God’s Word Translation
2 Corinthians 5:1
1We know that if the life we live here on earth is ever taken down like a tent, we still have a building from God. It is an eternal house in heaven that isn’t made by human hands.
2 Corinthians 5:1 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.
- New International Version (NIV)For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands.
- English Standard Version (ESV)For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.
- New King James Version (NKJV)For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.
Context of 2 Corinthians 5:1
We know that if the life we live here on earth is ever taken down like a tent, we still have a building from God. It is an eternal house in heaven that isn’t made by human hands. 2In our present tent-like existence we sigh, since we long to put on the house we will have in heaven. 3After we have put it on, we won’t be naked.
Read all of 2 Corinthians 52 Corinthians 5:1 word by word
Οἴδαμεν γὰρ ὅτι ἐὰν ἡ ἐπίγειος ἡμῶν οἰκία τοῦ σκήνους καταλυθῇ, οἰκοδομὴν ἐκ θεοῦ ἔχομεν, οἰκίαν ἀχειροποίητον αἰώνιον ἐν τοῖς οὐρανοῖς.Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- Forγάρgar · forG1063
- we knowεἴδωeidō · to perceive: understandG1492
- thatὅτιhoti · that/since: thatG3754
- ifἐάνean · ifG1437
- ourἐγώegō · I/weG1473
- earthlyἐπίγειοςepigeios · earthlyG1919
- houseοἰκίαoikia · homeG3614
- ofἐκek ex · out fromG1537
- tabernacleσκῆνοςskēnos · tentG4636
- were dissolvedκαταλύωkataluō · to destroy/lodgeG2647
- we haveἔχωechō · to have/beG2192
- a buildingοἰκοδομήoikodomē · buildingG3619
- of Godθεόςtheos · GodG2316
- not made with handsἀχειροποίητοςacheiropoiētos · not man-madeG886
- eternalαἰώνιοςaiōnios · eternalG166
- inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
- the heavensοὐρανόςouranos · heavenG3772
Cross-references for 2 Corinthians 5:1
- Job 19:25But I know that my defender lives, and afterwards, he will rise on the earth.
- Psalms 56:9Then my enemies will retreat when I call ⌞to you⌟. This I know: God is on my side.
- 2 Timothy 1:12For this reason I suffer as I do. However, I’m not ashamed. I know whom I trust. I’m convinced that he is able to protect what he had entrusted to me until that day.
- 1 John 3:2Dear friends, now we are God’s children. What we will be isn’t completely clear yet. We do know that when Christ appears we will be like him because we will see him as he is.
- 1 John 5:19We know that we are from God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one.
- 2 Corinthians 5:4While we are in this tent, we sigh. We feel distressed because we don’t want to take off the tent, but we do want to put on the eternal house. Then ⌞eternal⌟ life will put an end to our mortal existence.
- 2 Corinthians 4:7Our bodies are made of clay, yet we have the treasure of the Good News in them. This shows that the superior power of this treasure belongs to God and doesn’t come from us.
- Genesis 3:19By the sweat of your brow, you will produce food to eat until you return to the ground, because you were taken from it. You are dust, and you will return to dust.”
- Job 4:19How much more will he accuse those who live in clay houses that have their foundation in the dust. Those houses can be crushed quicker than a moth!
- 1 Corinthians 15:46The spiritual does not come first, but the physical and then the spiritual.
- 2 Peter 1:13As long as I’m still alive, I think it’s right to refresh your memory.
- Job 30:22You pick me up and let the wind carry me away. You toss me around with a storm.
- 2 Peter 3:11All these things will be destroyed in this way. So think of the kind of holy and godly lives you must live
- John 14:2My Father’s house has many rooms. If that were not true, would I have told you that I’m going to prepare a place for you?
- 1 Corinthians 3:9We are God’s coworkers. You are God’s field. You are God’s building.
- Hebrews 11:10Abraham was waiting for the city that God had designed and built, the city with permanent foundations.
Commentaries on 2 Corinthians 5:1
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 1If our earthly house of this tabernacle - By earthly house, the apostle most evidently means the body in which the soul is represented as dwelling or sojourning for a time, and from which it is to be liberated at death; for as death dissolves the tabernacle, it can then be no habitation for the soul. The apostle also alludes here to the ancient Jewish tabernacle, which, on all removals of the congregation, was dissolved and taken in pieces; and the ark of…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 1For we know - We who are engaged in the work of the gospel ministry. Paul is giving a reason why he and his fellow-laborers did not become weary and faint in their work. The reason was, that they knew that even if their body should die, they had an inheritance reserved for them in heaven. The expression “we know” is the language of strong and unwavering assurance. They had no doubt on the subject. And it proves that there may be the assurance of eternal…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 1The apostle's hope and desire of heavenly glory. (1-8) This excited to diligence. The reasons of his being affected with zeal for the Corinthians. (9-15) The necessity of regeneration, and of reconciliation with God through Christ. (16-21) Verses 1-8 The believer not only is well assured by faith that there is another and a happy life after this is ended, but he has good hope, through grace, of heaven as a dwelling-place, a resting-place, a hiding-place…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-10The idea of eternal hope is promising, with heavenly bodies replacing our dying ones. The God of resurrection will raise us and present us with all believers (4:14). Paul faced challenges in Ephesus, which inspired this statement about resurrection hope (1:8–11). His body's weakness reminded him of life after death, when our earthly body will be taken down in death and decay (see 1 Corinthians 15:42–57; Philippians 3:20–21).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-212Co 5:1-21. The Hope (2Co 4:17, 18) OF Eternal Glory in the Resurrection Body. Hence arises his ambition to be accepted at the Lord's coming judgment. Hence, too, his endeavor to deal openly with men, as with God, in preaching; thus giving the Corinthians whereof to boast concerning him against his adversaries. His constraining motive is the transforming love of Christ, by whom God has wrought reconciliation between Himself and men, and has committed to…Read the comment
Topics related to 2 Corinthians 5:1
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on 2 Corinthians 5
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Illustrated New Testament
- Burkitt’s Expository Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Family Bible Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- The People’s New Testament
- Robertson’s Word Pictures
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
Commentaries