Ambrosiaster : Paul is saying this because he and Timothy were being threatened with death for their sakes. By preaching to the Gentiles they had stirred up hatred from both Jews and Gentiles, risking even death. — COMMENTARY ON PAUL'S EPISTLES John Chrysostom : "So then death worketh in us, but life in you." Speaking no more of death in the strict sense, but of trials and of rest. 'For we indeed,' he says, 'are in perils and trials, but ye in rest; reaping the life which is the fruit of these perils. And we indeed endure the dangerous, but ye enjoy the good things; for ye undergo not so great trials.' — Homily 9 on 2 Corinthians