We always carry around in our body the death of JesusThis phrase emphasizes the constant and ongoing nature of the believer's identification with the death of Christ. The Apostle Paul, who authored 2 Corinthians, often faced persecution and hardship, which he saw as a participation in the sufferings of Christ (
Philippians 3:10). The "death of Jesus" refers to the sacrificial and redemptive death on the cross, which is central to Christian theology. This concept is rooted in the idea of dying to oneself and living for Christ, as seen in
Galatians 2:20. The physical body is a vessel that bears the marks of this spiritual truth, symbolizing the believer's commitment to Christ's mission and the willingness to endure suffering for His sake.
so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body
The purpose of carrying the death of Jesus is to manifest His life. This paradoxical statement highlights the Christian belief in resurrection power and new life through Christ. The "life of Jesus" refers to His resurrection and the new life believers have in Him (Romans 6:4). This life is not just a future hope but a present reality that should be evident in the believer's conduct and character. The transformation is both spiritual and practical, as seen in the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). The body, once a symbol of mortality and sin, becomes a testament to the living Christ, showcasing His power and presence in a tangible way. This reflects the broader biblical theme of redemption and renewal, where God brings life out of death and hope out of despair.
Persons / Places / Events
1.
Paul the ApostleThe author of 2 Corinthians, Paul is writing to the church in Corinth to encourage and instruct them in their faith. He shares his experiences and the challenges he faces as an apostle of Christ.
2.
CorinthA major city in ancient Greece, known for its wealth and immorality. The church in Corinth faced many challenges, including divisions and moral issues, which Paul addresses in his letters.
3.
Jesus ChristCentral to this verse, Jesus' death and resurrection are the foundation of Christian faith. Paul emphasizes the importance of identifying with both aspects of Jesus' work.
Teaching Points
Embrace the Paradox of Death and LifeAs believers, we are called to carry the death of Jesus in our bodies, which means living a life of self-denial and sacrifice. This paradoxically leads to the revelation of Jesus' life in us.
The Power of Identification with ChristIdentifying with Jesus' death allows His life to be manifested in us. This identification is not just symbolic but transformative, affecting how we live daily.
Suffering as a Path to GloryPaul teaches that suffering for Christ is not in vain. It is a means through which God's power and life are revealed in us, leading to spiritual growth and maturity.
Living Testimonies of Christ's WorkOur lives should reflect the reality of Jesus' death and resurrection. This is a powerful testimony to the world of the transformative power of the Gospel.
Bible Study Questions and Answers
1.What is the meaning of 2 Corinthians 4:10?
2.How can we "carry in our body the death of Jesus" daily?
3.What does "life of Jesus" manifesting in us mean for Christian living?
4.How does 2 Corinthians 4:10 connect with Romans 6:4 about new life?
5.In what ways can suffering for Christ strengthen our faith and witness?
6.How can we apply 2 Corinthians 4:10 in facing personal trials today?
7.What does "always carrying around in our body the death of Jesus" mean in 2 Corinthians 4:10?
8.How does 2 Corinthians 4:10 relate to the concept of suffering in Christian life?
9.What is the significance of "the life of Jesus" being revealed in our bodies?
10.What are the top 10 Lessons from 2 Corinthians 4?
11.What does Satan's intent to steal, kill, destroy mean?
12.What is the bodily resurrection of Jesus?
13.Does life continue after death?
14.What does "Fellowship of His Sufferings" mean?What Does 2 Corinthians 4:10 Mean
We always carry around in our body• Paul says, “We always carry around,” emphasizing constancy—this is not an occasional event but a daily reality (cf.2 Corinthians 1:5;Romans 8:36).
• “In our body” reminds us that following Christ involves tangible, physical existence. Ministry is lived out in ordinary flesh, just as Jesus “came in the likeness of sinful man” (Romans 8:3).
• For believers, everyday circumstances—fatigue, opposition, illness—become arenas where Christ can be honored (Philippians 1:20).
the death of Jesus• “The death of Jesus” speaks of His crucifixion, the ultimate act of sacrificial love (Philippians 2:8).
• By faith, we identify with that death (Romans 6:6;Galatians 2:20). This means:
– Continual self-denial (Luke 9:23).
– Willingness to suffer for righteousness (1 Peter 4:13).
– A settled resolve that our own agendas are surrendered to God’s purposes (Philippians 3:10).
• Paul’s scars (Galatians 6:17) illustrate how literal this can become for those who proclaim the gospel.
so that the life of Jesus• The purpose clause—“so that”—shows God never wastes suffering. The cross leads to resurrection power (2 Corinthians 1:9-10).
• “The life of Jesus” refers to His risen, victorious life now at work in believers (Ephesians 2:4-6).
• Paradox: death works in us, yet life flows through us to others (2 Corinthians 4:12).
• As we embrace weakness, Christ’s strength is showcased (2 Corinthians 12:9-10).
may also be revealed in our body• “Revealed” highlights visibility. The gospel is not merely taught; it is displayed (Matthew 5:16).
