2 Corinthians 5
21 verses
The tent/building imagery (skenos/oikodomenē) expresses the instability of the present embodied existence and the longing for the eschatological home: 'if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens,' positioning embodied resurrection over against disembodied immortality. The groaning (stenazō) in this mortal form expresses not despair but the authentic yearning for transformation, 'longing to be clothed upon with our heavenly dwelling so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life.' The Spirit as arrabon recurs, maintaining the already-not-yet tension: we possess the Spirit as present guarantee of the future transformation even as we anticipate fuller clothing. The walk of faith rather than sight—'we walk by faith, not by sight'—echoes chapter 4's epistemological reorientation toward the unseen; the confidence that 'to be absent from the body is to be at home with the Lord' affirms the continuity of personal existence beyond death. The judgment seat of Christ (bema)—the future reckoning before Christ—grounds the present ethical imperative: 'knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade others,' making eschatological accountability the motive for present conduct. The centerpiece of the chapter, the 'ministry of reconciliation,' presents Christ's work and Paul's apostolic task in cosmic terms: 'God in Christ was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them'—the victory of mercy over condemnation. The description of Paul and his companions as 'ambassadors for Christ' establishes apostolic ministry as the means through which reconciliation is extended to the world. The climactic theological formula—'him who knew no sin God made to be sin for us so that in him we might become the righteousness of God'—presents Christ's sin-bearing and the believer's righteousness-reception as reciprocal, a mystical exchange (perichoresis) in which Christ absorbs sin and believers receive the status of divine righteousness.
VERSES IN THIS CHAPTER
1
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.
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2
For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven:
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3
If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked.
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4
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.
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5
Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit.
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6
Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord:
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7
(For we walk by faith, not by sight:)
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8
We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.
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9
Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him.
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10
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.
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11
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.
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12
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.
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13
For whether we be beside ourselves, it is to God: or whether we be sober, it is for your cause.
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14
For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:
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Reading the Psalms alongside this gives a fuller picture of what the author was experiencing — both the anguish and the ...
15
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.
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16
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.
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17
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
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18
And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;
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19
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.
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20
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.
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21
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.
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