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 1 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 2 Cor 5:1 | For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not built by human hands, eternal in the heavens. | Directly states the theme. |
| Rom 8:18 | I consider that our present sufferings cannot even be compared to the glory that will be revealed in us. | Compares present suffering to future glory. |
| Phil 3:20-21 | But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly wait for a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to subject all things to himself, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body. | Focuses on heavenly citizenship and transformation. |
| 1 Cor 15:40-44 | There are also heavenly bodies and there are earthly bodies; but the splendor of the heavenly bodies is one kind, and the splendor of the earthly bodies is another... It is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. | Explains the resurrected body's nature. |
| John 14:2 | My Father’s house has many rooms; if it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? | Jesus prepares a dwelling for believers. |
| Heb 11:9-10 | By faith he made his dwelling in the promised land, like a foreign country, and lived in tents with Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God. | Abraham's faith and focus on a heavenly city. |
| Rev 21:1-4 | Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth... I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God... "He will wipe every tear from their eyes..." | Depicts the eternal dwelling place. |
| Rom 7:24-25 | What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? Thanks be to God, through Jesus Christ our Lord! | Acknowledges the present struggle with the mortal body. |
| 2 Pet 1:13-14 | I think it right to remind you of these things as long as I am in this tent, since I know that I will soon put it aside, as indeed our Lord Jesus Christ made clear to me. | Peter’s use of the "tent" metaphor for his body. |
| Ps 16:9-10 | Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also rests secure, because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead, nor will you let your faithful servant see decay. | Anticipates resurrection and glorification. |
| Isa 25:8 | He will swallow up death forever. The Sovereign Lord will wipe away tears from all faces; he will remove his people’s disgrace from all the earth. | God’s ultimate victory over death. |
| John 5:28-29 | Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice and come out—those who have done good will rise to live, and those who have done evil will rise to be condemned. | Resurrection of the dead. |
| Col 3:4 | When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. | Our appearance with Christ in glory. |
| Rom 8:23 | Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. | Groaning for the redemption of our bodies. |
| 1 Thess 4:16-17 | For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. And so we will be with the Lord forever. | Christ’s return and resurrection of believers. |
| John 11:25 | Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?” | Jesus as resurrection and life. |
| Matt 13:43 | Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. For everyone who has ears, let them hear. | Righteous shining like the sun. |
| 1 Cor 6:19-20 | Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies. | Believers' bodies as temples of the Spirit. |
| 2 Cor 4:17-18 | For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. | Contrast of temporal vs. eternal. |
| 2 Cor 5:2-3 | For we know that when this earthly tent we live in is dissolved, we have a building from God, a house not built by hands, eternal in the heavens. For indeed, we groan in this tabernacle, earnestly desiring to be clothed with our habitation which is from heaven, | Elaborates on the transition to the heavenly dwelling. |
2 Corinthians 5 verses
2 Corinthians 5 1 Meaning
This verse signifies that the temporary, earthly body that believers inhabit is like a tent, which is prone to decay. When this "tent" is dissolved—that is, when death occurs—the believer receives an eternal, heavenly dwelling place, not constructed by human hands, signifying a resurrected body that is incorruptible and glorified, prepared by God for eternity.
2 Corinthians 5 1 Context
Second Corinthians chapter 5 follows Paul's discussion in chapter 4 about enduring hardship and suffering for the gospel. He emphasizes that despite outward afflictions and decay, believers possess an inner spiritual renewal and a confident hope in future glory. This verse, therefore, serves as a bridge, explaining the source of this unwavering hope: the assurance of an eternal, heavenly body that awaits believers after death. The immediate context highlights the contrast between the temporary nature of their present earthly existence, marked by suffering and mortality, and the permanence and glory of their future dwelling. Historically, Paul is writing to the church in Corinth, addressing various issues, including challenges to his apostleship. This particular passage reassures the Corinthians of the ultimate reality of their heavenly inheritance, even amidst their earthly trials and the physical limitations of their present existence.
2 Corinthians 5 1 Word Analysis
- Old (Gk: παλαιός - palaios): Means old, ancient, worn out. Refers to something that has seen considerable use and is nearing its end.
- Tent (Gk: σκηνή - skēnē): Refers to a tent or tabernacle. This is a powerful metaphor for the earthly body, which is temporary, portable, and vulnerable to the elements. It carries echoes of the Israelites' temporary dwelling in the wilderness under the tent of meeting (Tabernacle).
- Earthly (Gk: ἐπίγειος - epigeios): Means belonging to the earth, terrestrial, earthly. Contrasts with what is heavenly or celestial.
- Tabernacle (Gk: σκήνος - skēnos): A related but often more specific term for a tent or tabernacle, particularly referring to a dwelling place. In this context, it’s used synonymously with the body as a temporary abode.
- Be dissolved (Gk: καταλυσθῇ - katalythē): Means to demolish, destroy, dissolve, dismantle. It suggests a dismantling or breaking down of the structure of the tent, indicating the process of death.
- Building (Gk: οἶκος - oikos): Means a house, home, dwelling. This term signifies a permanent and substantial structure.
- God (Gk: Θεός - Theos): The Supreme Being. The source and architect of the eternal dwelling.
- Not made with hands (Gk: ἀχειροποίητος - acheiropoietos): Means not made by human hands, uncreated, divine. This highlights the supernatural origin and construction of the heavenly dwelling, distinguishing it from all man-made structures. It's a term also used for the spiritual temple (Acts 7:48; Heb 9:11, 24).
- Eternal (Gk: αἰώνιος - aiōnios): Means eternal, everlasting, perpetual. Refers to that which is outside of time and will last forever.
- In the heavens (Gk: ἐν τοῖς οὐρανοῖς - en tois ouranois): In the heavens. Indicates the location of this permanent dwelling place—in God’s presence, in the spiritual realm.
Words-Group by Words-Group Analysis:
- "Our earthly house, this tabernacle": The combination of "house" and "tabernacle" emphasizes the body's dual nature: a dwelling place (house) that is nonetheless temporary and vulnerable (tent).
- "If overthrown": This phrasing implies not an accidental destruction but a dismantling or setting aside, like collapsing a tent. It refers to the natural process of death.
- "A building of God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens": This powerful contrast presents the replacement: an imperishable, divinely constructed, and eternally located dwelling. The lack of human craftsmanship points to its perfection and divine origin.
2 Corinthians 5 1 Bonus Section
The tent metaphor resonates with Old Testament imagery, particularly the Tabernacle, which housed God’s presence among His people in their wilderness journey. This earthly tent was a temporary dwelling as Israel moved towards their promised land. Similarly, our earthly bodies are temporary accommodations as we journey through life towards our eternal home in God’s presence. The phrase "not built by human hands" is significant because it points to the divine craftsmanship and perfect nature of the resurrected body, contrasting it with any human attempt to build something that lasts for eternity. This provides a deep theological assurance that our future hope is not wishful thinking but a guaranteed reality based on God’s design and provision.
2 Corinthians 5 1 Commentary
Paul vividly uses the metaphor of a tent to describe the physical body, highlighting its impermanence and vulnerability. Life on earth is compared to living in a temporary shelter. When this tent-like body deteriorates and is dissolved through death, believers are assured of an eternal, imperishable dwelling provided by God Himself. This future habitation is not constructed by human hands but is a reality in the heavenly realm, a resurrected body in God’s presence. This truth serves as a powerful anchor of hope, enabling believers to face suffering and mortality with confidence, knowing that their ultimate destination is an everlasting home with God, a glorious and incorruptible state prepared for them.