2 Corinthians 5:10 kjv
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.
2 Corinthians 5:10 nkjv
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.
2 Corinthians 5:10 niv
For 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.
2 Corinthians 5:10 esv
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.
2 Corinthians 5:10 nlt
For we must all stand before Christ to be judged. We will each receive whatever we deserve for the good or evil we have done in this earthly body.
2 Corinthians 5 10 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Rom 14:10 | "Why then do you judge your brother? Or why do you look with contempt on your brother? For we will all stand before God's judgment seat." | Universal judgment |
| 1 Cor 3:13 | "each one's work will become clear; for the Day will disclose it, because it is revealed by fire; and the fire will test the quality of each one's work." | Works tested by fire |
| 1 Cor 4:5 | "Therefore do not go on passing judgment before the time, but wait until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the things hidden in darkness and disclose the motives of hearts. And then each one’s praise will come from God." | God judges motives; divine praise |
| Gal 5:21 | "envy, drunkenness, carousing, and the like—of which I warn you, just as I also warned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God." | Consequences of sinful practices |
| Eph 6:8 | "knowing that whatever good thing each one does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether slave or free." | Receiving good from the Lord |
| Col 3:24-25 | "knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is Christ the Lord whom you serve. For the one who does wrong will receive the consequence of the wrong which he has done, and there is no partiality." | Reward for service; accountability |
| Heb 9:27 | "And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once, and after this comes judgment," | Appointed time of death and judgment |
| Rev 20:12 | "And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works." | Judgment based on written deeds |
| Rev 22:12 | "And, behold, I am coming quickly; and my reward is with me, to give to each according as his work is." | Christ's return with rewards |
| 1 Peter 4:2 | "so as to live no longer for the lusts of men, but for the will of God during the remaining time in the flesh." | Living for God's will |
| 1 Peter 1:17 | "And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one's work, proceed with fear throughout your time of stay here;" | God judges impartially by works |
| Acts 24:15 | "and I have a hope toward God, which these men themselves also accept, that there is about to be a resurrection of both the just and the unjust." | Resurrection of just and unjust |
| Phil 2:10-11 | "so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven and things on earth and things under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." | Universal acknowledgment of Christ |
| Prov 24:12 | "Though you may say, 'Look, we did not know it,' does not He who weighs the hearts consider it? And does not He who keeps your soul know it, and will He not render to every man according to his works?" | God's knowledge of the heart |
| Jer 17:10 | "“I the LORD search the heart, I test the kidneys, even to give to every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds.”" | LORD searches the heart and rewards |
| Matt 25:31-46 | "When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered before Him; and He will separate them from one another, as a shepherd separates his sheep from the goats;" | Sheep and goats judgment |
| Luke 16:25 | "But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that during your life you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in agony." | Temporal suffering vs. eternal reward |
| Rom 2:5-8 | "But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed. He will repay each one according to his works: to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life;" | God's repayment according to works |
| 2 Thess 1:6-7 | "since indeed God considers it just to repay with affliction those who afflict you, and to grant relief to you who are afflicted, alongside us, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels" | Affliction and relief correlated |
| Ps 62:12 | "And to you, O Lord, belongs steadfast love. For you render to each one according to his work." | God's steadfast love and reward |
2 Corinthians 5 verses
2 Corinthians 5 10 Meaning
This verse states that believers must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ to receive recompense for their deeds in the body, whether good or evil. It highlights personal accountability for actions taken during earthly life.
2 Corinthians 5 10 Context
Second Corinthians chapter 5 deals extensively with themes of new life in Christ, reconciliation with God, and the believer's transformed identity and future hope. Paul is addressing the Corinthian church, a congregation with various issues, including doubts about his apostleship and external pressures. In this specific chapter, he uses powerful imagery, like the earthly tent and a heavenly dwelling, to convey the reality of the resurrection body and the spiritual life believers now possess. Chapter 5, verse 10 specifically fits into the broader discussion of believers' transformed standing before God, emphasizing accountability and the evaluation of their earthly actions once they are with Christ. It's part of the argument for living a life pleasing to God, knowing that every action has eternal consequence.
2 Corinthians 5 10 Word Analysis
- For (gar): Connective particle indicating a reason or explanation for what was previously stated.
- we (hēmeis): First-person plural pronoun, referring to Paul and his fellow laborers, and by extension, all believers.
- must (dei): Impersonal verb indicating necessity, obligation, or that something is fitting and proper.
- all (pantas): Adverb or pronoun meaning "all," "every," or "the whole." Here, it emphasizes universality – every believer without exception.
