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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 2 Corinthians 5:1-11

The apostle in these verses pursues the argument of the former chapter, concerning the grounds of their courage and patience under afflictions. And, I. He mentions their expectation, and desire, and assurance, of eternal happiness after death, 2 Cor. 5:1-5. Observe particularly, 1. The believer's expectation of eternal happiness after death, 2 Cor. 5:1. He does not only know, or is well assured by faith of the truth and reality of the thing itself?that there is another and a happy life after... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - 2 Corinthians 5:1-10

5:1-10 For we know that if this earthly house of ours, that tent which is the body is pulled down, we have a building which comes from God, a house not made with hands, eternal and in the heavens. For indeed so long as we are as we are we earnestly long to put on our abode which is from heaven, and if indeed we have put it on we shall not be found naked. For, while we are in this tent of the body, we groan, for life weighs us down, for it is not so much that we desire to be stripped of this... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Corinthians 5:8

We are confident, I say, and willing rather ,.... We are cheerful in our present state, being assured of future happiness; though we choose rather to be absent from the body ; that is, to die, to depart out of this world. The interval between death, and the resurrection, is a state of absence from the body, during which time the soul is disembodied, and exists in a separate state; not in a state of inactivity and sleep, for that would not be desirable, but of happiness and glory,... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Corinthians 5:8

We are confident - We are of good courage, notwithstanding our many difficulties; because we have this earnest of the Spirit, and the unfailing testimony of God. And notwithstanding this, we are willing rather to be absent from the body - we certainly prefer a state of glory to a state of suffering, and the enjoyment of the beatific vision to even the anticipation of it by faith and hope; but, as Christians, we cannot desire to die before our time. read more

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 5:1-9

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 5:8

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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