Introductory remarks:
Paul uses the person of Jesus Christ in this chapter to comfort the Corinthian believers. "We will have a heavenly body and the assurance of the promise is the indwelling Holy Spirit. We will be judged for what we do in this body so we should live for God's approval (that is, His well done thou good and faithful servant). Since Christ died for us, we should live for Him (true motive). Instead of giving people what they deserve for their sins, Christ urges the world to be reconciled to God and be made righteous through Him: (A Survey of 2 Corinthians - By Brenda). This chapter may be outlined as follows: Living by faith continued vv. 1-10; the ministry of reconciliation vv. 11-21.
Living by Faith Continued
Verse 1, "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."
LGT "For we know that if our earthly house of the tabernacle be dissolved, a building from God we have, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens."
For we know: Paul does not say, "we Hope", but we know the following to be true. That if our earthly house: our bodies that are created for existence in this terrestrial universe. Of the tabernacle: this denotes a tent-house in that it is, as Vincent points out, "transient" (fleeting). This is in contrast with the eternal building, a new eternal body; God has in store for us. Be dissolved: the Greek word for "dissolved" is "loosened down", as when you take down a tent, which is this earthly tabernacle. Our earthly bodies begin to decay the moment we are born, and will eventually be dissolved. A building from God we have: this is the promise for every believer in the Lord Jesus Christ. Paul says, "we have", and not I hope we will have this building from God. This building Paul is speaking of is our new eternal body, a building, not a dissolvable tent. Vincent writes: "The building from God is an actual possession in virtue of the believer's union with Christ." A house not made with hands: this spiritual house we have right now in the heavens is not made with human hands, but spoken into existence by God the same as this universe. Eternal in the heavens: just as our position in Christ is that we are seated with Him the heavenlies, our eternal bodies are there also waiting our arrival. If you have confidence in the one position (in Christ), you certainly must have confidence in the other (our new eternal bodies); this is a wonderful comfort, and grows stronger as the years on this earth goes by.
Verse 2, "For this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven."
LGT "For indeed in this we groan, longing to be clothed with our (spiritual) house which [is] from heaven."
For indeed in this: this earthly tabernacle. We groan: the older we get, the more we groan. Longing to be clothed: when this mortal takes on immortality; after leaving this earthly body, I will put on my new heavenly, eternal body. When I was young I didn't think much about leaving this earth, but as the years go by, my spirit longs to be where there are no more tears, and no more pain and suffering. With our spiritual house which is from heaven: My new immortal body is waiting for me to join it; when I die, I leave behind this old earthly carcass, and I will be joined to my new eternal body that is equipped for eternity.
Verse 3, "If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked."
LGT "If indeed also being clothed, we shall be found not naked."
When Adam and Eve sinned they were immediately found naked and ashamed. When a believer dies he or she immediately goes before the presence of the Lord dressed in Christ's righteousness. Our souls will be adorned with an incorruptible body, so that we will not be simply a naked soul, as the unbeliever in hell. We will be clothed with the robe of righteousness. "We shall be clothed with the wedding garment of Christ's righteousness; for concerning those that do not die in the Lord, that do not watch, and keep their garments, it is said, Rev. 16:15, they shall walk naked, and men shall see their shame" (Matthew Poole).
Verse 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."
LGT "For indeed we groan who are in the tabernacle being burdened, for that we do not wish to be unclothed, but to be clothed upon, in order that the mortal may be swallowed up by the life."
For indeed we groan who are in the tabernacle: the believer groans because he is caught up in this mortal body as a prison, that he is kept from the bliss of heaven. Being burdened: this life is but a veil of tears to the believer in the Lord Jesus Christ. "Hence the believer feels this life to be a burden, because in it they cannot enjoy true and perfect blessedness, because they cannot escape from the bondage of sin otherwise than by death, and hence they aspire to be elsewhere" (Calvin). For that we do not wish to be unclothed: it is not because of the burdens of this life, but patience to bear them as long as God permits. But to be clothed upon: to take on the immortal bodies in heaven. "It was not, therefore, a mere desire to be released from sufferings; it was an earnest wish to be admitted to the glories of the future world, and partake of the happiness which we would enjoy there" (Barnes). In order that the mortal may be swallowed up by the life: the eternal expectation of the coming life of immortality where this mortal body will no longer be subject to pain and suffering, and especially sin.
