2 Corinthians 4:12 Kommentar

In this chapter we have an account, I. Of the constancy of the apostle and his fellow-labourers in their work. Their constancy in declared (Co2 4:1), their sincerity is vouched (Co2 4:2), an objection is obviated (Co2 4:3, Co2 4:4), and their integrity proved (Co2 4:5-7). II. Of their courage and patience under their sufferings. Where see what their sufferings were, together with their allays (Co2 4:8-12), and what it was that kept them from sinking and fainting under them (Co2 4:13 to the end).

INTRODUCTION TO 2 CORINTHIANS 4 In this chapter, the apostle declares the constancy, sincerity, and integrity of him, and his fellow ministers, in preaching the Gospel; asserts the clearness and perspicuity of it; removes the charge of pride and arrogance from them; takes notice of the afflictions he and others endured, for the sake of the Gospel; what supports they had under them, and what comforts they enjoyed: in Co2 4:1 he observes, that seeing they were employed in such a ministry, as before described in the preceding chapter, though they met with troubles in it, they did not sink under them; the reason of which was, partly the excellency of the ministry, and partly the grace and mercy of God; and they were no less sincere than they were diligent; and were the reverse of the false teachers, who used dishonest methods, craftiness and deceit; these they disclaimed, and delivered out naked truth, with all simplicity and evidence, and as in the sight of God, in confirmation of which they could appeal to the consciences of all that heard them, Co2 4:2 and whereas the apostle had affirmed the plainness and clearness of the Gospel ministry, both in the preceding chapter, and in the foregoing verse, he foresaw that an objection would be raised against it, which he anticipates, Co2 4:3 showing, that though the Gospel was not spiritually discerned and savingly understood by some persons, yet this was not to be charged upon the Gospel, as if it was attended with darkness and obscurity; but it was owing to the unbelief of men, and the power of Satan over them, in blinding their minds; otherwise the Gospel in itself was light and glorious, in which Christ, the image of God, in a most resplendent manner appears; and those on whom Satan thus wrought were such as did not belong to God's elect, but were of the number of them that perish: moreover the integrity of the apostle and other ministers appeared in their preaching Christ, and not themselves; and in serving the churches in that way, for the sake of Christ; so that they were far from being chargeable with pride, vanity, and arrogance, Co2 4:5 and they readily acknowledged, that all the Gospel light they had was from that God, who spoke light out of darkness in the first creation, whereby they were qualified to communicate light to others, in the name of Christ, Co2 4:6 and though they had a treasure committed to their trust, and which they had within them, yet they freely owned they were but earthen vessels; and the reason why such treasure was put there was, that the power seen in the conversion of sinners by their ministry might appear to be not of themselves, but of the Lord, Co2 4:7 and then the apostle proceeds to give an account of the afflictions endured by them, and of the divine supports they had, by which they were preserved from being overwhelmed with them, Co2 4:8 one end of which afflictions, and which are signified by bearing the dying of Jesus in their bodies, and by being exposed to death for his sake, was, that his life might be manifest in them, or his power in the upholding of them, Co2 4:10 and herein lay the difference between them and the Corinthians; the one were in deaths oft, and in very great distresses, and the other in prosperous circumstances, Co2 4:12 but however, they had much consolation amidst their sorrows and troubles, and which they had partly through the Spirit of faith, and in a way of believing; and who after the example of David, and having the same Spirit as he had, believed and spake, Co2 4:13 and partly through the hope of the resurrection of the dead, to which they were encouraged by the resurrection of Christ, Co2 4:14 as also by considering what valuable ends were answered by their bearing afflictions for the sake of Christ, and preaching the Gospel, namely the good of the churches of Christ, and the glory of God, Co2 4:15 and besides, they had an experience of the daily renovation of the inward man, or of the carrying on of the work of grace upon their souls; and of an increase of grace, right, and joy in them; and this kept them from fainting, though their outward circumstances and outward man were but in a poor condition, Co2 4:16 but more especially what raised their spirits, and kept them from sinking under their afflictions, was the view they had of eternal glory and happiness, to which they had respect; and the comparison they were led to make between their present afflictions, and glory, which their afflictions were working for as, that their afflictions were light, glory heavy; their afflictions were but for a moment, their weight of glory was for ever; their afflictions were seen and temporal, their glory unseen and eternal; or the things of this world, which they often needed, and yet did not regard, were visible and temporary things; but the things of another world they had their eye upon were invisible, only visible to faith, and would endure for ever.

So then death worketh in us,.... 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, "is wrought in us"; fulfilled and perfected in us; see Col 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 Co1 4:8 but the apostle seems not to be speaking in such a strain, but in the most serious manner, and about things solemn and awful; and his meaning is, ours is the sorrow, the trouble, the affliction, and death itself, yours is the gain, the joy, the pleasure, and life; what we get by preaching the Gospel are reproach, persecution, and death; but this Gospel we preach at such expense is the savour of life unto life to you, and is the means of maintaining spiritual life in your souls, and of nourishing you up unto eternal life; and which is no small encouragement to us to go on in our work with boldness and cheerfulness: or these words regard the different state and condition of the apostle, and other ministers, and of the Corinthians; the one were in adversity, and the other in prosperity.

"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.

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.

What 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 Christ. We are weak, but you are strong" (1 Cor. 4:10). And death works in us a great good, namely, the attainment of spiritual life: "Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints" (Ps. 116:15). But the earthly life that you love works in you a great evil, namely, eternal death: "The wage of the righteous leads to life, the gain of the wicked to sin" (Prov. 10:16); "He who loves his life loses it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life" (Jn. 12:25). Or another way: there were two things in Christ, namely, bodily death and spiritual life. He says therefore, so death is at work in us. As if to say: not only does spiritual life work in us, inasmuch as we imitate him spiritually, but death is at work, i.e., because of the hope of the resurrection and for the love of Christ, the marks of Christ's death appear in us, inasmuch as we are exposed to the sufferings of death: "For your sake we are slain all the day long" (Ps. 44:22). But in you, only the life of Christ works, through which faith and the spiritual life are planted in you.

St. Paul shows the integrity with which he had preached the Gospel of Christ, Co2 4:1, Co2 4:2. And that, if it was unprofitable to any who had heard it, it was because their unbelieving hearts were blinded, Co2 4:3, Co2 4:4. How he preached, and how he was qualified for the work, Co2 4:5-7. The troubles and difficulties he met with in his labors, and the hope and consolations by which he was supported, Co2 4:8-15. And the prospect he had of eternal blessedness, Co2 4:16-18.

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.

HIS PREACHING IS OPEN AND SINCERE, THOUGH TO MANY THE GOSPEL IS HIDDEN. (2Co. 4:1-18) Therefore--Greek, "For this cause": Because we have the liberty-giving Spirit of the Lord, and with unveiled face behold His glory (Co2 3:17-18). seeing we have this ministry--"The ministration of the Spirit" (Co2 3:8-9): the ministry of such a spiritual, liberty-giving Gospel: resuming Co2 3:6, Co2 3:8. received mercy--from God, in having had this ministry conferred on us (Co2 3:5). The sense of "mercy" received from God, makes men active for God (Ti1 1:11-13). we faint not--in boldness of speech and action, and patience in suffering (Co2 4:2, Co2 4:8-16, &c.).

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.