New Testament Commentary - 2 Corinthians 5

by Don R. Hender


Scriptural Text [& Editorial]
Commentary & Explanation
Footnotes ~ References ~ JST
              CHAPTER 5

Saints walk by faith and seek tabernacles of immortal glory—Godspel reconciles man to God—His ministers carry the word of reconciliation to the world.

  1 For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of Goda, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.
  2 For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be aclothed upon with our house which is from heavena:
  3 If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked.

Found Naked 
It is a shameful thing to be 'found naked' in the resurrection, for that is the fate of Lucifer and his followers. They will be but unclothed spirits forevermore. But all who have came into this second estate, by the gift and power of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ, will be clothed in an immortal tabernacle of incorruptible flesh and bone, a 'heavenly prepared body' of which degree of glory which corresponds to that attained to by man in his time of testing.
 1a if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God Here again the topic of the Heavenly body which awaits our resurrection is the topic of discussion by Paul. The 'earthly house of tabernacle' is this natural body of mortal flesh, bones and blood which is corruptible. That 'building of God' which awaits us is just as tangible, yet it is immortal and incorruptible. The glory of which will be a body celestial, a terrestrial body or one that is variably telestial according to that glory of which one does deserve.
 2a desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven That we merely do not shed this mortal tabernacle and remain but an unclothed spirit in the hereafter is so stated here by Paul. For he points out that in the resurrection of the Lord, we do earnestly desire that our spirit be clothed with its new tangible tabernacle beyond merely our spirit, that our spirit being might have a heavenly 'house' or tabernacle of immortal flesh and bone.
  4 For we that are in this tabernacle do agroan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that bmortality might be swallowed up of life.
  5 Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit.
  6 Therefore we are always aconfident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord:
  7 (For we walk by afaith, not by bsight:)
  8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.
  9 Wherefore we alabour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him.
  10 For we must all appear before the ajudgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, baccording to that he hath cdone, whether it be good or bad.
  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 aconsciences.
  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.
  13 aFor whether we be beside ourselves, it is to God: or whether we be sober, it is for your cause.
  14 For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if aone bdied for all, then were all dead:
  15 And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth alive unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.
  16 aWherefore 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.
  17 Therefore if any man be ain Christ, he is a bnew creature: cold things are dpassed away; behold, all things are become enew.
  18 And all things are of God, who hath areconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;
  19 To wit, that God was in Christ, areconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
  20 Now then we are aambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.
  21 For he hath made him to be asin for us, who knew no bsin; that we might be made the crighteousness of God in him.