2 CORINTHIANS—NOTE ON 2 CORINTHIANS 5:1 THE TENT THAT IS OUR EARTHLY HOME. Present human bodies, which will die. BUILDING FROM GOD... ETERNAL IN THE HEAVENS. The resurrection body that believers will receive on the last day (see 1 Thessalonians 4:13; Revelation 21:1). ⇐ ⇔... [ Continue Reading ]
2 CORINTHIANS—NOTE ON 2 CORINTHIANS 5:2 Paul longs for the resurrection (that is, being FURTHER CLOTHED; see v. 2 Corinthians 5:1) in order to NOT BE FOUND NAKED or UNCLOTHED. This likely refers to the intermediate state in which believers’ spirits are with God but they do not yet have their resurre... [ Continue Reading ]
2 CORINTHIANS—NOTE ON 2 CORINTHIANS 5:5 THE SPIRIT AS A GUARANTEE. The presence of the Spirit in Christians’ lives now is the down payment or guarantee that they will receive resurrection bodies when Jesus returns. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.le... [ Continue Reading ]
2 CORINTHIANS—NOTE ON 2 CORINTHIANS 5:6 AT HOME... AWAY. See note on v. 8. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
2 CORINTHIANS—NOTE ON 2 CORINTHIANS 5:7 WALK BY FAITH, NOT BY SIGHT. Trusting in God’s promises (2 Corinthians 4:18). ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
2 CORINTHIANS—NOTE ON 2 CORINTHIANS 5:8 AWAY FROM THE BODY AND AT HOME WITH THE LORD. Paul expects that, when he dies, his spirit will go immediately into Christ’s presence. He will remain in that state until the day of resurrection (compare Philippians 1:23; Hebrews 12:23). ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ va [ Continue Reading ]
2 CORINTHIANS—NOTE ON 2 CORINTHIANS 5:9 WE MAKE IT OUR AIM TO PLEASE HIM. See Ephesians 5:10; Colossians 3:20; Hebrews 13:21; by contrast, Paul fears displeasing God; see 2 Corinthians 5:11; also Ephesians 4:30.... [ Continue Reading ]
2 CORINTHIANS—NOTE ON 2 CORINTHIANS 5:10 THE JUDGMENT SEAT OF CHRIST. The “judgment seat” in the Roman courtroom was where the governor sat while giving verdicts. In the coming age, Christ will judge as God the Father’s representative. He will rule the kingdom that the Father has given him (see Roma... [ Continue Reading ]
2 CORINTHIANS—NOTE ON 2 CORINTHIANS 5:11 Paul offers one of his most extensive descriptions of the motivation (2 Corinthians 5:11), content (2 Corinthians 5:16), and call of the new covenant ministry. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img [ Continue Reading ]
2 CORINTHIANS—NOTE ON 2 CORINTHIANS 5:12 On Paul’s COMMENDING himself, see note on 4:2. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
2 CORINTHIANS—NOTE ON 2 CORINTHIANS 5:13 IF WE ARE BESIDE OURSELVES... IF WE ARE IN OUR RIGHT MIND. This possibly responds to some Corinthians calling Paul crazy. Paul’s motivation is to please Christ (v. 2 Corinthians 5:9), so his goal is to persuade others (v. 2 Corinthians 5:11). It is not to urg... [ Continue Reading ]
2 CORINTHIANS—NOTE ON 2 CORINTHIANS 5:14 ONE HAS DIED FOR ALL, THEREFORE ALL HAVE DIED. By Christ’s death, the death penalty for sin (see Genesis 2:17) has been paid for all those who trust in him (see Romans 3:21; 1 Corinthians 15:3). THE LOVE OF CHRIST CONTROLS US. See Titus 2:11.... [ Continue Reading ]
2 CORINTHIANS—NOTE ON 2 CORINTHIANS 5:16 REGARD NO ONE ACCORDING TO THE FLESH, that is, according to worldly standards and values which claim that one’s present physical life is all that matters. Before Paul’s conversion, he REGARDED CHRIST ACCORDING TO THE FLESH. He considered Christ to be a false... [ Continue Reading ]
2 CORINTHIANS—NOTE ON 2 CORINTHIANS 5:17 The redemption of a people who live for Christ by living for others is the beginning of the NEW CREATION (see Isaiah 43:18; Isaiah 65:17; Isaiah 66:22). This new creation also begins Israel’s final restoration from God’s judgment in the exile (see the context... [ Continue Reading ]
2 CORINTHIANS—NOTE ON 2 CORINTHIANS 5:18 RECONCILIATION. These verses outline (1) the _basis_ of Paul’s apostolic ministry of the new covenant (Paul’s own reconciliation to God through Christ); (2) its _consequence_ (his ministry and message of reconciliation to the world for Christ); (3) its essent... [ Continue Reading ]
2 CORINTHIANS—NOTE ON 2 CORINTHIANS 5:21 This verse is one of the most important in all of Scripture for understanding the meaning of the atonement and justification. The one WHO KNEW NO SIN is Jesus Christ (v. 2 Corinthians 5:20), and HE (God) MADE HIM (Christ) TO BE SIN. God the Father made Christ... [ Continue Reading ]