2 Corinthians5
New Living Translation
1For we know that when this earthly tent we live in is taken down (that is, when we die and leave this earthly body), we will have a house in heaven, an eternal body made for us by God himself and not by human hands.
2We grow weary in our present bodies, and we long to put on our heavenly bodies like new clothing.
3For we will put on heavenly bodies; we will not be spirits without bodies.
4While we live in these earthly bodies, we groan and sigh, but it’s not that we want to die and get rid of these bodies that clothe us. Rather, we want to put on our new bodies so that these dying bodies will be swallowed up by life.
5God himself has prepared us for this, and as a guarantee he has given us his Holy Spirit.
6So we are always confident, even though we know that as long as we live in these bodies we are not at home with the Lord.
7For we live by believing and not by seeing.
8Yes, we are fully confident, and we would rather be away from these earthly bodies, for then we will be at home with the Lord.
9So whether we are here in this body or away from this body, our goal is to please him.
10For we must all stand before Christ to be judged. We will each receive whatever we deserve for the good or evil we have done in this earthly body.
11Because we understand our fearful responsibility to the Lord, we work hard to persuade others. God knows we are sincere, and I hope you know this, too.
12Are we commending ourselves to you again? No, we are giving you a reason to be proud of us, so you can answer those who brag about having a spectacular ministry rather than having a sincere heart.
13If it seems we are crazy, it is to bring glory to God. And if we are in our right minds, it is for your benefit.
14Either way, Christ’s love controls us. Since we believe that Christ died for all, we also believe that we have all died to our old life.
15He died for everyone so that those who receive his new life will no longer live for themselves. Instead, they will live for Christ, who died and was raised for them.
16So we have stopped evaluating others from a human point of view. At one time we thought of Christ merely from a human point of view. How differently we know him now!
17This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!
18And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him.
19For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation.
20So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!”
21For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for 2 Corinthians 5.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: The apostle's hope and desire of heavenly glory. (1–8). This excited to diligence. The reasons of his being affected with zeal for the Corinthians. (9–15). The necessity of regeneration, and of reconciliation with God through Christ. (16–21).
vv1-8
The believer not only is well assured by faith that there is another and a happy life after this is ended, but he has good hope, through grace, of heaven as a dwelling-place, a resting-place, a hiding-place. In our Father's house there are many mansions, whose Builder and Maker is God. The happiness of the future state is what God has prepared for those that love him: everlasting habitations, not like the earthly tabernacles, the poor cottages of clay, in which our souls now dwell; that are mouldering and decaying, whose foundations are in the dust. The body of flesh is a heavy burden, the calamities of life are a heavy load. But believers groan, being burdened with a body of sin, and because of the many corruptions remaining and raging within them. Death will strip us of the clothing of flesh, and all the comforts of life, as well as end all our troubles here below. But believing souls shall be clothed with garments of praise, with robes of righteousness and glory. The present graces and comforts of the Spirit are earnests of everlasting grace and comfort. And though God is with us here, by his Spirit, and in his ordinances, yet we are not with him as we hope to be. Faith is for this world, and sight is for the other world. It is our duty, and it will be our interest, to walk by faith, till we live by sight. This shows clearly the happiness to be enjoyed by the souls of believers when absent from the body, and where Jesus makes known his glorious presence. We are related to the body and to the Lord; each claims a part in us. But how much more powerfully the Lord pleads for having the soul of the believer closely united with himself! Thou art one of the souls I have loved and chosen; one of those given to me. What is death, as an object of fear, compared with being absent from the Lord!
vv9-15
The apostle quickens himself and others to acts of duty. Well-grounded hopes of heaven will not encourage sloth and sinful security. Let all consider the judgment to come, which is called, The terror of the Lord. Knowing what terrible vengeance the Lord would execute upon the workers of iniquity, the apostle and his brethren used every argument and persuasion, to lead men to believe in the Lord Jesus, and to act as his disciples. Their zeal and diligence were for the glory of God and the good of the church. Christ's love to us will have a like effect upon us, if duly considered and rightly judged. All were lost and undone, dead and ruined, slaves to sin, having no power to deliver themselves, and must have remained thus miserable for ever, if Christ had not died. We should not make ourselves, but Christ, the end of our living and actions. A Christian's life should be devoted to Christ. Alas, how many show the worthlessness of their professed faith and love, by living to themselves and to the world!
