If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked.
If {G1489} so {G2532} be that being clothed {G1746} we shall {G2147} not {G3756} be found {G2147} naked {G1131}.
With this around us we will not be found naked.
because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked.
if so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked.
Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.
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Genesis 3:7
And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they [were] naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons. -
Genesis 3:11
¶ And he said, Who told thee that thou [wast] naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat? -
Revelation 3:18
I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and [that] the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. -
Revelation 16:15
Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed [is] he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame. -
Exodus 32:25
And when Moses saw that the people [were] naked; (for Aaron had made them naked unto [their] shame among their enemies:)
In 2 Corinthians 5:3, Paul continues his profound discourse on the nature of the believer's earthly body versus the future heavenly dwelling. This verse serves as a parenthetical clause, emphasizing the hope and desire of the Christian: not to be found without a spiritual body or covering at the time of Christ's return or after death.
Context
This verse is deeply intertwined with the preceding verses in 2 Corinthians 5:1-2, where Paul uses the metaphor of an "earthly house of this tabernacle" (our mortal body) being destroyed and replaced by a "building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens." The desire is not merely to be freed from the earthly body, but to be "clothed upon" with the heavenly one, avoiding a state of disembodiment. The Corinthian church, to whom Paul writes, was grappling with various theological and practical issues, including questions about the resurrection and the afterlife, making Paul's clear teaching on the future body particularly relevant. This passage reflects Paul's deep longing for the transformation of the believer's body.
Key Themes and Messages
Linguistic Insights
The Greek word translated "clothed" is endysamenoi (ἐνδυσάμενοι), which means "having put on" or "being invested with." It suggests a deliberate act of being covered or arrayed, emphasizing the divine provision of a new body. "Naked" comes from gymnoi (γυμνοί), referring to being unclothed or exposed. In this spiritual context, it goes beyond physical nakedness, signifying a state of vulnerability or lack of the desired heavenly dwelling. Paul's use of these terms highlights the stark contrast between the temporary, mortal body and the eternal, glorified body, a central theme in discussions of immortality.
Practical Application
This verse offers immense comfort and profound encouragement to believers, particularly concerning the Christian view of death and the afterlife. It reinforces the truth that death is not the end, nor is it a state of permanent disembodiment for those who are in Christ. Instead, it points to a future where believers will receive a glorified body, perfectly suited for eternity. This hope should motivate us to live faithfully, knowing that our ultimate destiny is to be fully clothed and prepared for God's presence, echoing the call to be "clothed with Christ" in our earthly lives, walking in newness of life.