What does 2 Corinthians 4:10 mean?

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Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. 2 Corinthians 4:10

Explanation

This verse, 2 Corinthians 4:10, comes from Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians where he discusses suffering and resurrection. The verse suggests that the experiences of Christians, particularly those of suffering and challenges, are reflective of what Jesus underwent – his death. The mention of bearing the dying of Jesus implies that believers carry with them the same vulnerabilities and trials Jesus faced. However, the second part of the verse injects hope, stating that the process of dealing with these trials also serves to reveal the life of Jesus within believers. This can be understood to mean that through overcoming adversity, the vitality and resurrection power that belonged to Jesus are also made manifest in the believer’s life, providing not only an echo of Christ’s suffering but also his triumph over death.

Historical Context

“2 Corinthians” is an epistle written by the Apostle Paul to the church in Corinth, composed circa 55-57 AD. The church was dealing with various internal issues including divisions, moral challenges, and questions about Paul’s apostolic authority. This letter served as encouragement, edification, and sometimes rebuke to the early Christians there. This particular statement sits within a larger discussion about the trials Paul and his companions faced in their ministry and how their struggles were a means to demonstrate the power and life of Christ to others.

Theological Insights

Different theological perspectives might interpret this verse in varied ways. From a traditional Reformed viewpoint, it reflects the notion of union with Christ, meaning that believers share in both the sufferings and the glorified life of Jesus. Catholic theology may emphasize the sacrificial and redemptive nature of suffering in union with the passion of Christ. Liberation theology might see it as a call to endure suffering as a means to social and spiritual liberation that reflects Jesus’s mission. Charismatic interpretations could focus on how the power and vitality of Jesus’s resurrection life is demonstrated supremely in and through the life of a believer.

Practical Applications

In practical terms, this verse can serve as a source of encouragement for those going through difficult times, suggesting that their struggles have purpose and can reveal a profound spiritual truth. It also exhorts believers to identify with Christ not only in his glory but also in his suffering, cultivating attributes like perseverance, empathy, and resilience. Furthermore, it can inspire believers to view challenges as opportunities to display the transformative power of Christian faith in their lives.

Cross-References

Romans 6:4 – “Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.”
Galatians 2:20 – “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.”
Philippians 3:10 – “That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;”

Language Study

The phrase “bearing about in the body” in Greek is περιφέροντες ἐν τῷ σώματι (peripherontes en to somati) which carries a sense of carrying or transporting something around. The word for “dying” is νέκρωσιν (nekrosis), which means deadness or the state of being dead, signifying the mortification or subjugation of life that Jesus experienced. Together, these words emphasize the continual experience of bearing mortality, akin to Jesus’s, within one’s own life.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

The concept of participating in the sufferings of a deity or sacred figure is not exclusive to Christianity. In various mythologies, such as the mystery religions of ancient Greece, followers would participate in rites that symbolized a deity’s suffering and triumph. However, what is distinct in the Christian context is the personal and existential dimension in which the believer’s day-to-day life is intertwined with the narrative of Jesus’s death and resurrection.

Scientific Perspectives

From a scientific perspective, while the verse speaks more to theological and spiritual matters than to material ones, current research in psychology might provide insight into the benefits of finding meaning in suffering. The ability to ascribe a transcendent purpose to adversity is linked to increased resilience and well-being. This could offer a potential explanation for the psychological benefits of holding faith that aligns personal suffering with spiritual redemptive frameworks.

Commentaries

Commentaries on this verse typically reiterate Paul’s message of comfort through suffering. Matthew Henry’s Commentary, for instance, emphasizes the necessity of suffering for Christ as a means to greater spiritual revelation. The MacArthur Study Bible suggests that Paul viewed every suffering as an opportunity to exhibit Jesus’s life and character. The Expositor’s Bible Commentary might stress the paradoxical nature of Paul’s statement, where life in Christ is proven or made manifest through experiences of suffering and dying. Each commentary draws from the context of 2 Corinthians as a whole, focusing on how Paul’s personal experiences of adversity related to his broader theology of Christian life and practice.