2 Corinthians 5:1

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

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. 2We grow weary in our present bodies, and we long to put on our heavenly bodies like new clothing. 3For we will put on heavenly bodies; we will not be spirits without bodies.

2 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 19:25“But as for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, and he will stand upon the earth at last.
• Psalms 56:9My enemies will retreat when I call to you for help. This I know: God is on my side!
• 2 Timothy 1:12That is why I am suffering here in prison. But I am not ashamed of it, for I know the one in whom I trust, and I am sure that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until the day of his return.
• 1 John 3:2Dear friends, we are already God’s children, but he has not yet shown us what we will be like when Christ appears. But we do know that we will be like him, for we will see him as he really is.
• 1 John 5:19We know that we are children of God and that the world around us is under the control of the evil one.
• 2 Corinthians 5:4While we live in these earthly bodies, we groan and sigh, but it’s not that we want to die and get rid of these bodies that clothe us. Rather, we want to put on our new bodies so that these dying bodies will be swallowed up by life.
• 2 Corinthians 4:7We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves.
• Genesis 3:19By the sweat of your brow will you have food to eat until you return to the ground from which you were made. For you were made from dust, and to dust you will return.”
• Job 4:19how much less will he trust people made of clay! They are made of dust, crushed as easily as a moth.
• 1 Corinthians 15:46What comes first is the natural body, then the spiritual body comes later.
• 2 Peter 1:13And it is only right that I should keep on reminding you as long as I live.
• Job 30:22You throw me into the whirlwind and destroy me in the storm.
• 2 Peter 3:11Since everything around us is going to be destroyed like this, what holy and godly lives you should live,
• John 14:2There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you?
• 1 Corinthians 3:9For we are both God’s workers. And you are God’s field. You are God’s building.
• Hebrews 11:10Abraham was confidently looking forward to a city with eternal foundations, a city designed and built by 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

• Body
• Building
• Death
• Heaven
• House
• Life
• Man
• Resurrection
• Testimony

In the dictionaries

• God
• god, false god, goddess, idol, idolater, idolatrous, idolatry
• Appear
• Building
• Constrain
• Corinthians, Second Epistle to the
• Death
• Earthly
• Faith
• Groan

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