2 Corinthians 5:2 kjv
For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven:
2 Corinthians 5:2 nkjv
For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed with our habitation which is from heaven,
2 Corinthians 5:2 niv
Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling,
2 Corinthians 5:2 esv
For in this tent we groan, longing to put on our heavenly dwelling,
2 Corinthians 5:2 nlt
We grow weary in our present bodies, and we long to put on our heavenly bodies like new clothing.
2 Corinthians 5 2 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 2 Corinthians 5:1 | For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have another dwelling from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. | Future Glory |
| Philippians 3:20 | But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. | Heavenly Citizenship |
| Hebrews 11:13 | All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance, admitting that they were “foreigners and strangers on earth.” | Faith and Pilgrimage |
| Revelation 21:3 | And I heard a loud voice from the throne say, “Now the dwelling of God is with all mankind, and he will live with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.” | God's Dwelling with Man |
| Romans 8:23 | And not only creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. | Groaning and Redemption |
| 2 Peter 1:13 | I think it right to refresh your memory as long as I am still in this tent. | Temporal Dwelling |
| 2 Corinthians 4:17 | For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison. | Present Suffering vs. Future Glory |
| John 14:2 | "My Father's house has many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you." | Christ Prepares a Place |
| Colossians 3:2 | Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. | Focus on Heavenly Things |
| John 3:14 | Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up. | Foreshadowing of Resurrection |
| Acts 7:49 | 'Heaven is my throne, and earth is my footstool. What kind of house will you build for me? declares the Lord. 'And what is the place of my rest? | God's Heavenly Nature |
| Isaiah 66:1 | This is what the Lord says: "Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. Where is the house you will build for me? Where will my resting place be?" | God's Transcendence |
| Psalm 23:4 | Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. | Presence in Difficulty |
| 1 Corinthians 15:42-44 | So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is sown in power; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. | Resurrection of the Body |
| Matthew 22:30 | At the resurrection people will neither marry nor be given in marriage but will be like the angels in heaven. | State in Resurrection |
| Hebrews 12:23 | You have come to the heavenly Jerusalem, to the city of the living God. The New Jerusalem, to thousands of angels in joyful assembly. | Heavenly Jerusalem |
| Revelation 7:9 | After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. | Heavenly Multitude |
| 1 John 3:2 | Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. | Becoming Like Christ |
| 1 Thessalonians 4:17 | After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. | Future Reunion with Christ |
| Romans 8:18 | For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed in us. | Glory to be Revealed |
2 Corinthians 5 verses
2 Corinthians 5 2 Meaning
This verse speaks of the heavenly dwelling that awaits believers. It is a perfected, eternal abode contrasted with the earthly tent of the body which experiences suffering and decay. The longing expressed is not for a mere place, but for complete transformation and the presence of God.
2 Corinthians 5 2 Context
Second Corinthians chapter 5 continues Paul's defense of his apostolic ministry. Chapter 4 described the hardships and sufferings endured for the gospel, contrasting them with the imperishable glory to come. Chapter 5 builds on this by presenting the believers' ultimate hope: resurrection and eternal life in a heavenly dwelling provided by God. This is a stark contrast to the temporary, earthly "tent" of their current bodies, which are subject to death and decay. The desire to be "further clothed" speaks to the anticipation of a transformed, resurrected body, which will be fully complete and immortal, allowing for unhindered communion with God.
2 Corinthians 5 2 Word Analysis
- εἰδótes (eidotês): "knowing," "being conscious." This is a participle indicating present, certain knowledge. It implies an intellectual and experiential certainty about the spiritual reality.
- οἴκημα (oikēma): "dwelling," "habitation," "house." It refers to a fixed abode. It stands in contrast to the "tent."
- ἐπουράνιος (epouranios): "heavenly," "celestial." This adjective describes the nature of the dwelling – originating from and belonging to heaven, the realm of God.
- ἐκ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ (ek tou ouranou): "from heaven." Reinforces the origin of this dwelling as divinely provided.
- ἔνδυμα (enduma): "garment," "clothing." Used metaphorically for a body.
- οὐκ ἔν technikton (ouk en technikon): "not a human handiwork." Emphasizes the divine origin and perfection, not made by earthly, perishable means.
- ἐπιθυμοῦντες (epithymountes): "desiring," "longing." This is a strong verb indicating earnest and persistent desire. It reflects a deep yearning for God’s promised presence and glory.
- καὶ ἐπιδυσάσθαι (kai epidysasthai): "and to be further clothed," "to put on over." This signifies an additional layer, the resurrection body which is to be "put on" over the present state or possibly an interim state after death. It implies a transition and completion.
- τοῦ ἡμετέρου (tou hēmeterou): "our" (referring to the same 'us' as in the preceding verses).
- οἰκητηρίου (oikētēriou): "dwelling place," "habitation." Similar to oikēma but possibly emphasizing the idea of a dwelling as a home.
- τoῦ ἐν οὐρανῷ (tou en ouranōi): "that which is in heaven." Again, reinforcing the heavenly destination.
Group of words analysis:
- "for we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed" (v.1) and "we shall not be found naked" (v.3). This pairing highlights the transition from the present mortal body to the future incorruptible one. The destruction of the tent is death; not being found naked means possessing the heavenly dwelling at that moment.
- "earthly tent" (σκήνη, skēnē) vs. "dwelling from God" (οἰκητήριον, oikētērion). This strong contrast frames the core theme of mortality versus immortality, earthly vs. heavenly, perishable vs. imperishable.
- "longing to be further clothed" (epithymountes kai epidysasthai). This phrase encapsulates the believer's active, eager expectation for the resurrection body. It’s not just passive waiting, but a positive desire for fuller union with Christ.
2 Corinthians 5 2 Bonus Section
The concept of "clothing" for the resurrected body is a recurring motif. In the Old Testament, spiritual visions sometimes depict bodies being clothed with robes (e.g., Zechariah 3:3-4). The "clothed upon" aspect suggests an impartation of a new nature or state, rather than just an exchange of bodies. This Heavenly dwelling can be understood as encompassing the totality of the believer's redeemed being – soul and resurrected body – in the immediate presence of God. The emphasis on "not built by human hands" points to its supernatural and perfect nature, aligning with the biblical depiction of God’s ultimate dwelling in His presence in eternity.
2 Corinthians 5 2 Commentary
Paul, reflecting on the sufferings of this life, affirms a profound certainty about the future. Believers possess an imperishable, eternal home in heaven, divinely prepared. This heavenly dwelling represents the resurrection state, the glorified body which believers will receive. The present body is temporary, like an earthly tent that will eventually be dismantled (death). The earnest desire is not to escape existence altogether, but to transition from this mortal state to an incorruptible one, "clothed upon" with the heavenly garment. This longing signifies faith's hope in a reality beyond the present physical experience, a yearning for completeness and uninterrupted fellowship with God. This aspiration is not rooted in a wish to disembody, but to be fully restored and glorified in an eternal state.