2 Corinthians 5:1 ESV Context
The apostle Paul reveals much about himself in his letters to the Corinthians—personal experiences of suffering for Christ and a mysterious thorn in his flesh.
His second letter admonishes the church at Corinth to lay aside offense, practice forgiveness, mend division, and be about the work of spreading the gospel.
Paul is setting up a perspective adjustment: We will all one day perish. Our difficulties are temporary, and we are promised an eternal home.
What a way to get the reader’s attention and drive home the facts. We have all sinned and fallen short. We are all saved by his grace.
We have a great promise to live toward. And we are mandated to share about it with others.
2 Corinthians 5:1 ESV Meaning
But we get distracted. We become heavy-laden with the way of this world. Many people— believers and nonbelievers—are worried about the temporariness of our earthly bodies.
Death bothers us—who wants to talk about their body being destroyed?! Some of us fear death itself, while others are anxious about the unknown existence beyond it. Some are troubled by the idea that death might be painful.
Still others of us might be reticent to admit that we secretly welcome death since we unfortunately suffer from ailments and difficulties in this tent of our earthly home.
Our circumstances span a range from temporary discomfort to excruciating pain to chronic, lifelong conditions. Lord, have mercy on us.
2 Corinthians 5:1 ESV Application
But we, Christ’s followers, have the tremendous opportunity to trust Jesus’ own promises about how we will one day live together with him in heaven.
This is the blessed assurance! Paul reminds us of it here in these verses. He is Lord of it all. Lord of our bodies though they be temporary as tents in the desert.
Lord of our hearts as we combat fear, worry, and anxiety over the issues of this life. Lord of our experiences as we navigate pitfalls, injustices, and frustrations.
Our Father asks us to take the long view. He reminds us it’s all temporary, and promises he is building a house for us with him in paradise—heaven, our eternal home.
Something inside us resonates with this certainty, for we are, after all, created for union with God.
May his peace fill us up today as we look on his beautiful provision for us, remembering Christ’s sacrifice that made it just so.
May the promise of an eternal existence with God in heaven replace the discomfort of today’s afflictions.
“At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in worship and said: ‘Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart.
The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; may the name of the LORD be praised.’”