2 Corinthians 5

2 Corinthians 5 falls within a long section in which Paul defends his apostleship and his sufferings. Picking up from "the things which are not seen are eternal" (2 Corinthians 4:18) at the end of 2 Corinthians 4, the chapter addresses the death of the body, the heavenly hope, and the ministry of reconciliation.

Outline

• Verses 1–5 Even if the earthly house of this tabernacle is dissolved, there is an eternal house in heaven. Paul and his coworkers groan, longing to be clothed upon, and have received the Holy Spirit as the earnest, or guarantee, of this hope.
• Verses 6–10 They walk by faith, not by sight. Paul would rather be absent from the body and present with the Lord, yet wherever he is, he seeks to please the Lord. All must appear before the judgment seat of Christ.
• Verses 11–15 Knowing the terror of the Lord, Paul persuades people. The love of Christ constrains him; since one died for all, those who live should live for him.
• Verses 16–17 From now on, they know no one after the flesh. If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature.
• Verses 18–21 God has reconciled the world to himself through Christ and has committed to us the ministry of reconciliation. As an ambassador for Christ, Paul pleads, "Be ye reconciled to God."

Key Verses

• 2 Corinthians 5:17 "If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature" — a representative verse on the believer's new identity.
• 2 Corinthians 5:21 "That we might be made the righteousness of God in him" — frequently cited in explanations of atonement and justification.

People and Places

• Paul: The apostle who wrote the letter. The "we" in the text refers mainly to Paul and his coworkers.
• The church at Corinth: The "you" of the text, the church receiving the letter.
• Jesus Christ: Referred to as the one who died for all and rose again.

Points for Reflection

• Interpretations of verses 1–8 differ regarding the state of the dead between death and the resurrection. Many Protestant traditions read the passage as teaching that deceased believers are immediately with the Lord (2 Corinthians 5:8; Philippians 1:21–23), whereas the Seventh-day Adventist Church reads it differently, regarding death as an unconscious state lasting until the resurrection.
• Some interpret the judgment in verse 10 as a judgment of rewards rather than one determining salvation, while others see it as a judgment of all of one's deeds.
• The word "all" in verses 14–15 is addressed by both Calvinism and Arminianism in debates over the extent of the atonement.
• The Reformed tradition reads verse 21 as a basis for the imputation of Christ's righteousness to the believer. Some scholars, such as N. T. Wright, read it to mean that the apostle displays God's covenant faithfulness.
• The theme of reconciliation connects with Romans 5:6–10, and the new creation with Galatians 6:15.

In the Korean Church

Verses 1–10 are frequently read at funeral services and memorial services. Verse 17 is a popular Scripture memorization verse, often cited at baptisms, at the New Year, and when welcoming new believers.