- 2 Corinthians 5:1-21 kjv “For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven: If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked. For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life.
- “Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit. Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: (For we walk by faith, not by sight.) We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.
- “Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences.
- “For we commend not ourselves again unto you, but give you occasion to glory on our behalf, that ye may have somewhat to answer them which glory in appearance, and not in heart. For whether we be beside ourselves, it is to God: or whether we be sober, it is for your cause. For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.
- “Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more. Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;
- “To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God. For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
- 2 Corinthians 6:1-18 “We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain. (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.) Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed: But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses, in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings;
- “By pureness, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned, By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left, By honour and dishonour, by evil report and good report: as deceivers, and yet true; As unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and, behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed; As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.
- “O ye Corinthians, our mouth is open unto you, our heart is enlarged. Ye are not straitened in us, but ye are straitened in your own bowels. Now for a recompence in the same, (I speak as unto my children,) be ye also enlarged. Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?
- “And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.”
- Notes: 2 Cor 5:1 and 5:4
- 2 Corinthians 5:1 interpreted: “The phrase “we know” is translated from the Greek word oldamen(1492) meaning to know intuitively” as a result of being a child of God. It is the knowledge that accompanies the new birth of Christ Jesus.
“Verse one continues: “… if our earthly house of this tabernacle [tent] .. “What Paul is saying here is that the spirit is the real person found in the body. The body is represented by the Greek word skenon (4633) “tent,” which refers to the material portion of a person. - “Paul continues on to explain that though this earthly body (“house”) will be “dissolved,” God has promised that there will be a “building of God.” This is a description of death of the mortal body, yet it is intended to be encouragement for the believer as he looks at death.
- “The word that is translated “building.” is the Greek word oikodomen (3619). which means the process of building something.” The basic idea in this verse is that God is building a new house for the believer’s spirit which will be disembodied at the point of death, leaving the body remaining on earth.
- “This indicates that God will create something completely new. Then Paul uses the word oiklan (3614), “dwelling place,” which refers to the completion of the “eternal body,”
- “There are two qualities of this new body that must be understood. First, it will be similar to the present one and identifiable, yet not identical because it is not going to be made by human hands, but it will be produced by God. The word translated “not made with hands” is acheiropoleton (866) . This is the same word that the Lord used in Mark 14:58 when He spoke of destroying the temple, which was made by the hands of men, and in three days, building another, not made by man.
- “Christ was speaking of His body following His resurrection. Although His own body was “made of a woman” (Gal 4:4) at His birth, yet no human being was involved at the time of His resurrection. The believer’s human body will have the same outcome.
- “The first time, one is born into this world, the body is physically produced. However, at the resurrection by Christ of the righteous dead (1 Thess. 4:15-17) God will change them to new glorified bodies ( 1 Cor 15:50-57). The second quality is that it is going to be “eternal,” translated from the Greek word aionion (166).
- “This idea of eternalness focused in on what characterizes God Himself. The life that is given at salvation to believers is the promise of eternal life (aionios (166), zoe (2222) not denoting duration of a period of time, but the quality of the life. This life can never be lost or taken away once a person accepts Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. The word, aionios, however, is always related to time using the form aion (165), “age or generation,”
- “One must consider its usage in 2 Cor. 4:17,18 where contrast is made to “the things which are seen.. are temporal,” comparing the affliction the Conrinthians were undergoing to the more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.” Therefore aionios means that which is not temporal, cannot be lost, nor destroyed. Paul gives the location of this “life to be” as “in the heavens” (see also 1 Cor. 8:5; 15:57; 2 Cor. 5:2; 12:2). Paul recognized this place to be where God is and where the believer will find his ultimate rest (1 Thess. 4:17, 18) (end of note)
- 5:4 See note on 2 Timothy 1:12 Paul states, “… I also suffer …” This does not mean he was suffering due to some sin in his own life. Rather, it is an inevitable part of the life of the Christian because he has the same mortal and corruptible body as unbelievers (Rom. 6:12; 8:11; 1 Cor. 16:53, 54; 2 Cor. 4:11; 5:4). The word thneton (2349), “mortal,” appearing in all precious verses referenced, deals only with believers.
- “The word translated “corruptible,” is the Greek word phthartos (5349) referring to the deterioration of the human body (Rom. 1:23; 1 Cor. 15:53, 54). The use of this word makes it clear that upon receiving Christ, the physical body of the believer does not become exempt from mortality or corruptibility. Suffering may also come as a result of persecution from the world because the Christian does not conform to its standards. However, Christ will ultimately overcome (John 16:33; Gal 6:17; 2 Tim 3:12). Therefore Paul states, “I also suffer these things, nevertheless I am not ashamed.” (end of note)
- Note: I use the Hebrew Greek Key Study Bible – KJV – by Spiros Zodhiates PhD – AMG Publishers. The Greek words followed by numbers are from the Greek Dictionary of the New Testament. The KJV Bible is the only Book not copyrighted. Bold lettering added by editor: Rita Williams
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