BOOK 47 OF 66 · PAULINE EPISTLES · KING JAMES BIBLE

2 Corinthians 5

2 Corinthians book home•Chapter 5 of 13•21 verses

Chapter overviewAt a glance + deeper study

REVIEWED OVERVIEW

2 Corinthians 5 Overview

Paul contrasts the present earthly body with the future heavenly dwelling and longs for resurrection life. Knowing believers must appear before Christ’s judgment seat, he labors to please the Lord. Christ’s love constrains ministry, and God reconciles the world to Himself through Christ, entrusting believers with the word of reconciliation.

2 CorinthiansBook

5Chapter

21Verses

Pauline EpistlesDivision

Before you read 2 Corinthians 5

Coming from

Paul refuses dishonest handling of God’s word and preaches Christ Jesus the Lord rather than himself. The gospel can be veiled to the lost by satanic blindness, yet God shines light into hearts. Ministers carry this treasure in weak earthen vessels and endure affliction while looking beyond temporary suffering to eternal unseen realities.

In this chapter

Leads into

Paul urges the Corinthians not to receive God’s grace in vain for its intended ministry fruit, then catalogs the sufferings and virtues that commend his service. He opens his heart to them and commands believers not to be unequally yoked with unbelievers in compromising spiritual partnership, grounding separation in God’s dwelling among His people.

Key understandingExplore deeper

The judgment seat of Christ concerns believers’ accountable service, not a second trial to determine whether Christ’s gift of eternal life was sufficient.

‘If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature’ describes the believer’s new position and creation identity; it should not be weaponized to claim every saved person instantly displays mature behavior.

Major truths in this chapterExplore deeper

Believers have secure future hope beyond mortal life

The Spirit is given as the earnest of what is to come.

Christian service is accountable to Christ

The judgment seat motivates pleasing the Lord.

Reconciliation is accomplished through Christ

God made Christ to be sin for us so that we might be made God’s righteousness in Him.

Connections to the rest of ScriptureExplore deeper

Romans 5:10–11

Paul explains reconciliation through Christ’s death.

1 Corinthians 3:12–15

Works are tested for reward or loss while the believer remains saved.

Colossians 1:20–22

Reconciliation is again grounded in Christ’s blood and body.

What is clear, and where care is neededExplore deeper

Do not turn the judgment seat into uncertainty about eternal life

Paul elsewhere clearly distinguishes reward/loss from salvation.

Do not use ‘new creature’ as a works test to decide who was truly saved

It states a new reality in Christ, not instant sinless maturity.

Do not make human ministry the cause of reconciliation

God is the reconciler; believers carry His message.

Read 2 Corinthians 5 watching for…

Earthly tabernacle versus heavenly dwelling.

The earnest of the Spirit.

Why Paul labors to please Christ.

The phrase ‘love of Christ constraineth us.’

The ministry and word of reconciliation.

Chapter outline3 sections

1-10Believers long for the heavenly dwelling and will all appear before the judgment seat of Christ 11-17The love of Christ constrains believers to live for him, and those in Christ are new creatures 18-21God reconciles believers to himself through Christ and entrusts the ministry of reconciliation

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.

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

For 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.

Knowing 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.

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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

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

To 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.

Now 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.

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.

STUDY THIS VERSE

2 Corinthians 5:6

Back to verse ↑

Cross References

Cross-reference storage is active. This passage does not yet have curated references loaded.

Related TWBC Resources

The Scripture resource graph is active. Sermons, Bible Overviews, courses, questions, and studies can attach here without changing the Bible text.