Verse 5, "Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit."
LGT "Now He who wrought out us for the same thing [is] God, who gave to us the earnest of the Spirit."
Now He who wrought out us for the same thing is God: God has planned it this way, that we should be fitted with immortality. The beauty of this whole plan of God is that it is an accomplished fact. Christ died that we might have "life, and have it more abundantly." Who gave to us the earnest of the Spirit: the earnest means a down payment on things to come. While we struggle through this life, we have the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit to comfort us, and to guide us through the Word of God, and this is the earnest payment from God for things to come. We have no reason to despair unless we allow ourselves to.
Verse 6, "Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord."
LGT "Being always confident therefore, and knowing that being home in the body we are away from the Lord."
This is really the confidence of the believer. There is a seeming contradiction in the phrase away from the Lord, but in the context it means that because of the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit we are confident; the being away from the Lord is simply that we do not see Him face to face, but we will soon, and then we will "know even as we are Known."
Verse 7, "(For we walk by faith, not by sight:)"
LGT "(For by faith we walk, not by appearance)"
We walk by faith in that we do not yet see Him face to face. Paul says that he knows the treasures that are laid up for him because he takes the Word of God to be true, that is, he walks by faith. Now the unbeliever walks simply by what appears, because the things of God are hid from them because they refuse to believe in Jesus Christ. The only way we can have confidence is in the Word of God; we walk by faith in what is to be, and what has been accomplished by Christ on our behalf, not what appears to be; we have this confidence because of the earnest of the Spirit dwelling in us.
The editor of Calvin's Commentary notes:
"Faith is the confidence of things hoped for; because it assures us, not only that there are such things, but that, through the power and faithfulness of God, we shall enjoy them. It is the substance of things hoped for, because it gives them, although future, a present subsistence in the minds of believers, so that they are influenced by them as if they were actually present. Thus the word understood by some of the Greek commentators, who were the most competent judges of its meaning. 'Since things which we hope for,' says Chrysostom, 'seem not to subsist, faith gives them subsistence, or rather it does not give it, but is itself their substance. Thus the resurrection of the dead is not past, nor does it subsist, but faith gives it subsistence in our souls.' 'Faith,' says another, 'gives subsistence to the resurrection of the dead, and places it before our eyes. . . . . The objects of faith are not only future good, but invisible things, both good and evil, which are made known by divine revelation; and of these it is the evidence, (elegcos,) the demonstration or conviction. . . . . Being past, and future, and invisible on account of their distance from us, or the spirituality of their nature, they cannot be discovered by our senses, but the conviction of their reality is as strong in the mind of a believer, as if they were placed before his eyes."
Verse 8, "We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord."
LGT "We are of good courage, and are well pleased rather to be from home out of the body and to be at home with the Lord."
We are of good courage: the Greek word for "confident" means good cheer, and is well expressed by good courage. Nothing can shake the confidence of the apostles because death to them is great gain; and I might add, it is great gain to all who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. And are well pleased: the word willing means "well pleased. Paul expresses complete satisfaction for the future. To be from home out of the body: Paul does not only express contempt for death, but invites it. And to be at home with the Lord: This world is not home for Paul, for his home is in heaven; what a healthy spiritual attitude we should all have regarding this world and its veil of tears. We should live in this world with the full expectation that it is passing and all the lusts with it. Heaven is what we believers look forward to, with all confidence of our faith. As the old Negro spiritual goes, "This world is not my home I'm just passing through; my treasures are laid up, some where beyond the blue." All that we can build here in this world that is earthly, has only a transient nature; but building heavenly crowns has an eternal nature.
Verse 9, "Wherefore we labor, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of Him."
LGT "Wherefore: also we make it our aim, whether being at home or being from home, well pleasing to Him to be."
Wherefore: in the light of what has been taught about the resurrection of the saints. Also we make it our aim: the Greek word here means to be ambitious in a good sense. The Greek word is philotimos (philo- love and timos- honor). This is the motive for their toil. Whether being at home: at home with the Lord. Or being from home: here on earth. Well pleasing to Him to be: it was Paul's aim to please the Lord at all times. Now the question comes to mind about what I have been saying about not living to please God, because He is already pleased with us. My point is that we should not try and please Him from an improper motive, that is, that we can do anything for Him; The Lord does not need anything from us, but He does want to be able to live through us. You see; all we can do is yield to Him, obeying the Word of God, and then submitting to the precepts of the Word.
