SEV Biblia, Chapter 4:12
De manera que la muerte obra en nosotros, y en vosotros la vida.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - 2 Corinthians 4:12
Verse 12. Death worketh in us, &c.] We apostles are in continual danger, and live a dying life; while you who have received this Gospel from us are in no danger.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 12. 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 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 ( 1 Corinthians 4:8,9) 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.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 8-12 - The apostles were great sufferers, yet they met with wonderful support Believers may be forsaken of their friends, as well as persecuted by enemies; but their God will never leave them nor forsake them. Ther may be fears within, as well as fightings without; yet we are no destroyed. The apostle speaks of their sufferings as a counterpart of the sufferings of Christ, that people might see the power of Christ' resurrection, and of grace in and from the living Jesus. In compariso with them, other Christians were, even at that time, in prosperou circumstances.
Greek Textus Receptus
ωστε 5620 CONJ ο 3588 T-NSM μεν 3303 PRT θανατος 2288 N-NSM εν 1722 PREP ημιν 2254 P-1DP ενεργειται 1754 5731 V-PMI-3S η 3588 T-NSF δε 1161 CONJ ζωη 2222 N-NSF εν 1722 PREP υμιν 5213 P-2DP
Robertson's NT Word Studies
4:12 {Death worketh in us} (ho qanatos en hemin energeitai). Middle voice present tense of the old verb to operate, be at work. Physical death works in him while spiritual life (paradox) works in them.