- be made manifest (phanerōthēnai): Second aorist passive infinitive of phaneroō. Phaneroō means to make visible, reveal, show clearly, or manifest. The passive voice indicates that this manifestation is brought about by an external agent, Christ. The aorist tense points to a completed action.
- before (emprothen): Preposition signifying presence "in front of" or "before" someone or something, often in a formal or public setting.
- the judgment-seat (tou bēmatos): Genitive singular of bēma. Originally the raised platform from which a speaker addressed an assembly or a judge delivered a verdict in Greek public life (e.g., in the Roman Forum or the Jerusalem High Court). In the NT, it's used for the judgment seat of God or Christ, where accountability is determined.
- of Christ (tou Christou): Genitive singular, indicating possession or origin – the judgment seat belonging to Christ, or the seat where Christ presides.
- that (hina): Subordinating conjunction introducing a purpose or result clause.
- each (hekastos): Indefinite pronoun meaning "each," "every one." It singles out individuals within the collective "we."
- one (ekastos): Repeated for emphasis, reinforcing the individual nature of the recompense.
- may receive (komisētai): Second aorist middle subjunctive of komizō. This verb means to receive, carry away, or get back. The subjunctive mood, triggered by hina, expresses purpose. The middle voice suggests the person is receiving something for themselves.
- again (hou hekastos): While "hou hekastos" is not a direct translation, the sense is that each individual receives his own recompense based on his own deeds. The phrase implies a personal and direct correspondence between action and consequence.
- for (ta): Definite article, often functioning as a neuter pronoun.
- in (en): Preposition indicating "in," "by," "through," or "with."
- the (eKeinois): Neuter plural definite article, functioning as a pronoun, referring to "things" or "deeds."
- body (sōmati): Dative singular of sōma. Refers to the physical body, the instrument through which actions were performed during earthly life.
- whether (eite): Conjunction used in correlative pairs (eite... eite) to present alternatives, meaning "either... or."
- good (kalou): Genitive singular of kalos. Good, beautiful, noble, excellent.
- or (eite): The second part of the correlative conjunction.
- bad (phaulou): Genitive singular of phaulos. Bad, base, trivial, worthless, evil. This refers to deeds done contrary to God's will.
Words-group by Words-group Analysis
- “appear before the judgment-seat of Christ” (phanerōthēnai emprothen tou bēmatos tou Christou): This collective "appearing" signifies a public, formal presentation of each individual before Christ's authoritative judgment. It is not a place of condemnation for believers, but rather an appraisal.
- “that each one may receive” (hina hekastos komisētai): The use of hina (purpose) underscores that this revelation and subsequent reception are intentional. The middle voice of komisētai suggests an active receiving of the outcome of one's life.
- “for the things done in the body” (ta euhos tounos tou sōmati): This phrase grounds the recompense in concrete actions performed through the physical body during one's earthly existence. Both positive and negative actions are subject to this review.
2 Corinthians 5 10 Bonus Section
The concept of judgment seats (bema) was common in the Roman world, where victors in games or military leaders were publicly honored. Paul uses this cultural understanding to illustrate a spiritual reality. While the "judgment seat of Christ" is where works are assessed, it's crucial to differentiate it from the Great White Throne Judgment (Rev 20:11-15) where unbelievers are judged for eternal condemnation. For believers, it is a rewarding or disallowing of rewards for service and obedience. This incentivizes a holy life and steadfast commitment to Christ, recognizing that all our earthly endeavors, however small they seem, have eternal implications. The "recompense" could range from the foundational salvation secured by Christ to degrees of authority and reward in the kingdom.
2 Corinthians 5 10 Commentary
Believers are guaranteed to stand before Christ's judgment seat. This isn't a judgment of eternal destiny, as that is settled by faith in Christ. Instead, it's an appraisal of deeds done during our earthly walk. Christ Himself will preside, and our actions, performed through our physical bodies, will be evaluated. The result will be a "recompense," a reward or perhaps a loss of reward, based on whether those actions were good (pleasing to God, motivated by love) or bad (contrary to God's will, self-serving). This underscores the immense value and accountability of every moment and choice we make as Christians. It motivates a life of sincere obedience and good works, not for salvation, but as a response of love and gratitude, knowing that our service is not in vain.
Practical Usage Examples
- Motivation for Service: A believer volunteering at a soup kitchen understands their time and effort, done in love for Christ, will be "recompensed."
- Accountability for Speech: A Christian considering gossiping or speaking harshly should remember their words, spoken through the body, will be brought to judgment.
- Diligent Study: A student diligently studying Scripture, viewing it as service, can be encouraged that this good deed has eternal significance.
- Enduring Trials: Someone facing persecution with patient faith is performing a good work that will be rewarded.