2 Corinthians 5 1

2 Corinthians 5:1 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.

2 Corinthians 5:1 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.

2 Corinthians 5:1 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.

2 Corinthians 5:1 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.

2 Corinthians 5:1 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.

2 Corinthians 5 verses

2 Corinthians 5 1 Meaning

This verse declares a fundamental Christian assurance regarding the afterlife. It posits that while our current physical body, likened to a temporary and frail "earthly tent" or "tabernacle," is destined for decay and dissolution, believers possess an unshakable hope. This hope is the promise of an immediate and superior divine provision: an eternal, heavenly dwelling, a "building from God, not made by human hands," representing a glorious, spiritual body or state of existence. It contrasts the frailty and transience of earthly life with the certainty and permanence of God's provision for eternity.

2 Corinthians 5 1 Context

This verse is situated at the opening of 2 Corinthians chapter 5, building directly on the preceding chapter. Chapter 4 emphasizes the constant suffering, persecution, and weakness Paul and his fellow ministers endured for the gospel, describing them as "jars of clay" holding "this treasure" (the gospel). Despite these outward hardships, Paul asserts they do not lose heart, for their inner man is being renewed daily, and their focus is on the unseen, eternal realities rather than the seen, temporary afflictions. Verse 1 serves as the direct theological bedrock for this endurance: the present suffering, decay of the physical body (the "earthly tent"), is only temporary because a glorious, eternal dwelling awaits in heaven. It contrasts the temporal, visible afflictions with the eternal, unseen hope. Historically and culturally, the Corinthians were familiar with both Jewish temple/tabernacle imagery and Greek philosophical ideas about the soul's immortality versus the body's mortality, often with varying degrees of certainty or pessimism. Paul provides a distinct, Christian hope rooted in resurrection and God's sovereign power, combating any despair from bodily decay or the Epicurean view of no afterlife.

2 Corinthians 5 1 Word analysis

• For we know: (Greek: eidaμεν, oidamen) Indicates a firm, assured conviction or deep-seated spiritual certainty, not just intellectual understanding or speculation. It is a shared truth among believers.
• that if: (Greek: ean) introduces a conditional clause, implying a recognized possibility – the eventuality of physical death.
• our earthly house: (Greek: hē epigaios hēmōn oikia)
  • epigaios: "earthly," signifying its material, temporal, and perishable nature, connected to the ground.
  • oikia: "house," used metaphorically here to describe the human physical body as a dwelling place.
• of this tabernacle: (Greek: tou skēnous)
  • skēnos: "tent," "booth," or "tabernacle." This word powerfully underscores the temporary, fragile, and mobile nature of the human body, similar to a nomadic tent dwelling. It resonates with the wilderness Tabernacle of Israel, a temporary dwelling for God’s presence, foreshadowing a permanent reality.
• were dissolved: (Greek: katalythē) "to loosen down," "demolish," "destroy," "tear down." It signifies the decay, death, or disintegration of the physical body. It implies the process of dying.
• we have: (Greek: echomen) This is a present tense verb, emphasizing a current possession or a certain, established reality in God’s plan, even if its full manifestation is yet future. It's a statement of assured future tense hope with present tense reality.
• a building of God: (Greek: oikodomēn ek Theou)
  • oikodomēn: "building," "edifice," or "structure," standing in direct contrast to the temporary "tent." It suggests permanence, strength, and solid construction.
  • ek Theou: "from God" or "by God," signifying divine origin and craftsmanship, emphasizing that this future dwelling is divinely prepared, not humanly constructed.
• an house not made with hands: (Greek: oikian acheiropoieton)
  • oikian: "house," reiterates the dwelling place, but now of a different nature.
  • acheiropoieton: "not made with hands," a significant theological term. It refers to something of supernatural, non-material, divine origin, untouched by human effort. It implies a heavenly or spiritual reality that far surpasses anything humanly built, contrasting sharply with the physical "tent." This term appears in biblical discussions about the true sanctuary or spiritual realities.
• eternal in the heavens: (Greek: aiōnion en tois ouranois)
  • aiōnion: "eternal," "ageless," "lasting forever." It stresses the absolute permanence and endless nature of this divine dwelling, directly opposite to the transient "earthly tent."
  • en tois ouranois: "in the heavens," designating its celestial location, its spiritual reality, and its proximity to God’s dwelling place.

Words-group analysis

• "our earthly house of this tabernacle": This phrase succinctly combines two metaphors (house, tabernacle/tent) to emphasize the body's utter fragility, temporary nature, and its connection to the temporal, fallen world. It underscores that our present bodily existence is merely a provisional dwelling.
• "a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens": This unified description presents the counter-hope to bodily decay. Each element—"building," "of God," "not made with hands," "eternal," "in the heavens"—builds upon the others to paint a picture of permanence, divine craftsmanship, spiritual superiority, and endless glory, highlighting the ultimate nature of the believer's future in Christ.

2 Corinthians 5 1 Bonus section

• The Greek term for "tent" (skēnos) in 2 Corinthians 5:1 is closely related to skēnōma (dwelling place) and skēnoum (to pitch a tent or dwell). This root consistently carries the connotation of temporary dwelling in biblical texts, powerfully reinforcing the ephemeral nature of our current bodies.
• The concept of a "heavenly house not made with hands" offers a stark contrast to any humanistic attempts at self-salvation or self-construction of a legacy. It highlights divine sovereignty and grace as the sole source of eternal security.
• Paul’s teaching here does not advocate for Gnostic or Platonic disdain for the physical body, which often viewed the body as a prison. Instead, it anticipates a resurrected, glorified physical body, though one that is transformed to be suited for an eternal, spiritual existence, distinct from this corruptible, flesh-and-blood body. The desire is not for nakedness (lack of body) but for a better covering.

2 Corinthians 5 1 Commentary

2 Corinthians 5:1 is a profound statement of Christian eschatology and hope, offering immense comfort amidst earthly suffering. Paul, deeply familiar with physical affliction, confidently declares a theological certainty that transcends the inevitable decay of the human body. He contrasts the body, likened to a fragile, temporary "earthly tent," with a divinely prepared, permanent "building" in the heavens. This "building" is a glorious resurrection body, not merely a disembodied spirit. It's an upgrade from the perishable to the imperishable, a transition from dishonor to glory, rooted in God's creative power and faithfulness. The phrase "not made with hands" emphasizes its supernatural origin, distinguishing it from any earthly construction, including the Mosaic Tabernacle or Temple, which were mere shadows of heavenly realities. This verse grounds the believer's resilience in the face of death and suffering, asserting that physical mortality is not an end but a doorway to a superior, eternal, divinely-provisioned existence in the presence of God. It shifts perspective from the visible and temporary to the invisible and eternal.