Verse 10, "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."
LGT "For we all must be made manifest before the judgment seat of Christ, in order that each may receive the things [done] in the body, according to what he did, whether good or worthless."
For we all must be made manifest: "must appear" as the Authorized Version has it is not clear enough; for it simply implies that we all must be present before the Bar; to be made manifest is better because we will be revealed as we really are. Before the judgment seat of Christ: Christ is Creator, Savior, and judge of us all. "But while Paul, from a holy desire of acting aright, constantly saw himself before the bar of Christ, he had it in view to reprove indirectly those ambitious teachers, who reckoned it enough to have the plaudits (applause) of their fellow-men ("Reckoned it enough to have the applause of men, like persons who act some part in a theater")" (Calvin). In order that each may receive the things done in the body, according to what he did: These things are what we have done in the service of the Lord, and does not refer to sins, because our sins have been paid for by Christ on the cross. Whether good or worthless: the Greek word for "bad" is phaulon, which means refuse and is worthless. The idea here is that it is our motives that come into view and not our deeds. We will be judged by our motives, and this boils down to whether our deeds were divinely motivated, or self-motivated, that is, divine good versus human good. So much could be written on this subject, but suffice it to say, we must examine our motives now, so that they will pass the test of Christ's perfect righteousness at the "Bema Seat." We must judge ourselves now so that we will not be judged later and found wanting. One last thing on this verse; only believers will stand before Christ at the Bema Seat, and only unbelievers will stand before the Great White Throne Judgment at the last day.
The Ministry of Reconciliation
Verse 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 in your consciences."
LGT "Knowing therefore the fear of the Lord, we try to persuade men, but to God we have been made manifest, and I hope also in your consciences to have been made manifest."
Knowing therefore the fear of the Lord: Paul has this picture of fearing the Lord with verse 10 in mind. What the fear is, is not receiving a reward. We who are apostles, who are called to preach the gospel, know the fear of the Lord, which is why: we try to persuade men: we try to persuade Christians to prepare for the Bema Seat. But to God we have been made manifest: God knows that our motives are pure, and that we sincerely desire to convince men with the Gospel of Grace. And I hope also in your consciences to have been made manifest: Paul says that he hopes that the believers in Corinth are also convinced of their pure motives and sincere desires.
Verse 12, "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."
LGT "Not again ourselves do we commend to you, but are giving occasion to you of boasting in behalf of us, in order that you may have [such] towards those boasting in appearance and not in heart."
Not again ourselves do we commend to you: we apostles are not commending ourselves to you, for it is the Word of God that we bring to you; anything we might say about ourselves it is for the glory of the Lord that we speak. But are giving occasion to you of boasting in behalf of us: Paul says that it was their duty to plead his apostleship on his behalf, and not his responsibility; if they did not do this, he would. Some might misrepresent Paul's speaking about his apostleship, and misconstrue it to be boastful out of vainglorious pride. Whatever I do it is for your benefit and not my own pleasure. In order that you may have such towards those boasting in appearance and not in heart: those false teachers that are seeking their own popularity in their teaching. Writing of these false teachers in Corinth, Barnes notes: "Probably they boasted of their rank, their eloquence, their talents, their external advantages; but not in the qualities of the heart - in sincerity, honesty, real love for souls. Their consciences would not allow them to do this; and they knew themselves that their boasting was mere vain pretence, and that there was no real and solid ground for it." Most preachers today would fall under this false teacher description.
Verse 13, "For whether we be beside ourselves, it is to God: or whether we be sober, it is for your cause."
LGT "For whether we are beside ourselves, [it was] to God: or are sober-minded [it is] for you."
For whether we are beside ourselves: Paul says that some have made charges against him that he was crazy, such as Festus in Acts 26:24, after hearing Paul speak with unknown tongues. It was to God: it is for the glory of God that we speak, and if we are perceived to be crazy because of our zeal for God, so be it. Or are sober-minded it is for you: our love for God is extended to all other believers. Paul says that it is for their own salvation that motivates him, because of how much God loves them all.
