2 Corinthians 4:12 Meaning and Explanation
“So then death worketh in us, but life in you.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Paul sums it up: the death at work in him becomes the means of life at work in the Corinthians.
What Does 2 Corinthians 4:12 Mean?
This short verse gathers the meaning of the preceding ones into a single line. The hardships, dangers, and daily dyings that Paul endures are 'death working in us.' He does not minimize the toll the ministry takes on him and his companions.
Yet that death bears fruit in others: 'but life in you.' His suffering is not wasted; it is the channel through which the gospel reaches the Corinthians and gives them life. Here is the cruciform shape of all genuine ministry, and supremely of Christ's own: one lays down his life so that another may live. What costs the servant becomes gift to those he serves.
Frequently Asked Questions About 2 Corinthians 4:12
What does 2 Corinthians 4:12 mean?
Paul sums it up: the death at work in him becomes the means of life at work in the Corinthians.