2 Corinthians 5:9 kjv
Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him.
2 Corinthians 5:9 nkjv
Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him.
2 Corinthians 5:9 niv
So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it.
2 Corinthians 5:9 esv
So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him.
2 Corinthians 5:9 nlt
So whether we are here in this body or away from this body, our goal is to please him.
2 Corinthians 5 9 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 2 Cor 5:10 | For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ... | Parallel passage in context |
| Rom 14:8 | If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. So whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. | Belonging to the Lord, pleasing Him |
| Col 1:10 | so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God | Living to please God |
| Heb 12:2 | fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith... | Focus on Christ |
| Phil 4:18 | I have received full payment and even more; I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God. | Acceptable sacrifice to God |
| Gal 1:10 | Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ. | Not pleasing men, but God |
| 1 Thess 2:4 | On the contrary, we speak, not to please man, but to please God, who tests our hearts. | God as the one we aim to please |
| Rom 15:2 | Let us please our neighbor for his good, to build him up. | Pleasing for others' benefit |
| 1 Cor 10:31 | So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. | Doing all for God's glory |
| John 8:29 | The one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what pleases him. | Jesus' example of pleasing the Father |
| Col 3:23 | Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, | Diligence in all works for God |
| Acts 24:16 | So I strive to always have a clear conscience toward God and toward man. | Clear conscience toward God |
| 1 Pet 2:5 | you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house... | Spiritual house, priesthood |
| Eph 5:10 | finding out what pleases the Lord. | Discerning God's will |
| Rom 6:13 | Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness. | Offering ourselves to God |
| 1 John 3:22 | and receive from him anything we ask, because we obey his commands and do what pleases him. | Obedience leading to answered prayer |
| Heb 11:6 | And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. | Faith as essential to pleasing God |
| 1 Thess 4:1 | Finally, brothers and sisters, we ask and urge you in the Lord Jesus to live ever more fully in him, just as you received instruction from us on how to live in order to please God. | Instructions on how to please God |
| 1 Cor 7:32 | I would like you to be free from all anxiety. An unmarried man is concerned about the Lord’s affairs, how he will please the Lord. | Concern for pleasing the Lord |
| Phil 1:10 | so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, | Discernment and purity |
| Matt 6:24 | “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate one and love the other, or you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money. | Single devotion to God |
2 Corinthians 5 verses
2 Corinthians 5 9 Meaning
We make it our aim to please God, whether we are living here on earth or are in heaven. Our primary objective is to be acceptable to Him in all our conduct and character.
2 Corinthians 5 9 Context
Second Corinthians chapter 5 is Paul's deeply reflective discourse on Christian existence, focusing on the believer's present condition, future hope, and ministry of reconciliation. Following verses 1-8 which discuss the believer's earnest desire to be "further clothed" with the resurrected body, verse 9 offers the underlying motivation for this yearning. Paul is addressing the church in Corinth, a community grappling with various issues and internal divisions. He contrasts the temporal dwelling (the body) with the eternal dwelling (the heavenly house). The ultimate goal articulated here is the consistent desire to be pleasing to God, irrespective of their earthly location or temporal existence. This desire stems from their identity as new creations in Christ and their knowledge of the judgment seat of Christ, which looms in the future.
2 Corinthians 5 9 Word Analysis
- Ὥστε (Hōste): Thus, so that, with the result that. Introduces the consequence or aim resulting from the preceding context.
- καὶ (kai): And, also. A conjunction connecting thoughts.
- ἐνταῦθα (entautha): Here, in this place. Refers to the present earthly existence.
- εἴτε (eite): Whether, if. Presents a conditional or alternative situation.
- εἴτε (eite): Whether, if. The repetition emphasizes the two distinct possibilities.
- ἐνδημοῦντες (endēmouontes): To be at home, to dwell in, to reside in. Present participle from endēmeō. Signifies living and abiding in.
- ἐνδημοῦντες (endēmouontes): Living in this earthly tabernacle/body.
- ἐκδημοῦντες (ekdēmouontes): To be away from home, to journey abroad, to depart from. Present participle from ekdēmeō. Signifies being absent from the body, being with the Lord.
- ἀποδημοῦντες (apōdēmouontes): Away from one's country, absent from home. Similar to ekdēmouontes. Used in some textual variants. Refers to the state of being away from the earthly dwelling.
- φιλοτιμούμεθα (philotimoumetha): To be ambitious, to eagerly desire, to strive for, to make it our ambition. First person plural present indicative of philotiméō. The core idea is eagerness and earnest striving.
- εὐαρεστῆσαι (euarestēsai): To please well, to be well-pleasing, to give satisfaction. Aorist infinitive of euaresteō. It indicates the desire to do that which is acceptable and pleasing to God.
- αὐτῷ (autō): To Him. Refers back to God.
Word Group Analysis:
- "εἴτε ἐνδημοῦντες εἴτε ἐκδημοῦντες" (eite endēmouontes eite ekdēmouontes): This phrase powerfully captures the Christian's unwavering focus regardless of their state. Whether in the physical body on earth (entautha, here) or absent from the body and present with the Lord (the state of being "away from home"), the aim remains constant.
- "φιλοτιμούμεθα εὐαρεστῆσαι αὐτῷ" (philotimoumetha euarestēsai autō): The combination of philotimoumetha (to make it our aim, to strive earnestly) and euarestēsai (to please well) underscores a profound and active dedication. It's not passive wishing but active ambition to be pleasing to God in every aspect of life, both here and in the hereafter.
2 Corinthians 5 9 Bonus Section
The term philotimoumetha suggests an active, positive striving. It’s a noble ambition rooted in love for God, similar to how one would strive for a prize or honor. The context emphasizes that this pursuit is for the eternal realm. The understanding of this verse is crucial in distinguishing Christian motivation from merely seeking human approval or personal comfort. It aligns with Jesus' teaching on serving God rather than riches (Matt 6:24) and Paul's own conviction to please God rather than men (Gal 1:10). The ultimate pleasure of God is not found in mere rituals, but in a heart surrendered to Him and actions that reflect His character.
2 Corinthians 5 9 Commentary
The apostle Paul declares the ultimate ambition of believers: to please God. This ambition is not contingent on circumstances or temporal state. Whether currently living in their earthly bodies or having departed from them to be with Christ, the earnest desire remains the same. This singular focus reflects the new identity in Christ, where allegiance is solely to God. The motivation stems from a recognition of divine accountability and the hope of appearing before the judgment seat of Christ (v. 10). Therefore, every action, thought, and motivation is to be aligned with God's will. This concept of striving to please God is central to Christian living, guiding choices and fostering a life of obedience and devotion. It's an active pursuit, not a passive state, characterized by a sincere love for God and a desire for His approval above all else.
Practical Usage:
- When facing difficult decisions, ask: "What will please God in this situation?"
- In daily tasks, from work to relationships, ask: "How can I do this in a way that honors God?"
- When encountering suffering or persecution, remember the ultimate goal is to please God, which can provide endurance and perspective.