2 Corinthians 5:9-10 NIV

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 5:9

Wherefore we labour, that whether present or absent ,.... This may be understood either of the ministers of the Gospel in particular, who labour in the word and doctrine, are ambitious, as the word here used signifies, and strive to preach the Gospel, not to please men, but their Lord and master; or of saints in general, who are intent upon this, and whose highest ambition is, that whether living or dying they may be accepted of him ; both persons and services: such who are born again,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Corinthians 5:10

For we must all appear ,.... This is a reason why the saints are so diligent and laborious, so earnest and intent upon it, to be accepted of the Lord, because they must stand before the judgment seat of Christ ; who is appointed Judge of the whole earth, who is every way qualified for it, being God omnipotent and omniscient; and when he comes a second time will sit upon his great white throne, a symbol of purity and integrity, and will enter on this work, and finish it with the strictest... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Corinthians 5:9

Wherefore we labor - Φιλοτιμουμεθα· from φιλος , loving, and τιμη , honor; we act at all times on the principles of honor; we are, in the proper sense of the word, ambitious to do and say every thing consistently with our high vocation: and, as we claim kindred to the inhabitants of heaven, to act as they do. We may be accepted of him - Ευαρεστοι αυτῳ ειναι To be pleasing to him. Through the love we have to God, we study and labor to please him. This is and will be our heaven,... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Corinthians 5:10

For we must all appear before the judgment seat - We labor to walk so as to please him, because we know that we shall have to give a solemn account of ourselves before the judgment seat of Christ; where he, whose religion we profess, will judge us according to its precepts, and according to the light and grace which it affords. That every one may receive the things - Κομισηται ἑκαστος· That each may receive to himself, into his own hand, his own reward and his own wages. The things... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Corinthians 5:9

Verse 9 9.Wherefore we strive. Having shown how magnanimous Christians ought to be in the endurance of afflictions, (531) so that even in dying they may be conquerors over death, and that too, because by afflictions and death they attain to a blessed life, he now from the same source draws also another conclusion — that they must, by all means, make it their main desire to please God. And indeed it cannot but be, that the hope of a resurrection, and thoughtfulness as to the judgment, will... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Corinthians 5:10

Verse 10 10.We must be manifested. Though this is common to all, yet all without distinction do not raise their views in such a way as to consider every moment, that they must appear before the judgment-seat of Christ. But while Paul, from a holy desire of acting aright, constantly sisted 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 of their fellow-men. (534) For when he says, that no one can... 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