2 Corinthians 5:9

2 Corinthians 5:9 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him.
• New International Version (NIV)So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it.
• English Standard Version (ESV)So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him.

Context of 2 Corinthians 5:9

7Indeed, our lives are guided by faith, not by sight. 8We are confident and prefer to live away from this body and to live with the Lord. Whether we live in the body or move out of it, our goal is to be pleasing to him. 10All of us must appear in front of Christ’s judgment seat. Then all people will receive what they deserve for the good or evil they have done while living in their bodies. 11As people who know what it means to fear the Lord, we try to persuade others. God already knows what we are, and I hope that you also know what we are.

2 Corinthians 5:9 word by word

διὸ καὶ φιλοτιμούμεθα, εἴτε ἐνδημοῦντες εἴτε ἐκδημοῦντες, εὐάρεστοι αὐτῷ εἶναι·Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Whereforeδιόdio · thereforeG1352
• we labourφιλοτιμέομαιphilotimeomai · to aspireG5389
• thatκαίkai · andG2532
• whetherεἴτεeite · whetherG1535
• presentἐνδημέωendēmeō · be homeG1736
• absentἐκδημέωekdēmeō · be awayG1553
• we may beεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• acceptedεὐάρεστοςeuarestos · well-pleasingG2101
• of himαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846

Cross-references for 2 Corinthians 5:9

• John 6:27Don’t work for food that spoils. Instead, work for the food that lasts into eternal life. This is the food the Son of Man will give you. After all, the Father has placed his seal of approval on him.”
• Romans 15:20My goal was to spread the Good News where the name of Christ was not known. I didn’t want to build on a foundation which others had laid.
• 1 Corinthians 9:26So I run—but not without a clear goal ahead of me. So I box—but not as if I were just shadow boxing.
• 1 Corinthians 15:58So, then, brothers and sisters, don’t let anyone move you off the foundation ⌞of your faith⌟. Always excel in the work you do for the Lord. You know that the hard work you do for the Lord is not pointless.
• Colossians 1:29I work hard and struggle to do this while his mighty power works in me.
• 1 Thessalonians 4:11Also, make it your goal to live quietly, do your work, and earn your own living, as we ordered you.
• 1 Timothy 4:10Certainly, we work hard and struggle to live a godly life, because we place our confidence in the living God. He is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe.
• Hebrews 4:11So we must make every effort to enter that place of rest. Then no one will be lost by following the example of those who refused to obey.
• 2 Peter 1:10Therefore, brothers and sisters, use more effort to make God’s calling and choosing of you secure. If you keep doing this, you will never fall away.
• 2 Peter 3:14Therefore, dear friends, with this to look forward to, make every effort to have him find you at peace, without ⌞spiritual⌟ stains or blemishes.
• 2 Corinthians 5:6So we are always confident. We know that as long as we are living in these bodies, we are living away from the Lord.
• Romans 14:8If we live, we honor the Lord, and if we die, we honor the Lord. So whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.
• Genesis 4:7If you do well, won’t you be accepted? But if you don’t do well, sin is lying outside your door ready to attack. It wants to control you, but you must master it.”
• Isaiah 56:7Then I will bring them to my holy mountain and make them happy in my house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be acceptable on my altar, because my house will be called a house of prayer for all nations.
• Acts 10:35Rather, whoever respects God and does what is right is acceptable to him in any nation.
• Ephesians 1:6so that the kindness he had given us in his dear Son would be praised and given glory.

Commentaries on 2 Corinthians 5:9

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 9Wherefore we labor - · from , loving, and , 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 - ͅ 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, to study to love…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 9Wherefore - ( ̀ Dio). In view of the facts stated above. Since we have the prospect of a resurrection and of future glory; since we have the assurance that there is a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens; and since God has given to us this hope, and has granted to us the earnest of the Spirit, we make it our great object so to live as to be accepted by him. We labor - The word used here ( ́ philotimoumethafrom ́ and ̀ timēloving honor) means…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 9-15Verses 9-15 The apostle quickens himself and others to acts of duty. Well-grounded hopes of heaven will not encourage sloth and sinful security. Let all consider the judgment to come, which is called, The terror of the Lord. Knowing what terrible vengeance the Lord would execute upon the workers of iniquity, the apostle and his brethren used every argument and persuasion, to lead men to believe in the Lord Jesus, and to act as his disciples. Their zeal…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 9-10The goal of life is to please him (see also Romans 12:1–2; 14:18; Colossians 1:10; 1 Thessalonians 4:1). This goal will be tested when we stand before Christ for judgment. The judge is also our advocate, so we are confident of being found not guilty (Romans 8:1, 33–34). However, actions done in this earthly body will be evaluated and held accountable (Acts 17:31).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 99. Wherefore--with such a sure "confidence" of being blessed, whether we die before, or be found alive at Christ's coming. we labour--literally, "make it our ambition"; the only lawful ambition. whether present or absent--whether we be found at His coming present in the body, or absent from it. accepted--Greek, "well-pleasing."Read the comment

Topics related to 2 Corinthians 5:9

• Man
• Perseverance
• Zeal, Religious

In the dictionaries

• Appear
• Constrain
• Corinthians, Second Epistle to the
• Earthly
• Faith
• Groan
• Pray
• Reconcile
• Sin
• Terror

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