2 Corinthians 5

King James Version

Full text for 2 Corinthians Chapter 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.

2For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven:

3If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked.

4For 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.

5Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing [is] God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit.

6Therefore [we are] always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord:

7(For we walk by faith, not by sight:)

8We are confident, [I say], and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.

9Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him.

10For 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.

11Knowing 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.

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.

13For whether we be beside ourselves, [it is] to God: or whether we be sober, [it is] for your cause.

14For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:

15And [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.

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.

17Therefore if any man [be] in Christ, [he is] a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

18And all things [are] of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;

19To 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.

20Now 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.

21For he hath made him [to be] sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

Believers anticipate an eternal, heavenly body, groaning in their earthly tabernacle, and are confident that to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. All must appear before the judgment seat of Christ. Through Christ, God has reconciled believers to Himself, making them new creatures and entrusting them with the ministry of reconciliation, urging others to be reconciled.

Medium Summary

The chapter opens with the believer's hope for an eternal, heavenly dwelling, contrasting with the temporary earthly body, for which God has given the Holy Spirit as a guarantee. Believers walk by faith, confident that departing from the body means being present with the Lord, and they labor to be accepted by Him, knowing all must face the judgment seat of Christ. The love of Christ compels them, understanding that His death means believers should no longer live for themselves. Consequently, those in Christ are new creatures, as God has reconciled them to Himself through Jesus. This reconciliation is a ministry given to believers, who act as ambassadors, pleading with others to be reconciled to God, for Christ, who knew no sin, was made sin for us, that we might become God's righteousness in Him.

Long Summary

Paul explains that believers know their earthly "tabernacle" is temporary, and they earnestly desire to be clothed with an eternal, heavenly dwelling provided by God, a state where mortality is swallowed up by life. God Himself has prepared them for this, giving the Holy Spirit as an "earnest" or down payment. This understanding brings confidence, for while present in the body, they are absent from the Lord, walking by faith, not by sight. Their ultimate desire is to be absent from the body and present with the Lord, motivating them to labor diligently to be accepted by Him, whether in this life or the next. This diligence is underscored by the certainty that all must appear before the judgment seat of Christ to receive consequences for their earthly deeds. Knowing the "terror of the Lord," Paul persuades men, asserting that his actions are manifest to God and, he trusts, to the Corinthians' consciences, not for self-commendation but to provide them with a basis for boasting against those who glory in outward appearance. The driving force behind their ministry is the love of Christ, who died for all, implying that all were spiritually dead, and His death ensures that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for Him. Therefore, believers no longer view anyone from a purely human perspective; if anyone is in Christ, he is a "new creature," with old things passed away and all things made new. This entire process of renewal and reconciliation originates from God, who, through Jesus Christ, reconciled believers to Himself and entrusted them with the "ministry of reconciliation." This means God was in Christ, reconciling the world to Himself by not counting their trespasses against them, and has committed this message to His ambassadors. Thus, believers are Christ's ambassadors, imploring others to be reconciled to God, because God made Christ, who knew no sin, to be sin on our behalf, so that in Him, we might become the righteousness of God.

Core Concepts

  • Heavenly DwellingBelievers anticipate an eternal, spiritual "house not made with hands," a heavenly body that will replace their temporary earthly "tabernacle."
  • Earnest of the SpiritThe Holy Spirit is given by God as a guarantee or down payment, assuring believers of their future inheritance and transformation into their heavenly body.
  • Judgment Seat of ChristA future event where all believers will appear before Christ to receive recompense for their actions, whether good or bad, done while in the body.
  • New Creation in ChristThrough faith in Christ, an individual undergoes a profound spiritual transformation, becoming a "new creature" where old ways and perspectives pass away, and all things become new.
  • Ministry of ReconciliationThe divine commission given to believers to proclaim the message that God, through Christ, has reconciled the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses.
  • Ambassadors for ChristBelievers are appointed representatives of Christ, acting on God's behalf to beseech others to accept the reconciliation offered through Him.
  • Righteousness of GodThe theological concept that Christ, who was without sin, was made "sin for us," enabling believers to be declared righteous in God's sight through their union with Him.