New International Version
2 Corinthians 5:1
1For 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.
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.
- 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.
- New Living Translation (NLT)For we know that when this earthly tent we live in is taken down (that is, when we die and leave this earthly body), we will have a house in heaven, an eternal body made for us by God himself and not by human hands.
Context of 2 Corinthians 5:1
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. 2Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, 3because when we are clothed, we will not be found 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 19:25I know that my redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand on the earth.
- Psalms 56:9Then my enemies will turn back when I call for help. By this I will know that God is for me.
- 2 Timothy 1:12That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet this is no cause for shame, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until that day.
- 1 John 3:2Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.
- 1 John 5:19We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one.
- 2 Corinthians 5:4For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life.
- 2 Corinthians 4:7But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.
- Genesis 3:19By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return.”
- Job 4:19how much more those who live in houses of clay, whose foundations are in the dust, who are crushed more readily than a moth!
- 1 Corinthians 15:46The spiritual did not come first, but the natural, and after that the spiritual.
- 2 Peter 1:13I think it is right to refresh your memory as long as I live in the tent of this body,
- Job 30:22You snatch me up and drive me before the wind; you toss me about in the storm.
- 2 Peter 3:11Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives
- John 14:2My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?
- 1 Corinthians 3:9For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building.
- Hebrews 11:10For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.
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
New International Version — © NIV® 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 Biblica
Commentaries