2 Corinthians 4:12
in 2 Corinthians 4So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
So then death worketh in us, but life in you.
KJV
So then death worketh in us, but life in you.
⋯
This verse in 2 Corinthians 4
Commentary
11 notes on this verseWhat results from this is mentioned when he continues, so death is at work, i.e., exercises its sway, in us, but life, namely, the present one, works in you, because you live in prosperity: "We are fools for Christ's sake, but you are wise in …
This site's exposition
death is at work in us
So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you: Paul's suffering becomes the channel through which life reaches Corinth. The exchange echoes the sentence of death in 1:9, an apostle spent for a church he serves.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers2 voices
"So then death worketh in us, but life in you." Speaking no more of death in the strict sense, but of trials and of rest. 'For we indeed,' he says, 'are in perils and trials, but ye in rest; reaping the life which is the fruit of these perils. And we indeed endure the dangerous, but ye enjoy the good things; for ye undergo not so great trials.'
Paul is saying this because he and Timothy were being threatened with death for their sakes. By preaching to the Gentiles they had stirred up hatred from both Jews and Gentiles, risking even death.
The Medieval Church1 voice
He calls death here temptations, saying: we are in dangers, while you enjoy the life that flows from these dangers, namely through the preaching of the Gospel to you, through which you live eternal life.
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
), they being exposed to death, and ready to be swallowed up by death continually. So great were the sufferings of the apostles that, in comparison with them, other Christians were, even at this time, in prosperous circumstances: Death worketh in us; but life in you,
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — leading-punctuation+unbalanced-parens
The apostles were great sufferers; therein they followed their Master: Christ had told them that in the world they should have tribulation, and so they had; yet they met with wonderful support, great relief, and many allays of their sorrows. " We are, " says the apostle, " troubled on every side, afflicted many ways, and we meet with almost all sorts of troubles; yet not distressed,
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — odd-straight-quotes
4 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
So then death worketh in us,....
The Nineteenth Century3 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
The "death" of Christ manifested in the continual "perishing of our outward man" (2Co 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.
Death worketh in us, etc. - We apostles are in continual danger, and live a dying life; while you who have received this Gospel from us are in no danger.
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
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 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.
The words behind it
11 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ὥστε | hoste | So then | G5620 → | 83 times |
| ὁ | ho | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| θάνατος | thanatos | death | G2288 → | 120 times |
| ἐν | en | in | G1722 → | 2738 times |
| ἡμῖν | hemin | us | G3165 → | 1936 times |
| ἐνεργεῖται, | energeitai | works, | G1754 → | |
| ἡ | he | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| δὲ | de | however | G1161 → | 2765 times |
| ζωὴ | zoe | life | G2222 → | 135 times |
| ἐν | en | in | G1722 → | 2738 times |
| ὑμῖν.¶ | humin | you. | G4771 → | 2973 times |
ὥστεSo then
hosteG5620 →83 times
ὁ<the>
hoG3588 →19766 times
θάνατοςdeath
thanatosG2288 →120 times
ἐνin
enG1722 →2738 times
ἡμῖνus
heminG3165 →1936 times
ἐνεργεῖται,works,
energeitaiG1754 →
ἡ<the>
heG3588 →19766 times
δὲhowever
deG1161 →2765 times
ζωὴlife
zoeG2222 →135 times
ἐνin
enG1722 →2738 times
ὑμῖν.¶you.
huminG4771 →2973 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
1 John 3:16By this we know what love is: Jesus laid down His life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.
it leads to
- 1 John 4:9–11
This is how God’s love was revealed among us: God sent His one and only Son into the world, so that we might live through Him.
- Ephesians 5:2
and walk in love, just as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us as a fragrant sacrificial offering to God.
- John 13:34
A new commandment I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you also must love one another.
- John 3:16
For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that everyone who believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.
- Romans 5:8
But God proves His love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
- 1 John 4:9–11
Through
Acts 20:24But I consider my life of no value to me, if only I may finish my course and complete the ministry I have received from the Lord Jesus—the ministry of testifying to the good…
it leads to
- 2 Timothy 4:6–8
For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand.
- 2 Corinthians 12:10
That is why, for the sake of Christ, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
- 2 Corinthians 4:1
Therefore, since God in His mercy has given us this ministry, we do not lose heart.
- 2 Timothy 4:6–8
Where this verse is studied
About 2 Corinthians
This page draws on 10 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Ambrosiaster, COMMENTARY ON PAUL'S EPISTLES; Frederic Godet, Commentary on the Epistles to the Corinthians; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Chrysostom, Homily 9 on 2 Corinthians; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on 2 Corinthians and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on 2 Corinthians.