For we who live are always delivered unto death for Jesus’ sake; that the life also of Jesus may be made manifest in our mortal flesh.

“That he uses these words with respect to the body of flesh, and to none other, he declares to the Corinthians manifestly, indubitably, and free from all ambiguity: "Always bearing about in our body the dying of Jesus, that also the life of Jesus Christ might be manifested in our body. For if we who live are delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, it is that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our mortal flesh." And that the Spirit lays hold on the flesh, he says in the same Epistle, "That ye are the epistle of Christ, ministered by us, inscribed not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God, not in tables of stone, but in the fleshly tables of the heart." If, therefore, in the present time, fleshly hearts are made partakers of the Spirit, what is there astonishing if, in the resurrection, they receive that life which is granted by the Spirit?”

“Now of what life of Christ does he here speak? Of that which we are now living? Then how is it, that in the words which follow he exhorts us not to the things which are seen and are temporal, but to those which are not seen and are eternal -in other words, not to the present, but to the future? But if it be of the future life of Christ that he speaks, intimating that it is to be made manifest in our body, then he has clearly predicted the resurrection of the flesh.”

“"For we which live are also delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus may be manifested in us in our mortal flesh." For every where when he has said any thing obscure, he interprets himself again. So he has done here also, giving a clear interpretation of this which I have cited. 'For therefore, "we are delivered,"' he says, 'in other words, we bear about His dying that the power of His life may be made manifest, who permitteth not mortal flesh, though undergoing so great sufferings, to be overcome by the snowstorm of these calamities.' And it may be taken too in another way. How? As he says in another place, "If we die with him, we shall also live with Him." 'For as we endure His dying now, and choose whilst living to die for His sake: so also will he choose, when we are dead, to beget us then unto life. For if we from life come into death, He also will from death lead us by the hand into life.'”

“Having set down the patience of the apostles in evils, and the cause of that patience having been shown, here the apostle consequently makes these things clear; and first he makes clear what he said about the hope of glory; second, what he said about his patience, at the place "therefore we do not fail," etc. Concerning the first he does two things. First he makes clear the hope of glory which he has; second he shows whence this hope comes to him, at the place "but having the same," etc. Concerning the first he does three things. First he shows how he bears the mortification of Jesus in his body; second he makes clear how he bears the life of Jesus, at the place "that also the life," etc.; third he makes clear what comes of this for himself and for others, at the place "therefore death," etc. He says therefore first: I say that we bear the mortification in our bodies, not that we die, but because we who live, by bodily life or by virtues, are always handed over to death, or to the dangers of death. And this indeed, for the sake of Jesus. Ps. 43:22: "we are accounted as sheep," etc. But how we bear the life of Jesus in the body he explains, adding: "so," namely that the life of Jesus, immortal and impassible, may be made manifest in our flesh, now mortal, so that our mortal flesh may receive immortality in the resurrection. 1 Cor. 15:53: "but this mortal must put on," etc. But what comes of this, he adds, saying "therefore death works," that is, exercises its dominion in us, "but life," namely the present life, "works in you," because you are in prosperity, according to that word, 1 Cor. 4:10: "we are fools," etc. So that death works in us a great good, namely the attainment of spiritual life. Ps. 115:15: "precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints," etc. But the earthly life which you love works in you a great evil, namely eternal death. Prov. 10:16: "the work of the just is unto life," etc. John 12:25: "he who loves his soul in this world," etc. Or otherwise: there were two things in Christ, bodily death and spiritual life. He says therefore "therefore death," etc., as if to say: in us not only does spiritual life work, insofar as we imitate spiritually, but death also works, that is, on account of the hope of resurrection, and on account of the love of Christ, the traces of the death of Christ appear in us, insofar as we are exposed to the sufferings of death, Ps. 43:22: "for thy sake we are put to death all the day long;" but in you only the life of Christ works, through which life faith is planted in you, and spiritual life. But whence this hope of certitude comes to the apostle, he adds, saying "but having," etc. And concerning this he does two things. First he sets down the cause of the certitude; second he concludes the certitude itself, at the place "knowing that he who," etc. But the cause of this certitude is the spirit, infusing faith into their hearts. Hence first he sets down this cause; second he makes it clear by an example, at the place "as it is written," etc. He says therefore: from this we hope and do not fail, because we are having the same spirit of faith which the ancients had, because, although the times have changed, yet the spirit and faith have not changed, except that they believed Christ was to come and to suffer, but we believe that he has come and has suffered. And this spirit is the Holy Spirit, who is the spirit of faith. 1 Cor. 12:11: "but all these things one and the same spirit works," etc. And in the same place: "to another faith in the same spirit." Having therefore this spirit, which the ancients had, we do the same things as they, and we believe. But what they did, Ps. 115:10 says: "I believed," namely God, and perfectly. And this all the ancients did. Heb. 11:39: "all these by the testimony of faith," etc. "For which cause," namely I believed, "I have spoken," that is, I have confessed the faith. Rom. 10:10: "with the heart we believe unto justice," etc. Which we also do, because on account of the fact that we believe, we speak and confess the faith and preach. Acts 4:20: "for we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard." The Holy Spirit therefore is the cause of this certitude. Finally therefore he concludes the intended conclusion, namely the certitude itself. And first concerning his own salvation; second concerning the salvation of others, at the place "and will set with you," etc. He says therefore "knowing," that is, having certain knowledge, "that he who raised up Jesus," that is, God the Father, or the whole Trinity, "will raise us also with Jesus," namely that we may take up the same glory with Jesus, because since we are his members, we ought to be with the head. John 12:26: "I will, Father, that where I am, there also my minister may be," etc. Rom. 8:11: "he who raised up the Lord Jesus from the dead, will raise," etc. And I am certain not only of our salvation, but also of yours, because "he will set us with you," that is, we shall be together; because just as we are members of Christ, so also you through us. 1 Thess. 4:16: "and so we shall always be with the Lord." Matt. 24:28: "wherever the body shall be," etc. And therefore he says "with you," so as to encourage them to good, insofar as he shows them not to be inferior, but equal. And well can I say this with certainty, because all things are for your benefit. For all things which we endure, all the graces which we receive from God, are for you, namely that you may be instructed by our example. And this for the reason that the grace abounding from us may abound in you through many unto the glory of God, that is, that many may give thanks to God for so great a benefit. Eph. 5:20: "giving thanks to God and the Father," etc.”

“we which live--in the power of Christ's "life" manifested in us, in our whole man body as well as spirit (Rom 8:10-11; see on Co2 4:10; compare Co2 5:15). Paul regards his preservation amidst so many exposures to "death," by which Stephen and James were cut off, as a standing miracle (Co2 11:23). delivered unto--not by chance; by the ordering of Providence, who shows "the excellency of His power" (Co2 4:7), in delivering unto DEATH His living saints, that He may manifest LIFE also in their dying flesh. "Flesh," the very element of decay (not merely their "body"), is by Him made to manifest life.”