2 Corinthians 5

2 Corinthians 5:1

For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

For we know, that if this earthly body of ours, wherein the soul sojourns, some while, as in a tabernacle of clay, be once dissolved, we have a glorious mansion, prepared for us, and built by God; even a house made only by the infinite power and goodness of our Creator, which is eternal in the heavens.

2 Corinthians 5:2

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

For, in this frail tabernacle of our body, we live in continual sighing and groaning; earnestly desiring, if it might be, that, in this state of our bodies, we might, without the pain of a dissolution, be clothed upon with the life of glory and immortality.

2 Corinthians 5:3

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

If, at least, we be found, at the coming of Christ, clothed with these bodies of ours, and not despoiled of them before by death.

2 Corinthians 5:4

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.

For we, that are in this tabernacle of our bodies, do sigh and groan, being burdened with this lumpish and earthen load of our flesh: not for that we would be unclothed and stripped of them; but in a desire, that, being clothed with them, we might have glory put also upon us; that, as we are clothed with them, so they may be clothed with glory: that so mortality might, without any sensible pain, be swallowed up of life.

2 Corinthians 5:5

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

Now, he, that ordained and wrought us to this blessed con-

2 Corinthians 5:6

Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord.

Therefore, howsoever nature is ready to shrink at the thought of dissolution, yet we are confident always to undergo it, cheerfully and resolutely; knowing that our life is, in this case, a true pilgrimage, in that, while we are present in this body of ours, we are absent from the Lord: we do, indeed, account our body to be our home; but it is a short, uncertain, imperfect, and miserable home: it is heaven, that is our true country and home, as being our Father’s house; while then we are in this home of our bodies, we are away from our glorious home, and from the Lord, who is the Owner and Maker of it.

2 Corinthians 5:7

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

(For we do only now, by our faith, enjoy God; but are as strangers, yet, in regard of our present sight and fruition of him:)

2 Corinthians 5:8

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

We are, I say, confident to undergo our dissolution, and willing rather to be freed and delivered from our body and to be present with the Lord, than to be still in the body and absent from God.

2 Corinthians 5:9

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

Wherefore we labour, that, whether we live or die, whether our souls be present in our bodies or separated from them by death, we may be graciously accepted of him.

2 Corinthians 5:11

Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest unto your consciences.

Knowing therefore the terror of this dreadful judgment, and the awfulness of that Lord who shall appear in it, we persuade men to a conscionable fear and obedience: and, for us, we are careful to be approved of God in our sincerity and faithfulness to him, in our ministry; and I trust also, ye yourselves, in your own consciences, cannot but allow and give testimony thereof.

2 Corinthians 5:12

For we commend not ourselves again unto you, but give you occasion to glory on our behalf, that you may have somewhat to answer them &c.

But we speak this, to give you occasion, rather to rejoice and boast, on our behalf; that you may have somewhat to answer those false apostles, which make a shew of joy and confidence, but indeed have no truth thereof in their hearts.

2 Corinthians 5:13

For whether we be besides ourselves, it is to God: or whether we be sober, it is for your cause.

Neither let any man censure us for this our gloriation, as if we were over-carried beyond the bounds of discretion, or as if this zeal and boasting savoured of some kind of madness: for, if we be thought to be besides ourselves, it is for our fervent love to God and his Gospel, that we are so reproached; and, if we be sober, it is for your cause, that we might give an example of meekness unto you.

2 Corinthians 5:14

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

For the wonderful and infinite love of Christ, wherewith he embraced mankind, offers a holy force and violence unto us; because we do thus rightly and justly judge, that we were all dead and lost by reason of our sin; otherwise, that only and dear Saviour of ours would not have died for all:

2 Corinthians 5:15

And 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.

And, withal that his purpose of dying for all was this, that they, which live by the power and efficacy of his death, should not live unto themselves, any more, but unto him, and for his glory and advantage, who died for them and rose again.

2 Corinthians 5:16

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.

Wherefore, henceforth, we do not respect and esteem any man for these outward and fleshly regards of honour, or wealth, or parentage, or the like: yea, if heretofore we have boasted of Christ for any fleshly respects or interest, as that he was of the same city, country, kindred with us; yet henceforth, we stand no more upon these points, but rather boast ourselves of him in spiritual regards, as our Redeemer, as our gracious and all-sufficient Mediator, interceding for us in heaven.

2 Corinthians 5:17

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

Therefore, if any man do challenge to have any right in Christ, or any station in his spiritual kingdom, let him be a new creature, renewed by the grace of his Spirit. All the old, out-worn conditions of our sinful nature, and the appendances thereof, are now gone and past: all things, that are in us, are now become new, by the power of regeneration.

2 Corinthians 5:18

And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself.

And all things are thus renewed by the power and grace of God; who hath reconciled, &c.

2 Corinthians 5:19

To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them.

God was in Christ, as the Father in the Son, reconciling the world to himself, by Christ the Son; by his full satisfaction so doing away their sins, as that he imputes them not to the penitent, to the believer, etc.

2 Corinthians 5:21

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

For he hath made him, who knew no sin, to undergo and satisfy, in our stead, that wrath which was due to our sin; that we might be made partakers of his righteousness, before God, by the merciful imputation thereof unto us.