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John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Corinthians 5:8

Verse 8 8.We are confident, I say He again repeats, what he had said respecting the confidence of the pious — that they are so far from breaking down under the severity of the cross, and from being disheartened by afflictions, that they are made thereby more courageous. For the worst of evils is death, yet believers long to attain it, as being the commencement of perfect blessedness. Hence and may be regarded as equivalent to because, in this way: “Nothing can befall us, that can shake our... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Corinthians 5:1-7

"For we know that if our earthly house," etc. Two things are to be noticed at the outset. 1 . Metaphorical representations of the body. The body is here spoken of under the figure of a "tabernacle" or a tent, and of a vestment or clothing. These two things would not be so distinct in the mind of the apostle as they are in ours, for both had the same qualities of movableness and protection . The "house" to which the apostle refers was not a building of bricks or stone, a... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Corinthians 5:1-9

I. THE BODY THAT NOW IS . 1 . Frail. 2 . Perishing. 3 . Often a burden. 4 . Frequently a temptation. 5 . Not helpful to spiritual life. 6 . Subject to many pains. 7 . Debased. II. THE BODY THAT SHALL BE . 1 . Eternal . ( 2 Corinthians 5:1 .) Having no tendencies towards decay, no marks of coming death. A body of life . Stamped with the eternalness of God. 2 . Heavenly . ( 2 Corinthians 5:1 .) The first body is of the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Corinthians 5:1-10

The hope of the future rife is the great support of our efforts. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Corinthians 5:1-10

Death intervenes between the present state of affliction and the glory of heaven, but death is only the destruction of the body now existing. It is not an end to bodily form and life. This is no speculation of the apostle's; it is an assurance, "for we know " that if this earthly tent be destroyed, it will be followed by an enduring habitation—a mansion, not a tabernacle. In the earthly body he groans, not because it is a body, but because it is flesh and blood suffering under the effects... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Corinthians 5:6

Therefore we are always confident; literally, being of good courage . The sentence in the Greek is unfinished (an anacoluthon), but is resumed after the parenthesis by the repetition, "we are of good courage." Always ( 2 Corinthians 4:8 ). We are at home in the body. The tent is pitched in the desert, and even the pillar of fire can only shine through its folds. Yet the tent may become brighter and brighter as life goes on. "To me the thought of death is terrible, Having such... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Corinthians 5:6

To those disciples and apostles who were with the Lord Jesus during his earthly ministry, the separation which commenced upon his ascension must have been painful indeed. In the case of Paul, however, the language employed in this passage scarcely seems so natural. But we learn from the record of his sentiments what ought to be to all Christians their first thought, their governing principle, viz. their relation to Jesus Christ. The earthly state of all such is a state of absence from the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Corinthians 5:7

For we walk by faith ( 2 Corinthians 4:18 ; Hebrews 11:1 ; Romans 8:25 ). Not by sight; rather, not by appearance; not by anything actually seen . We do not yet see "face to face" ( 1 Corinthians 13:12 ), but are guided by things which "eye hath not seen." read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Corinthians 5:8

To be absent, etc.; literally, to be away from the home of the body, but to be at home with the Lord . To be present with the Lord. The hope expressed is exactly the same as in Philippians 1:23 , except that here (as in Philippians 1:4 ) he expresses a desire not "to depart," but to be quit of the body without the necessity for death. read more

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