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Commentary on 2 Corinthians 5 verses 1–11
The apostle in these verses pursues the argument of the former chapter, concerning the grounds of their courage and patience under afflictions. And,
I. He mentions their expectation, and desire, and assurance, of eternal happiness after death, Co2 5:1-5. Observe particularly,
1.The believer's expectation of eternal happiness after death, Co2 5:1. He does not only know, or is well assured by faith of the truth and reality of the thing itself - that there is another and a happy life after this present life is ended, but he has good hope through grace of his interest in that everlasting blessedness of the unseen world: "We know that we have a building of God, we have a firm and well-grounded expectation of the future felicity." Let us take notice, (1.) What heaven is in the eye and hope of a believer. He looks upon it as a house, or habitation, a dwelling-place, a resting-place, a hiding-place, our Father's house, where there are many mansions, and our everlasting home. It is a house in the heavens, in that high and holy place which as far excels all the palaces of this earth as the heavens are high above the earth. It is a building of God, whose builder and maker is God, and therefore is worthy of its author; the happiness of the future state is what God hath prepared for those that love him. It is eternal in the heavens, everlasting habitations, not like the earthly tabernacles, the poor cottages of clay in which our souls now dwell, which are mouldering and decaying, and whose foundations are in the dust. (2.) When it is expected this happiness shall be enjoyed - immediately after death, so soon as our house of this earthly tabernacle is dissolved. Note, [1.] That the body, this earthly house, is but a tabernacle, that must be dissolved shortly; the nails or pins will be drawn, and the cords be loosed, and then the body will return to dust as it was. [2.] When this comes to pass, then comes the house not made with hands. The spirit returns to God who gave it; and such as have walked with God here shall dwell with God for ever.
2.The believer's earnest desire after this future blessedness, which is expressed by this word, stenazomen - we groan, which denotes, (1.) A groaning of sorrow under a heavy load; so believers groan under the burden of life: In this we groan earnestly, Co2 5:2. We that are in this tabernacle groan, being burdened, Co2 5:4. The body of flesh is a heavy burden, the calamities of life are a heavy load. But believers groan because burdened with a body of sin, and the many corruptions that are still remaining and raging in them. This makes them complain, O wretched man that I am! Rom 7:24. (2.) There is a groaning of desire after the happiness of another life; and thus believers groan: Earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven (Co2 5:2), to obtain a blessed immortality, that mortality might be swallowed up of life (Co2 5:4), that being found clothed, we may not be naked (Co2 5:3), that, if it were the will of God, we might not sleep, but be changed; for it is not desirable in itself to be unclothed. Death considered merely as a separation of soul and body is not to be desired, but rather dreaded; but, considered as a passage to glory, the believer is willing rather to die than live, to be absent from the body, that he may be present with the Lord (Co2 5:1), to leave this body that he may go to Christ, and to put off these rags of mortality that he may put on the robes of glory. Note, [1.] Death will strip us of the clothing of flesh, and all the comforts of life, as well as put an end to all our troubles here below. Naked we came into this world, and naked shall we go out of it. But, [2.] Gracious souls are not found naked in the other world; no, they are clothed with garments of praise, with robes of righteousness and glory. They shall be delivered out of all their troubles, and shall have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb, Rev 7:14.
3.The believer's assurance of his interest in this future blessedness, on a double account: - (1.) From the experience of the grace of God, in preparing and making him meet for this blessedness. He that hath wrought us for the self-same thing is God, Co2 5:5. Note, All who are designed for heaven hereafter are wrought or prepared for heaven while they are here; the stones of that spiritual building and temple above are squared and fashioned here below. And he that hath wrought us for this is God, because nothing less than a divine power can make a soul partaker of a divine nature; no hand less than the hand of God can work us for this thing. A great deal is to be done to prepare our souls for heaven, and that preparation of the heart is from the Lord. (2.) The earnest of the Spirit gave them this assurance: for an earnest is part of payment, and secures the full payment. The present graces and comforts of the Spirit are earnests of everlasting grace and comfort.
