Death works in us

From a question I was asked on another website —

Question:

What does “bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus” mean in 2 Corinthians 4:10?

Answer:

Paul is referring to the ministry of an apostle in this verse. He begins in 4:1–12,

1 Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we received mercy, we do not lose heart,

2 but we have renounced the things hidden because of shame, not walking in craftiness or adulterating the word of God, but by the manifestation of truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.

3 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing,

4 in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving, that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

5 For we do not preach ourselves but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your bond-servants for Jesus’ sake.

6 For God, who said, “Light shall shine out of darkness,” is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.

7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the surpassing greatness of the power may be of God and not from ourselves;

8 we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing;

9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed;

10 always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.

11 For we who live are constantly being delivered over to death for Jesus’ sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.

12 So death works in us [apostles], but life in you [the church].

In 5:20 Paul puts the apostolic ministry in three words, Ambassadors for Christ.

Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were entreating through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.

He continues in Chapter 6:1,

And working together with Him, we also urge you not to receive the grace of God in vain…

What does bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus mean? It is akin to death works in us, but life in you. An apostle is a unique creature. His ministry, his walk, and his very existence are unlike any other Christian. Apostles receive by giving, so much so that I cannot find words to explain, other than death works in us, but life in you.

It is only apostles who carry about in their bodies the dying of our Lord Jesus.

Jon David Banks, God’s most unworthy servant

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Published by Jon David Banks