2 Corinthians 5 5

2 Corinthians 5:5 kjv

Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit.

2 Corinthians 5:5 nkjv

Now He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who also has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.

2 Corinthians 5:5 niv

Now the one who has fashioned us for this very purpose is God, who has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.

2 Corinthians 5:5 esv

He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.

2 Corinthians 5:5 nlt

God himself has prepared us for this, and as a guarantee he has given us his Holy Spirit.

2 Corinthians 5 verses

2 Corinthians 5 5 Meaning

2 Corinthians 5:5 declares God as the ultimate initiator and enabler of believers' future spiritual and physical transformation, specifically their ultimate glorification and receiving a heavenly body. It highlights that the Holy Spirit, presently indwelling believers, serves as an "earnest deposit" or "guarantee" from God. This Spirit-given pledge signifies that God will surely complete His work of salvation, assuring believers of their destined heavenly inheritance and full resurrection, just as a down payment guarantees the final transaction.

2 Corinthians 5 5 Context

2 Corinthians 5:5 is deeply embedded in Paul's discussion concerning the believer's future hope and confidence in the face of physical death. The preceding verses (2 Cor 5:1-4) describe the human longing to be free from the perishable earthly body, which Paul likens to a "tent," and instead be clothed with a heavenly, imperishable dwelling. Believers "groan" not to be disembodied spirits, but to receive their glorified bodies at Christ's return, when "mortality may be swallowed up by life." Verse 5 provides the theological grounding and assurance for this hope and longing. It states why believers can possess such confidence—because God Himself is actively involved in preparing them for this transformation and has provided the Holy Spirit as an unmistakable sign and pledge of its future fulfillment. This section assures believers that their hope is not a mere wish but a divine certainty. The historical context reflects a Greco-Roman world with varied and often bleak views on the afterlife or a belief in the soul's disembodied immortality, but not a physical resurrection. Paul directly challenges these views by presenting a holistic salvation involving a transformed body, guaranteed by God's own Spirit.

2 Corinthians 5 5 Word analysis

• Now He who: Introduces God as the sovereign actor. It emphasizes divine initiative and continuous work, shifting focus to God's powerful involvement.

• has prepared (Greek: katergasamenos, aorist participle of katergazomai): Means "to work out," "to accomplish," "to make ready." This isn't a passive preparation, but an active, purposeful, and complete work. God isn't just making ready, He's accomplishing something in and for us, indicating a profound internal work.

• us: Refers to believers, specifically Paul and his fellow apostles, but by extension, all those in Christ.

• for this very thing: Points back directly to the "heavenly dwelling," the "being clothed," and the swallowing up of "mortality by life" mentioned in 2 Cor 5:1-4. It refers to the believer's future glorified state, a complete transformation into an immortal, imperishable body and life with Christ.

• is God: Explicitly names God as the ultimate source and agent of this preparation and promise, underscoring His omnipotence and faithfulness. It affirms the divine origin and certainty of the future hope.

• who also has given: Another active divine verb, stressing God's continued giving. This emphasizes God's benevolence and active role in bestowing gifts upon believers. The also links this gift to the preceding work of preparation, highlighting both as God's action.

• us: Again, referring to believers as the recipients of God's grace.

• the Spirit: Refers specifically to the Holy Spirit, the third person of the Trinity. This divine person is not an abstract concept but a living presence, bringing God's power and love.

• as a guarantee (Greek: arrhabōna): A crucial and rich term. In ancient commerce and law, an arrhabōn (akin to "earnest money" or "down payment") was a legally binding first installment or pledge that guaranteed the full and final payment or delivery of a promised item. It was both a payment and a promise. Its presence ensured the completion of a future transaction, rendering cancellation costly or impossible for the promisor. The Spirit is the present foretaste and assurance of future glory, not merely a promise but a tangible installment of what is to come.

• Words-group analysis:

  • "He who has prepared us for this very thing is God": This phrase attributes the entire process of preparing believers for their glorious future squarely to God's initiative and ongoing work. It signifies divine intentionality, purpose, and capability. Our ultimate state is not self-achieved but divinely wrought.
  • "who also has given us the Spirit as a guarantee": This connects God's work of preparation to the immediate, tangible proof of His faithfulness—the gift of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit's indwelling is the present evidence of a future reality. This phrase highlights that the Spirit isn't just an encouragement, but a legally binding pledge from God Himself that assures the fulfillment of His promises, particularly regarding our resurrection and glorification.

2 Corinthians 5 5 Bonus section

The concept of the arrhabōn (guarantee/earnest) had legal and commercial implications beyond mere promise. In ancient contracts, this down payment often represented a significant portion, not just a token, making withdrawal from the agreement extremely difficult or impossible without penalty for the promisor. When applied to God, it means His promise through the Spirit is ironclad, an unassailable declaration of future completion. It elevates the Holy Spirit's role from a comforting presence to an objective legal seal. Furthermore, Paul often connects this guarantee with the broader work of God in sanctification, indicating that the Spirit not only assures our future but also empowers us to live a life aligned with that future hope in the present (e.g., Gal 5:22-23, fruits of the Spirit). This verse underlines the Trinitarian nature of salvation: the Father (God) prepares and gives, the Son (Christ's work implicitly in "this very thing") is the foundation, and the Holy Spirit is the present agent of power and guarantee of its full realization.

2 Corinthians 5 5 Commentary

2 Corinthians 5:5 encapsulates the theological certainty of Christian eschatology. It articulates that our longing for an eternal, glorified state (as discussed in 2 Cor 5:1-4) is not a wistful hope but a sure reality, grounded in God's purposeful action. "He who has prepared us for this very thing is God" emphasizes that our future destiny is divinely authored and accomplished, a testament to His sovereign plan and power. This preparation is a work of spiritual formation in the present that culminates in the complete transformation of our bodies and being in the future. The pivotal concept is the Holy Spirit as the "guarantee" (arrhabōn). This isn't merely a symbol; it is a down payment from God, binding Him to fulfill the entire "contract" of salvation, which includes our bodily resurrection and eternal glory with Christ. The indwelling of the Spirit is thus both the "firstfruits" (Rom 8:23) of our inheritance and the sealed assurance (Eph 1:13-14) that we belong to God and will inherit all that Christ has secured for us. This provides immense confidence amidst present sufferings and the certainty of physical death, knowing that our ultimate state is secured by a divine, irrefutable pledge.