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.
• 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.
• New Living Translation (NLT)So whether we are here in this body or away from this body, our goal is to please him.

Context of 2 Corinthians 5:9

7For we live by faith, not by sight. 8We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it. 10For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad. 11Since, then, we know what it is to fear the Lord, we try to persuade others. What we are is plain to God, and I hope it is also plain to your conscience.

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 6:27Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on him God the Father has placed his seal of approval.”
• Romans 15:20It has always been my ambition to preach the gospel where Christ was not known, so that I would not be building on someone else’s foundation.
• 1 Corinthians 9:26Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air.
• 1 Corinthians 15:58Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.
• Colossians 1:29To this end I strenuously contend with all the energy Christ so powerfully works in me.
• 1 Thessalonians 4:11and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands, just as we told you,
• 1 Timothy 4:10That is why we labor and strive, because we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all people, and especially of those who believe.
• Hebrews 4:11Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will perish by following their example of disobedience.
• 2 Peter 1:10Therefore, my brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble,
• 2 Peter 3:14So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him.
• 2 Corinthians 5:6Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord.
• Romans 14:8If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.
• Genesis 4:7If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.”
• Isaiah 56:7these I will bring to my holy mountain and give them joy in my house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and sacrifices will be accepted on my altar; for my house will be called a house of prayer for all nations.”
• Acts 10:35but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right.
• Ephesians 1:6to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.

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