Verses 14, 15, "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."
LGT "For the love of the Christ constrains us, having judged this, that if One died on behalf of all, then all died; and on behalf of all He died, in order that they who live no longer to themselves should live, but to Him who on behalf of them died and was raised again."
For the love of the Christ: Paul says that it because of Christ's love for him, Constrains us: it is Christ's love for Paul that holds him together, and limits him to the gospel of grace, regardless of what other men may say about him. Having judged this: Paul says that he has reached this conclusion ever since his conversion on the road to Damascus. The conclusion of this great love of Christ he points out next. That if One died on behalf of all: this is the central theme in all of Paul's doctrine of grace; Christ died on behalf of all, in order that they need not die. Then all died: Christ died for all, and all who believe in Christ die with Him, that is our identification in Christ's death. This death is death to sin, not physical death; we died with Him; we were buried with Him; we rose again with Him; we ascended with Him; we are seated now in the heavenlies with Him; this is the gospel of grace; we are united forever with Him. And on behalf of all He died: the fact that He died for all, not all will live, because they do not accept the fact that He died for them. In order that they who live no longer live to themselves should live: because Christ died for us, we have the high privilege (notice I did not say responsibility) of living unto Him, that is, according to Bible Doctrine. The moment one puts the word responsibility to our living, we are no longer living under grace. The love Christ has for us is the great motivator that limits us to live by the grace of God. But to Him on behalf of them died and was raised again: Paul puts the right emphasis on the resurrection here, for if Christ be not raised, his preaching is in vain. Christ died and rose again for our benefit, not only that we should never die spiritually, but that we might have life, and have it more abundantly.
Verse 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."
LGT "So that we from now know no one according to the flesh: but even we have known Christ according to the flesh, but now no longer we know Him."
So that we from now know no one according to the flesh: since we are dead with Christ, and identified with Him in his resurrection, we no longer live according to the flesh; before we were born again we only knew others by the flesh because we were carnal by our very nature. Of course we know people in the flesh, but we no longer view them from our human nature; all believers are our spiritual brothers, and all unbelievers are strangers because they have only a human nature, and have not been quickened [made alive] by the Holy Spirit and are not members of God's Holy Family. Liberal theology teaches the Fatherhood of God and the brotherhood of man, but this is simply tripe from the pit of hell; the Bible teaches "you must be born again" or you are headed for hell and to Christ-less eternity where "the worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched." But even we have known Christ according to the flesh: I believe Paul was around when they crucified the Lord; he was one of the many Jews who wanted to crucify our Lord, so he did know Christ in His human body. But now no longer we know Him: Paul persecuted the church for following Christ, but after his conversion on the road to Damascus, he only knows Christ from a spiritual perspective; he has the divine viewpoint of the Son of God, because he is born of the Spirit.
Verse 17, "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold all things are become new."
LGT "So that if anyone [be] in Christ, [there is, or he is] a new creation: the old things passed away, behold, they have become new."
This verse is a beautiful testimony of what happens when a man is born again. He once had a negative view of God and Christ, and now views them in the Holy Spirit. Our entire perspective changes, and we begin to view all things from the divine viewpoint. We hear this verse taught that the moment you receive Christ you suddenly stop sinning; of course this is completely foreign to the verse. Paul is not teaching actions, but positional truth of our position in Christ, and that now we view things from a spiritual perspective. Of course when a person is serious and understands his position in Christ, it definitely will help develop spiritual living, but this happens only as we study and apply this wonderful doctrine to our lives; this is known as wisdom. We once were strangers from the Lord, and now since we have been born again, we are family members, that is, Christ is our Big Brother, and God is our Father. If we continue to view things from a worldly viewpoint, it is a sure sign that we are not studying; it certainly does not mean that we are no longer saved. We either choose to live in fellowship with the Lord, or we choose to live a carnal life; it is our choice, but it is sad when we decide to live carnal, for we will not understand nor enjoy the full benefits of all the divine riches of His grace, and the joy of our salvation.
Verse 18, "And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given us the ministry of reconciliation."
LGT "But all things [are] out of God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ, and gave to us the ministry of reconciliation."
