“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 we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands — Paul employs tent (skēnē) and building (oikodomē) imagery for embodiment. The earthly tabernacle is temporary; God provides an eternal structure. The 'not made with hands' (acheiropoiētos) echoes temple eschatology: the future temple is God's construction, beyond human artistry.
Church Fathers on 2 Corinthians 5:1
Again he arouses their zeal because many trials drew on. For it was likely that they, in consequence of his absence, were weaker in respect to this [need]. What then says he? One ought not to wonder that we suffer affliction; nor to be confounded, for we even reap many gains thereby. And some of these he mentioned before; for instance, that we “bear about the dying of Jesus,” and present the greatest proof of His power: for he says, “that the exceeding greatness of the power…
Nicene & Post-Nicene / Ante-Nicene Fathers translations · public domain
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