CHAPTER 5

(A.D. 60)

WITH THE LORD

¹For we know that if our earthly house of this Tabernacle were dissolved (our physical body, which is not permanent), we have a building of God (refers to the Glorified Body, which all Saints will gain at the Resurrection), an house not made with hands, eternal in the Heavens. (This Glorified Body is Created by God, and will last and live forever.)

²For in this (this present physical body) we groan (not complaining, but rather seeing by Faith that which is to come and, thereby, longing for it to arrive), earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from Heaven (concerns the coming Resurrection, when the corruptible shall put on incorruption and the mortal will put on immortality):

³If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked (will not be destitute of covering, but will be clothed with light [I Cor. 15:41-42]).

⁴For we who are in this Tabernacle do groan, being burdened (not for death, for death is an enemy, but rather for the coming Resurrection): not for that we would be unclothed (we do not desire to die, nor are we unwilling to bear these burdens as long as God shall appoint), but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life. (This refers to putting on immortality [I Cor. 15:35-54].)

⁵Now He Who has wrought us for the selfsame thing is God (is preparing us for Resurrection), Who also has given unto us the earnest of the Spirit (a down payment with the totality coming shortly).

⁶Therefore we are always confident (proclaims a guarantee), knowing that, while we are at home in the body (makes an important distinction between the person and his physical body), we are absent from the Lord (but will be with Him forever at the Resurrection):

⁷(For we walk by Faith (has reference to the fact that life is a journey, and the Christian is traveling to another country), not by sight:) (This refers to the things we can presently see. It is Faith that controls us, not sight.)

⁸We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body (this physical body is merely a house in which the real person resides), and to be present with the Lord. (Death holds no terror for the Child of God.)

LABOR

⁹Wherefore we labour (are ambitious), that, whether present (with Christ) or absent (still in this world), we may be accepted of Him (approved by Him, which we will be if our Faith is in Christ and the Cross).

¹⁰For we must all appear before the Judgment Seat of Christ (this will take place in Heaven, and will probably transpire immediately before the Second Coming); that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he has done, whether it be good or bad. (This concerns our life lived for the Lord. Sins will not be judged here, but rather our motivation and faithfulness, for sin was judged at Calvary.)

¹¹Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord (should have been translated, fear), we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God (what we do, we do before Him, seeking only to have His leading, guidance, direction, and approval); and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences. (If our Message is acceptable to the Lord, it surely should be acceptable to Believers.)

¹²For we commend not ourselves again unto you (shouldnt have to, because they knew Paul), but give you occasion to glory on our behalf (to stand up for us), that you may have somewhat to answer them which glory in appearance, and not in heart. (This presents Paul desiring no false praise from anyone, but wanting true recognition.)

¹³For whether we be beside ourselves, it is to God (pertain to the idea that his detractors were accusing him of being mentally unbalanced): or whether we be sober, it is for your cause. (This refers to being of sound mind, and to be thought of as such. Some said he was insane, and some said he was too sober.)

RECONCILIATION

¹⁴For the Love of Christ constrains us (what Christ did for us at the Cross); because we thus judge, that if one died for all (Christ died for the whole world, and for all time), then were all dead (we are all dead in trespasses and sins):

¹⁵And that He died for all (brings the reader back to the supreme Sacrifice paid by Christ), that they which live (accept Christ) should not henceforth live unto themselves (we now belong to Christ), but unto Him which died for them, and rose again (to do His Will in our lives).

¹⁶Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh (pertains to any and all things that characterize humanity in this present world): yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we Him no more. (We are to know Him exclusively as Saviour, which was accomplished by the Cross.)

¹⁷Therefore if any man be in Christ (Saved by the Blood), he is a new creature (a new creation): old things are passed away (what we were before Salvation); behold, all things are become new. (The old is no longer useable, with everything given to us now by Christ as new.)

¹⁸And all things are of God (all these new things), Who has reconciled us to Himself by Jesus Christ (which He was able to do as a result of the Cross), and has given to us the Ministry of Reconciliation (pertains to announcing to men the nature and conditions of this Plan of being Reconciled, which is summed up in the Preaching of the Cross [I Cor. 1:21, 23]);

¹⁹To wit, that God was in Christ (by the agency of Christ), reconciling the world unto Himself (represents the Atonement as the work of the Blessed Trinity and the result of love, not of wrath), not imputing their trespasses unto them (refers to the fact that the penalty for these trespasses was imputed to Christ instead); and has committed unto us the Word of Reconciliation. (All Believers are to Preach the Cross in one way or the other [I Cor. 1:18].)

²⁰Now then we are Ambassadors for Christ (one empowered to deliver a message for another), as though God did beseech you by us (it is to be understood that our Message is to be regarded as the Message of God): we pray you in Christs stead (as though He were performing the task), be ye reconciled to God. (It can only be done by accepting Christ and what He did for us at the Cross.)

²¹For He (God the Father) has made Him (Christ)to be sin for us (the Sin-Offering [Isa. 53:6, 10; I Pet. 2:24]), Who knew no sin (He was not guilty; He was perfectly Holy and Pure); that we might be made the Righteousness of God in Him (made so by accepting what He did for us at the Cross).