vv16-21
The renewed man acts upon new principles, by new rules, with new ends, and in new company. The believer is created anew; his heart is not merely set right, but a new heart is given him. He is the workmanship of God, created in Christ Jesus unto good works. Though the same as a man, he is changed in his character and conduct. These words must and do mean more than an outward reformation. The man who formerly saw no beauty in the Saviour that he should desire him, now loves him above all things. The heart of the unregenerate is filled with enmity against God, and God is justly offended with him. Yet there may be reconciliation. Our offended God has reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ. By the inspiration of God, the Scriptures were written, which are the word of reconciliation; showing that peace has been made by the cross, and how we may be interested therein. Though God cannot lose by the quarrel, nor gain by the peace, yet he beseeches sinners to lay aside their enmity, and accept the salvation he offers. Christ knew no sin. He was made Sin; not a sinner, but Sin, a Sin-offering, a Sacrifice for sin. The end and design of all this was, that we might be made the righteousness of God in him, might be justified freely by the grace of God through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus. Can any lose, labour, or suffer too much for Him, who gave his beloved Son to be the Sacrifice for their sins, that they might be made the righteousness of God in him?
Key Words
γάρ (gár): properly, assigning a reason (used in argument, explanation or intensification; often with other particles)
εἴδω (eídō): used only in certain past tenses, the others being borrowed from the equivalent G3700 (ὀπτάνομαι) and G3708 (ὁράω); properly, to see (literally or figuratively); by implication, (in the perfect tense only) to know
ὅτι (hóti): demonstrative, that (sometimes redundant); causative, because
ἐάν (eán): a conditional particle; in case that, provided, etc.; often used in connection with other particles to denote indefiniteness or uncertainty
σκῆνος (skēnos): a hut or temporary residence, i.e. (figuratively) the human body (as the abode of the spirit)
ἡμῶν (hēmōn): of (or from) us
ἐπίγειος (epígeios): worldly (physically or morally)
οἰκία (oikía): properly, residence (abstractly), but usually (concretely) an abode (literally or figuratively); by implication, a family (especially domestics)
καταλύω (katalýō): to loosen down (disintegrate), i.e. (by implication) to demolish (literally or figuratively); specially (compare G2646 (κατάλυμα)) to halt for the night
ἔχω (échō): to hold (used in very various applications, literally or figuratively, direct or remote; such as possession; ability, contiuity, relation, or condition)
Cross References
2 Corinthians 5Poole and JFB connect 'clothed upon' with corruptible putting on incorruption in 1 Corinthians 15.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Both Calvin and JFB note Peter's identical tabernacle metaphor for the mortal human body.
Supported by John Calvin, JFB
Inward groaning of believers waiting for redemption of the body matches Paul's expression here.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Christ being 'made sin' is directly parallel to Him being 'made a curse' for us.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Underpins Christ knowing no sin yet being made a sacrifice/offering for our transgressions.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Poole links not being 'found naked' with keeping one's spiritual garments to avoid shame.
Supported by Matthew Poole
The desire to depart the body and be present with Christ is echoed in Philippians.
Supported by John Calvin, JFB
Living not to ourselves but to Him who died and rose is expanded in Romans 14.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Intra-chapter link: being in Christ as a new creature is grounded in God's reconciliation work.
Supported by Matthew Henry
JFB contrasts our earthly tabernacle with Christ's body, the true tabernacle not made with hands.
Supported by JFB
Calvin and JFB compare the 'earthly house' to Job's description of 'houses of clay.'
Supported by John Calvin, JFB
Poole links our groaning in this tabernacle to Paul's cry over the body of death.
Supported by Matthew Poole
The phrase 'swallowed up of life' alludes to death being swallowed up in victory.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Walking by faith, not sight, directly continues 2 Corinthians 4's focus on things unseen.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Henry connects God fashioning ('wrought') us for this with believers being His workmanship.
Supported by Matthew Henry