• God uses frail bodies to show His surpassing power (2 Corinthians 4:7).
• Examples of this revelation:
– Endurance under trial that defies human explanation (Colossians 1:24).
– Joy and peace amid hardship (Romans 15:13).
– Acts of love and service that mirror Christ’s character (Romans 12:1;John 13:34-35).
• The same body that bears wounds for Christ becomes a stage where His resurrection life shines.
summary2 Corinthians 4:10 teaches that believers continually share in Christ’s sufferings so that His risen life can be seen through them. Our physical existence is the canvas on which both the cross and the resurrection are painted: we die to self and endure hardship, and through that very weakness God displays the vibrant, victorious life of His Son to the world.
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Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus.--The word for "dying" (again, probably, a distinctly medical term) is literally "
deadness," "the state of a corpse." Comp.
Romans 4:19 for the word itself, and
Romans 4:19,
Colossians 3:5 ("mortify"),
Hebrews 11:12 ("as good as dead") for the cognate verb. The word describes, as by a bold hyperbole, the condition of one whose life was one long conflict with disease: "dying daily" (
1Corinthians 15:31); having in himself "the sentence," or, possibly,
the very symptoms, "of death" (
2Corinthians 1:8-9). He was, as it were, dragging about with him what it was scarcely an exaggeration to call a "living corpse;" and this he describes as "the dying" (or
death-state) "of the Lord Jesus." The thought implied in these words is not formally defined. What seems implied is that it brought him nearer to the likeness of the Crucified; he was thus made a sharer in the sufferings of Christ, filling up what was lacking in the measure of those sufferings (
Colossians 1:24), dying as He died, crucified with Him (
Galatians 2:20). It may be noted that Philo (2
Alleg. p. 73) uses almost the same word to express the natural frailty and weakness of man's body--"What, then, is our life but the daily carrying about of a corpse?" . . .
Verse 10. -
The dying of the Lord Jesus; literally,
the putting to death (Vulgate,
mortificatio). This is even stronger than
2 Corinthians 1:5. It is not only "the sufferings," but even "the dying," of Christ of which his true followers partake (
Romans 8:36, "For thy sake are we killed all the day long"). St. Paul, who was "in deaths oft" (
2 Corinthians 11:23), was thus being made conformable unto Christ's death (
Philippians 3:10). Philo, too, compares life to "the daily carrying about of a corpse," and the Cure d'Ars used to speak of his body as "ce cadavre."
That the life also of Jesus, etc. The thought is exactly the same as in
2 Timothy 2:11, "If we be dead with him, we shall also live with him."
Parallel Commentaries ...
Greek
{We} alwaysπάντοτε(pantote)Adverb
Strong's 3842:Always, at all times, ever. From pas and hote; every when, i.e. At all times.carry aroundπεριφέροντες(peripherontes)Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 4064:To carry around; pass: To be driven to and fro. From peri and phero; to convey around, i.e. Transport hither and thither.inἐν(en)Preposition
Strong's 1722:In, on, among. A primary preposition denoting position, and instrumentality, i.e. A relation of rest; 'in, ' at, on, by, etc.[our]τῷ(tō)Article - Dative Neuter Singular
Strong's 3588:The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.bodyσώματι(sōmati)Noun - Dative Neuter Singular
Strong's 4983:Body, flesh; the body of the Church. From sozo; the body, used in a very wide application, literally or figuratively.theτὴν(tēn)Article - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3588:The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.deathνέκρωσιν(nekrōsin)Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3500:(a) putting to death, (b) dead or lifeless condition. From nekroo; decease; figuratively, impotency.[of] Jesus,Ἰησοῦ(Iēsou)Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 2424:Of Hebrew origin; Jesus, the name of our Lord and two other Israelites.so thatἵνα(hina)Conjunction
Strong's 2443:In order that, so that. Probably from the same as the former part of heautou; in order that.theἡ(hē)Article - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3588:The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.lifeζωὴ(zōē)Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 2222:Life, both of physical (present) and of spiritual (particularly future) existence. From zao; life.of JesusἸησοῦ(Iēsou)Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 2424:Of Hebrew origin; Jesus, the name of our Lord and two other Israelites.{may} alsoκαὶ(kai)Conjunction
Strong's 2532:And, even, also, namely.be revealedφανερωθῇ(phanerōthē)Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Passive - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 5319:To make clear (visible, manifest), make known. From phaneros; to render apparent.inἐν(en)Preposition
Strong's 1722:In, on, among. A primary preposition denoting position, and instrumentality, i.e. A relation of rest; 'in, ' at, on, by, etc.ourἡμῶν(hēmōn)Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Plural
Strong's 1473:I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I.body.σώματι(sōmati)Noun - Dative Neuter Singular
Strong's 4983:Body, flesh; the body of the Church. From sozo; the body, used in a very wide application, literally or figuratively.
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NT Letters: 2 Corinthians 4:10 Always carrying in the body the putting (2 Cor. 2C iiC 2Cor ii cor iicor) 