II. The apostle deduces an inference for the comfort of believers in their present state and condition in this world, Co2 5:6-8. Here observe, 1. What their present state or condition is: they are absent from the Lord (Co2 5:6); they are pilgrims and strangers in this world; they do but sojourn here in their earthly home, or in this tabernacle; and though God is with us here, by his Spirit, and in his ordinances, yet we are not with him as we hope to be: we cannot see his face while we live: For we walk by faith, not by sight, Co2 5:7. We have not the vision and fruition of God, as of an object that is present with us, and as we hope for hereafter, when we shall see as we are seen. Note, Faith is for this world, and sight is reserved for the other world: and it is our duty, and will be our interest, to walk by faith, till we come to live by sight. 2. How comfortable and courageous we ought to be in all the troubles of life, and in the hour of death: Therefore we are, or ought to be, always confident (Co2 5:6), and again (Co2 5:8), We are confident, and willing rather to be absent from the body. True Christians, if they duly considered the prospect faith gives them of another world, and the good reasons of their hope of blessedness after death, would be comforted under the troubles of life, and supported in the hour of death: they should take courage, when they are encountering the last enemy, and be willing rather to die than live, when it is the will of God that they should put off this tabernacle. Note, As those who are born from above long to be there, so it is but being absent from the body, and we shall very soon be present with the Lord - but to die, and be with Christ - but to close our eyes to all things in this world, and we shall open them in a world of glory. Faith will be turned into sight.
III. He proceeds to deduce an inference to excite and quicken himself and others to duty, Co2 5:9-11. So it is that well-grounded hopes of heaven will be far from giving the least encouragement to sloth and sinful security; on the contrary, they should stir us up to use the greatest care and diligence in religion: Wherefore, or because we hope to be present with the Lord, we labour and take pains, Co2 5:9. Philotimoumetha - We are ambitious, and labour as industriously as the most ambitious men do to obtain what they aim at. Here observe, 1. What it was that the apostle was thus ambitious of - acceptance with God. We labour that, living and dying, whether present in the body or absent from the body, we may be accepted of him, the Lord (Co2 5:9), that we may please him who hath chosen us, that our great Lord may say to us, Well done. This they coveted as the greatest favour and the highest honour: it was the summit of their ambition. 2. What further quickening motives they had to excite their diligence, from the consideration of the judgment to come, Co2 5:10, Co2 5:11. There are many things relating to this great matter that should awe the best of men into the utmost care and diligence in religion; for example, the certainty of this judgment, for we must appear; the universality of it, for we must all appear; the great Judge before whose judgment-seat we must appear, the Lord Jesus Christ, who himself will appear in flaming fire; the recompence to be then received, for things done in the body, which will be very particular (unto every one), and very just, according to what we have done, whether good or bad. The apostle calls this awful judgment the terror of the Lord (Co2 5:11), and, by the consideration thereof, was excited to persuade men to repent, and live a holy life, that, when Christ shall appear terribly, they may appear before him comfortably. And, concerning his fidelity and diligence, he comfortably appeals unto God, and the consciences of those he wrote to: We are made manifest unto God, and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences.
And comparison obtains in the case of things that fall under resemblance; as the more valiant man is more valiant among the valiant, and most valiant among cowards. Whence he adds, "Wherefore we strive, whether present or absent, to be accepted with Him," that is, God, whose work and creation are all things, both the world and things supramundane.
Then he says even to all: "We therefore earnestly desire to be acceptable unto God, whether absent or present; for we must all appear before the judgment-seat of Christ Jesus." If all of us, then all of us wholly; if wholly, then our inward man and outward too-that is, our bodies no less than our souls.
We have to put our energy into good works in order to please God.
"Wherefore also we make it our aim whether at home or absent, to be well pleasing unto him." 'For what we seek for is this,' saith he, 'whether we be there or here, to live according to His will; for this is the principal thing. So that by this thou hast the kingdom already in possession without a probation.' For lest when they had arrived at so great a desire of being there, they should again be disquieted at its being so long first, in this he gives them already the chief of those good things. And what is this? To be well "pleasing." For as to depart is not absolutely good, but to do so in [God's] favor, which is what makes departing also become a good; so to remain here is not absolutely grievous, but to remain offending Him. Deem not then that departure from the body is enough; for virtue is always necessary. For as when he spoke of a Resurrection, he allowed [them] not by it alone to be of good courage, saying, "If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked;" so also having showed a departure, lest thou shouldest think that this is enough to save thee, he added that it is needful that we be well pleasing.
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SUMMARY
Second Corinthians 5:9 encapsulates the Apostle Paul's ultimate life ambition and the driving force behind his strenuous ministry: to live in such a way that he is always pleasing to God, regardless of whether he is alive on earth or has passed into the presence of the Lord. This verse articulates a profound spiritual goal, emphasizing a consistent and unwavering devotion to divine approval that transcends all earthly circumstances and even death itself, serving as a foundational motivation for all Christian endeavor.
