiality some leaders exhibited. This specific verse falls within a section where Paul describes the paradox of his ministry: outwardly, they are afflicted, yet inwardly renewed; appearing to die, yet abounding in life. The "death" mentioned refers to the constant persecutions, hardships, and potential death that Paul and his team faced daily due to their proclamation of the gospel. The "life" refers to the spiritual vitality and eternal life that God imparts through the gospel message and Paul's ministry, which impacts the believers.
2 Corinthians 4 12 Word Analysis
- ὥστε (hōste): "So that," "therefore." Indicates a consequence or result of what was stated previously (in the previous verses about bearing the dying of Jesus).
- ὁ θάνατος (ho thanatos): "The death." Refers to the daily experiences of suffering, persecution, affliction, and even the threat of physical death that the apostles endured for Christ's sake. This is not merely an abstract concept but a lived reality.
- ἐν ἡμῖν (en hēmin): "In us." Denotes that this death is operative within them, affecting their daily existence and ministry.
- δὲ (de): "But." A contrasting conjunction, introducing the opposing reality that follows.
- ἡ ζωὴ (hē zōḗ): "The life." Refers to the spiritual life, vitality, and divine enablement that characterized their ministry and was imparted to believers. This is life in its fullest sense, beginning now and continuing into eternity.
- ἐν ὑμῖν (en hymin): "In you." Indicates that this spiritual life is made manifest and is active within the Corinthian believers, as a result of God's work through Paul.
2 Corinthians 4 12 Bonus Section
The phrasing "death in us, life in you" powerfully encapsulates the substitutionary aspect of Christ's suffering and the nature of the Gospel ministry. It echoes how Christ Himself died that others might live (2 Cor 5:15). Paul's willingness to embrace suffering and near-death experiences ("carrying the dying of Jesus in the body," v. 10) made way for the impartation of eternal life to the Corinthians. This reflects an organic spiritual reality where the apostles, in dying to their own comfort and safety, were instruments through which God gave spiritual life to the church. This dynamic is a hallmark of true Christian leadership, which is about self-giving service rather than self-promotion.
2 Corinthians 4 12 Commentary
Paul here articulates a profound spiritual dynamic central to the apostolic ministry. The apostles' constant exposure to death – the dangers, persecutions, and sufferings they faced—was not a defeat but a conduit. Through these hardships, the very power of God that raised Jesus from the dead was at work, producing spiritual life in the believers. It’s the paradox of the cross: death leads to life. Their ministry was characterized by afflictions that, paradoxically, resulted in the spiritual renewal and growth of the Corinthians. The effectiveness of their ministry wasn't in their worldly wisdom or comfort, but in their willingness to suffer, thereby demonstrating the superior power of God and the reality of the new life in Christ.
- Practical Application: True spiritual vitality isn't often found in comfort but can be forged in trials, pointing to God's strength in human weakness. Our willingness to endure hardship for Christ can be a channel for others to experience God's life.