But all things are out of God: that is God is the Great Creator who created all things perfect. Who reconciled us to Himself: the word reconciled comes from the Greek word that means to exchange coins. We were made a new creation out of a lost and dying world. Through Christ: Christ paid the penalty for our sins on the cross, and He is the Loving Agent of our reconciliation; "Jesus paid it all, all to Him I owe, sin has left a crimson stain, He washed me white as snow." We are now reconciled to God, and He sees us perfect in Christ. And gave to us the ministry of reconciliation: This ministry is to Paul and the other apostles. "This ministry of reconciliation is announcing to men the nature and the conditions of this plan of being reconciled. We apostles have been appointed to make this known, and to press its acceptation on men" (Barnes).
Verse 19, "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."
LGT "How that God was in Christ Jesus, reconciling [the] world to Himself, not reckoning to them their offences, and having put in us the word of reconciliation."
How that God was in Christ Jesus: God, the planner, through Christ, the Mediator was Reconciling the world to Himself: the entire human race was in view of His reconciling act, and it is only received and fruitful to the ones who believe. God was not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance; however, man has a free will, and is able to accept God's plan of salvation, or reject it; the same Spirit works in all. Not reckoning to them their offences: Christ paid the price for all sin on the cross, and now no one goes to hell because of sin, but only because the reject the full payment in Christ Jesus Our Lord. And having put in us the word of reconciliation: God has given the apostles the doctrine of reconciliation to make it known to the world. The world is now reconciled to God, that is, the world of believers only. The idea of the Fatherhood of God and the brotherhood of man are foreign to any context in the Scriptures.
Verse 20, "Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be reconciled to God."
LGT "For we are ambassadors therefore on behalf of Christ, as it were God exhorting by us: we beseech on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God."
For we are ambassadors therefore on behalf of Christ: the apostles were sent out by Christ to represent Him by proclaiming the gospel of grace exactly as He would proclaim it; they were also given the gifts of the Spirit to insure that they would do this. An ambassador represents the king or sovereign that sends them out, and they must give only what the King of Kings allows, no more, no less. As it were God exhorting us: God speaks through the apostles. When the Word of God is given in the precepts of grace alone, it is to be received as from God. Calvin writes this about the Roman Catholic Priest's desire to be honored as Christ is honored: "If, however, this duty is enjoined upon all the ministers of the Church, in such a way, that he who does discharge this embassy is not regarded either as an Apostle, or as a Pastor, we may readily judge from this, as to the nature of the Pope's entire hierarchy. They are desirous, indeed, to be looked upon as Apostles and Pastors; but as they are dumb idols, how will their haughty boasting correspond with passage of Paul's writings. The word entreat is expressive of an unparalleled commendation of the grace of Christ, inasmuch as He stoops so low, that he does not disdain to entreat us. So much the less excusable is our depravity, if we do not, on meeting with such kindness, show ourselves teachable and compliant." We beseech on behalf of Christ: in Christ's stead. We are to preach the gospel of Grace as He did when on earth. Be reconciled to God: God has removed all obstacles in the way of reconciling man to Himself through Jesus Christ, and now all man has to do is submit to the Gospel of Grace and be saved from Hell, which all men outside of Christ deserve.
Verse 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."
LGT "Him who knew no sin, He made sin on our behalf, in order that we might become righteousness of God in Him."
Him who knew no sin: this can only refer to Christ, for He is the only sinless man, for He is truly human and truly divine. He made sin on our behalf: Christ took our sins on Himself on the cross, and He died spiritually for us, that is, that we would not die spiritually. At the beginning of His three hours of spiritual death He cried "My God, My God, why has Thou forsaken Me." At the end of His three hours of suffering for us, He cried: "Father, into Thy hands I commend My Spirit." You see Christ died on the cross in order that we would not have to die spiritually. In order that we might become righteousness of God in Him: every believer in the Lord Jesus Christ has been made perfect righteousness before God for all eternity; there is not a single thing we can do to improve on our imputed righteousness we now posses. Through Adam we all died spiritually and eventually physically because of imputed sin; now we have Christ's imputed righteousness, so we will never die spiritually, although we will die physically, which to all of us who believe, this physical death is but an entrance to life eternal. This last verse has been my comfort, and has given me strength in my worst trials and weaknesses; Praise God I am His.
Share freely but cite the source: http://bbbiblehelps.epizy.com