2 Corinthians chapter 5
Paul shares insights about our true home, which is eternity. Until then, we invest ourselves in the ministry of reconciling people to God.
OUR TRUE HOME IN ETERNITY
VERSE 1. For we know that if the earthly house of our tent is dissolved, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal, in the heavens.
the earthly house. Our physical body is a temporary structure.
a building from God. In the Old Testament era, the temple in Jerusalem was the House of God. But in our New Testament era, the LORD God dwells within his people. Read more »
VERSE 2. For most certainly in this we groan, longing to be clothed with our habitation which is from heaven,
we groan. While we are situated in the temporary structure of our physical body, we groan with longing to be with the Lord in heaven.
longing to be clothed. That is, “longing to be further clothed” (NAB translation). It means to put one garment on top of another.
In our day, we “put on the Lord Jesus Christ” like we put on a coat. Or like we put on a suit of armor. Read more »
VERSE 3. if indeed being clothed, we will not be found naked.
VERSE 4. For indeed we who are in this tent do groan, being burdened, not that we desire to be unclothed, but that we desire to be clothed, that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life.
not that we desire to be unclothed. Nobody wants to die. Rather,
we desire to be clothed. We desire to be with the Lord in heaven.
VERSE 5. Now he who made us for this very thing is God, who also gave to us the down payment of the Spirit.
down payment of the Spirit. That is, “the first installment of the Spirit” (NAB translation).
VERSE 6. Therefore we are always confident and know that while we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord;
we are absent from the Lord. As long as we are still alive on earth, we are away from our true home.
VERSE 7. for we walk by faith, not by sight.
This verse is fantastic! Would you consider memorizing it? More great verses to memorize from Second Corinthians.
we walk by faith. We are called to live by faith. Read more »
The LORD God had a mission for Moses. All Moses needed to do was to GO. After that, the LORD God would help him speak and teach him what to say. Read more »
VERSE 8. We are courageous, I say, and are willing rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord.
We are courageous. Are you able to be courageous for Jesus Christ?
VERSE 9. Therefore also we make it our aim, whether at home or absent, to be well pleasing to him.
VERSE 10. For we must all be revealed before the judgment seat of Christ that each one may receive the things in the body according to what he has done, whether good or bad.
we must all be revealed. That is, “we must all appear.”
before the judgment seat of Christ. Some preachers say that if you are born again in Jesus Christ, you will not face eternal judgment. However, they are wrong. This verse says we will all appear before the judgment seat.
according to what he has done, whether good or bad. This suggests that the Final Judgment is based on our deeds, and not on our faith.
OUR MINISTRY OF RECONCILING PEOPLE TO GOD
VERSE 11. Knowing therefore the fear of the Lord, we persuade men, but we are revealed to God, and I hope that we are revealed also in your consciences.
we persuade men. Our convictions about Jesus Christ motivate us. We try to persuade people to come to faith in Jesus Christ.
Do you try to persuade people? Are you active in the Ministry of Evangelism?
VERSE 12. For we are not commending ourselves to you again, but speak as giving you occasion of boasting on our behalf, that you may have something to answer those who boast in appearance, and not in heart.
VERSE 13. For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God. Or if we are of sober mind, it is for you.
if we are beside ourselves. That is, “if we are out of our minds” (NAB translation).
This probably refers to mystical experiences or ecstatic states during prayer.
VERSE 14. For the love of Christ constrains us; because we judge thus, that one died for all, therefore all died.
constrains us. The Greek word for “constrain” is συνέχει (“synechei”). It means to press together, to confine, to compel, to afflict with.
It could be translated as “prods us along,” As in “the love of Christ prods us along,”
VERSE 15. He died for all, that those who live should no longer live to themselves, but to him who for their sakes died and rose again.
NIV translation: And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.
This verse is fantastic! Would you consider memorizing it? More great verses to memorize from Second Corinthians.
live … to him. We are to live for Jesus Christ!
VERSE 16. Therefore we know no one after the flesh from now on. Even though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now we know him so no more.
VERSE 17. Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old things have passed away. Behold, all things have become new.
This verse is fantastic! Would you consider memorizing it? More great verses to memorize from Second Corinthians.
NIV translation: Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new is come!
This verse is cited by Thomas Raymond Kelly in his famous book “A Testament of Devotion.” Read more »
anyone. If anyone is in Christ. There is no need to belong to a Christian denomination. The only factor is whether we are in Jesus Christ or not.
in Christ. What does it mean to be “in” Christ?
new creation. Paul says when we are spiritually reborn, we become a “new” creation. But what does that mean? What does the evidence show us? Read more »
old things have passed away. What are the specific old things that have passed away?
all things have become new. The Bible offers the possibility of a future filled with hope. Read more »
VERSE 18. But all things are of God, who reconciled us to himself through Jesus Christ, and gave to us the ministry of reconciliation;
This verse is fantastic! Would you consider memorizing it? More great verses to memorize from Second Corinthians.
NIV translation: All this is from God, who reconciled us to God and gave us the ministry of reconciliation.
gave to us the ministry. It is out of God’s generosity that we are able to take part in his projects on earth.
He could easily do it without our help, for God is God. But out of his mercy, he chose to let us in on it all. We get to share in the ministry; we get to share in the blessings.
of reconciliation. What is the ministry of “reconciliation”? Paul answers that in verse 20 below.
VERSE 19. namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself, not reckoning to them their trespasses, and having committed to us the word of reconciliation.
VERSE 20. We are therefore ambassadors on behalf of Christ, as though God were entreating by us: we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.
We are … ambassadors. Nations send ambassadors abroad. And the Lord Jesus Christ sends us out as his ambassadors to the world. Read more »
we beg you. That is, “we implore you.” Do you implore people to come to faith in Jesus Christ? Are you involved in the Ministry of Evangelism?
on behalf of Christ. What does it mean to be an ambassador of Christ?
VERSE 21. For him who knew no sin he made to be sin on our behalf; so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
we might become the righteousness of God. How might you change your behavior as a result of that?
2 CORINTHIANS
CHAPTERS: 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10, 11, 12, 13
RESOURCES: Summary, Outline, Memorize
Unless otherwise noted, all Bible quotations on this page are from the World English Bible and the World Messianic Edition. These translations have no copyright restrictions. They are in the Public Domain.