Read the Passage: 2 Corinthians 5

Listen to the Redeemed Mind Podcast: 2 Corinthians 5

Physical Resurrection (5:1–8)

In the previous chapter, as he wrote about his own ministry, Paul noted his human frailty and dependence on God. Paul referred to his human body as a mere “earthen vessel” (2 Cor. 4:7) consisting of “mortal flesh” (2 Cor. 4:11) that is continually “perishing” (2 Cor. 4:16). Yet, at 2 Cor. 4:14 Paul cited the hope of resurrection, which he expands upon in 2 Cor. 5:1–8. Here Paul writes about the hope of bodily resurrection in light of decaying earthly bodies that cause believers to “groan, being burdened” (2 Cor. 5:4). Paul is clear that the Christian’s hope is for a renewed, physical body, not disembodiment. Indeed, Paul refers to glorified, material bodies as being from God, eternal, and heavenly (cf. 2 Cor. 5:1–2), while being apart from a material body is to be naked and unclothed (cf. 2 Cor. 5:3–4). The guarantee of a future renewed body is the present indwelling Holy Spirit (cf. 2 Cor. 5:5).

At 2 Cor. 5:4 Paul explained that although we long for a glorified body, we do not “want to be unclothed, but further clothed.” In other words, a believer’s desire for a renewed body ought not to be confused with Gnosticism, which understands the material world to be inherently evil. For Christians, since God created the world good, despite the effects of the fall, “We are at home in the body” (2 Cor. 5:6). Yet, currently, in our as-yet unglorified state we wrestle with the presence of sin and the decay of the flesh, realizing, “We are absent from the Lord” (2 Cor. 5:6). Christians desire a glorified body, then, to be in God’s presence and to see the groanings of the flesh give way to the glory of God. Believers long for a glorified body, but in the present age, “We walk by faith [and] not by sight” (2 Cor. 5:7). Therefore, Christians do not fear death, nor do they work to unnaturally hasten it.

Spiritual Rewards (5:9–11)

Earlier Paul wrote that he would be pleased to depart and to be in God’s presence (cf. 2 Cor. 5:8), yet at 2 Cor. 5:9 Paul reminds his readers that we must please God in our current state. Paul writes that one incentive to please God is, “We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ” (2 Cor. 5:10; cf. 1 Cor. 3:9–15; 4:3–5; Rev. 22:12). For believers, this judgment is not a judgment of sins, for these have all been forgiven in Christ (cf. Isa. 53:6; Eph. 1:7; Col. 2:13–14). Rather, this is a judgment of works; not works done for salvation but works done because of salvation. As Paul explains in this passage, at this judgment, “Each one [will] receive [judgment for] the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad” (2 Cor. 5:10). We should fear God, then, desiring to hear Him say, “Well done good and faithful servant” (Matt. 25:23).

Divine Reconciliation (5:12–21)

At 2 Cor. 5:12 Paul wrote that he would not “commend himself again” to the church by way of responding to the accusations of the false teachers. Rather, Paul wanted the church to defend him to “those who boast in appearance and not in heart” (2 Cor. 5:12). It seems that the false teachers were suggesting that Paul had become mentally unhinged; yet Paul responded, “If we are beside ourselves, it is for God” (2 Cor. 5:13). Next, Paul reveals that his ministry was motivated by the love of Christ (cf. 2 Cor. 5:14). Perhaps emphasizing the self-centered nature of the false teachers’ claims, in 2 Cor. 5:15 Paul taught, “Christ died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.” In other words, those who live self-centered, self-aggrandizing lifestyles—such as the false teachers—reveal that they are not actually of Christ.

2 Cor. 5:16–21 is one of the mountaintop passages in the Bible, for these six verses contain one of clearest articulations of the gospel in all of Scripture. In 2 Cor. 5:16 Paul teaches that a knowledge of God is vastly different than having a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Then, in 2 Cor. 5:17 Paul observes the transforming nature of the gospel, as Christ makes all things new. In 2 Cor. 5:18–20 Paul teaches that God has reconciled believers to Himself and has given us the privilege of participating in the ministry of reconciliation. Of course, it is always God who reconciles, but man is tasked with spreading the good news of this divine reconciliation. Finally, the pinnacle of this grand passage is Paul’s teaching, “For God made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Cor. 5:21; cf. Rom. 3:20–26; Gal. 3:13; Phil. 3:8–10; 1 Pet. 3:18).

Application Questions:

1. How important is hope for the Christian life? What is the difference between the concepts of worldly hope and Christian hope?
2. What conclusions about the glorified body can be drawn from Scripture (cf. 1 Cor. 15:35–49; 2 Cor. 5:1–5; Rom. 8:18–25)?
3. What does Paul mean in 1 Thess. 4:13 when he instructs the church to not grieve as those who have no hope?
4. When is it wise, and when is it foolish, to defend oneself against false charges, slander, and the like?
5. If God cannot look upon evil and wickedness (cf. Hab. 1:13), how could Jesus become sin for us in His atonement?