2 Corinthians 5:9

Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him. WHEREFORE - With such a 'confidence' of being blessed, whether we die, or live until Christ's coming. WE LABOUR, [ philotimoumetha (G5389)] - 'make it our ambition:' the only lawful ambition. WHETHER PRESENT (WITH THE LORD, 2 CORINTHIANS 5:8 ) OR ABSENT (from the Lord's immediate presence). ACCEPTED, [ euarestoi (G2101)] - 'well-pleasing.'...

9._Wherefore we strive. _Having shown how magnanimous Christians ought to be in the endurance of afflictions, (531) so that even in dying they may be conquerors over death, and that too, because by afflictions and death they attain to a blessed life, he now from the same source draws also another conclusion — that they must, by all means, make it their main desire to please God. And indeed it cannot but be, that the hope of a resurrection, and thoughtfulness as to the judgment, will awaken in us this desire; as, on the other hand, the true reason why we are so indolent and remiss in duty is, that we seldom, if ever, think of what ought to be constantly kept in remembrance, (532) that we are here but lodgers (533) for a short time, that we may, after finishing our course, return to Christ. Observe, however, what he says — that this is the de

9-15 The apostle quickens himself and others to acts of duty. Well-grounded hopes of heaven will not encourage sloth and sinful security. Let all consider the judgment to come, which is called, The terror of the Lord. Knowing what terrible vengeance the Lord would execute upon the workers of iniquity, the apostle and his brethren used every argument and persuasion, to lead men to believe in the Lord Jesus, and to act as his disciples. Their zeal and diligence were for the glory of God and the good of the church. Christ's love to us will have a like effect upon us, if duly considered and rightly judged. All were lost and undone, dead and ruined, slaves to sin, having no power to deliver themselves, and must have remained thus miserable for ever, if Christ had not died. We should not make ourselves, but Christ, the end of our living and actions. A Christian's life should be devoted to Chr...

Verse 2 Corinthians 5:9. _WHEREFORE WE LABOUR_] φιλοτιμουμεθα. from φιλος, _loving_, and τιμη, _honour_; we act at all times on the _principles_ _of honour_; we are, in the proper sense of the word, ambitious to do and say every thing consistently with our high vocation: and, as we claim kindred to the inhabitants of heaven, to act as they do. _WE MAY BE ACCEPTED OF HIM._] ευαρεστοι αυτω ειναι _To be_ _pleasing to him_. Through the love we have to God, we study and labour to please him. This _is_ and _will be_ our heaven, to study to love, please, and serve him from whom we have received both our _being_ and its _blessings_....

WHEREFORE - (Διὸ Dio). In view of the facts stated above. Since we have the prospect of a resurrection and of future glory; since we have the assurance that there is a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens; and since God has given to us this hope, and has granted to us the earnest of the Spirit, we make it our great object so to live as to be accepted by him. WE LABOR - The word used here (φιλοτιμούμεθα philotimoumetha, from φίλος philos and τιμὴ timē, loving honor) means properly to love honor; to be ambitious. This is its usual Classical signification. In the New Testament, it means to be ambitious to do anything; to exert oneself; to strive, as if from a love or sense

EXPOSITION Continuation of the topic that hope is the chief support of the preacher of the gospel (2 Corinthians 5:1). Their self-sacrifice in preaching the gospel of reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:11). 2 CORINTHIANS 5:1 _The hope of the future rife is the great support of our efforts._ 2 CORINTHIANS 5:1 FOR. A further explanation of the hope expressed in 2 Corinthians 4:17. WE KNOW. T

WHEREFORE WE LABOUR, THAT WHETHER PRESENT OR ABSENT,.... This may be understood either of the ministers of the Gospel in particular, who labour in the word and doctrine, are ambitious, as the word here used signifies, and strive to preach the Gospel, not to please men, but their Lord and master; or of saints in general, who are intent upon this, and whose highest ambition is, that whether living or dying they MAY BE ACCEPTED OF HIM; both persons and services: such who are born again, who are believers in Christ, and truly love him, are earnestly desirous of doing those things which are pleasing to him; and do in the strength of Christ endeavour to perform them. Faith is a diligent, industrious, and operative grace, and makes persons like itself. As none ought to be, so none are more careful to perform good works, or more ambitious to excel others in them, and thereby please their Lord,...

2 Corinthians 5:1. _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. For in this we groan,_ In this poor body it is our lot often to groan, but the groan is a hopeful one, for it is a birth-pang, and it will bring joy in due time: «For in this we groan,» 2 Corinthians 5:2. Earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven: if it 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

LABOUR (Greek, "philotimeomai", means "are ambitious")....

6. CONCERNING THE FUTURE. THE MINISTRY OF RECONCILIATION. CHAPTER 5 _ 1. The Earthly and the Heavenly House. (2 Corinthians 5:1 .)_ 2. The Judgment Seat of Christ. (2 Corinthians 5:9 .) 3. The Constraint of Love. (2 Corinthians 5:13 .) 4. The Ministry of Reconciliation. (2 Corinthians 5:17 .) The certainty of the future things is brought more fully in view. The apostle had given the great doctrines concerning the resurrection of the body, the coming of the Lord and the blessed hope in his first epistle (chapter 15). In the closing verses of the prece