CONTEXT
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
Paul employs several literary devices to convey the depth of his commitment. The most prominent is Antithesis, seen in the contrasting pair "present or absent." This stark juxtaposition effectively communicates the comprehensive scope of Paul's ambition, demonstrating that his desire to please God is not limited by his physical state or location, but is an overarching principle for his entire existence, whether in life or in death. Furthermore, the use of "labour" (philotiméomai) can be seen as a form of Intensification or Hyperbole, as it implies an effort far beyond mere work—it's an all-consuming, passionate striving. This word choice elevates the spiritual goal to the highest possible priority. The phrases "present" and "absent" also function as a form of Metonymy or Synecdoche, where "present" stands for being alive in the body on earth, and "absent" stands for being dead to the body but alive with the Lord. This concise phrasing powerfully encapsulates the two fundamental states of human existence in relation to eternity.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
The profound declaration in 2 Corinthians 5:9 resonates deeply with core Christian theology, particularly concerning the nature of true discipleship and the ultimate purpose of human life. It establishes divine approval, not human accolades or earthly success, as the supreme aim for every believer. This perspective transforms all of life into an act of worship and service, where every decision, action, and ambition is filtered through the lens of pleasing God. It underscores the truth that our lives are lived before an omniscient God who will ultimately evaluate our faithfulness. This striving is not for salvation, which is by grace through faith, but rather the natural outflow of a redeemed heart, a grateful response to God's saving work, and a demonstration of genuine love and obedience. It cultivates a life of integrity, consistency, and eternal perspective, knowing that our ultimate audience is God Himself.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Paul's unwavering ambition to be "accepted of him" presents a profound challenge and inspiration for believers today. In a world often driven by the pursuit of human approval, material gain, or fleeting success, this verse calls us to re-evaluate our ultimate motivations. What truly drives our daily decisions, our work, our relationships, and our spiritual disciplines? Is our primary goal to please God above all else, or are we subtly seeking the affirmation of others or the comforts of this world? Living with an eternal perspective, as Paul did, means understanding that every moment of our lives, whether long or short, is lived before the eyes of God, and that our ultimate accountability is to Him. This perspective empowers us to make choices that align with His will, to prioritize eternal rewards over temporary accolades, and to cultivate a consistent, unwavering devotion to His glory, regardless of life's challenges or circumstances. It encourages a life of intentional faithfulness, knowing that our deepest satisfaction comes from hearing "Well done, thou good and faithful servant" from our Lord.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
Does Paul's "labour" imply that we earn God's acceptance through our works?
Answer: Absolutely not. Paul, more than any other apostle, championed the doctrine of salvation by grace through faith, not by works (Ephesians 2:8-9). The "labour" or striving mentioned in 2 Corinthians 5:9 is not a means to earn salvation or acceptance, but rather the outflow and evidence of a life already transformed by God's grace. It is the earnest, grateful response of a believer who has already received God's acceptance in Christ. As Paul clarifies in Ephesians 2:10, "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them." Our striving is a Spirit-empowered pursuit of obedience and holiness, motivated by love for God and a desire to honor Him, not to merit His favor.
What does it truly mean to be "accepted of him"?
Answer: To be "accepted of him" (Greek: euárestos autō) means to be "well-pleasing to him" or "fully agreeable to him." It signifies more than mere tolerance or passive approval; it implies that God finds delight and satisfaction in our lives. It speaks to a life lived in alignment with His will, reflecting His character, and bringing Him glory. This acceptance is ultimately rooted in our union with Christ, through whom we are made righteous and beloved by the Father (2 Corinthians 5:21). Our striving to be "accepted of him" is therefore a desire to live out the implications of our already-secured acceptance in Christ, demonstrating our love and obedience in response to His grace.
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Second Corinthians 5:9 finds its ultimate fulfillment and deepest meaning in the person and work of Jesus Christ. While Paul intensely "labours" to be accepted of God, Jesus perfectly and eternally accomplished this. Throughout His earthly ministry, Jesus consistently lived to please the Father, declaring, "I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things. And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him" (John 8:28-29). His entire life, from His baptism where the Father declared, "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased" (Matthew 3:17), to His atoning death on the cross, was an act of perfect obedience and a fragrant offering that fully pleased God. For believers, our ability to be "accepted of him" is not based on our own imperfect "labour," but on our union with Christ. We are made righteous in Him (2 Corinthians 5:21), and it is through His perfect acceptance that we gain access to the Father. Our striving to please God, therefore, becomes a Spirit-empowered response to His saving work, a grateful reflection of His character, and a participation in His mission, all ultimately bringing glory to the One who perfectly pleased the Father on our behalf.