ESV Global Study Bible :: Footnotes for 2 Corinthians 5

2 Cor. 5:1 the tent that is our earthly home. Present human bodies, which will die. building from God . . . eternal in the heavens. The resurrection body that believers will receive on the last day (see 1 Thess. 4:13–18; Rev. 21:1–22:5).

2 Cor. 5:2–4 Paul longs for the resurrection (that is, being further clothed; see v. 1) in order to not be found naked or unclothed. This likely refers to the intermediate state in which believers’ spirits are with God but they do not yet have their resurrected bodies.

2 Cor. 5:5 the Spirit as a guarantee. The presence of the Spirit in Christians’ lives now is the down payment or guarantee that they will receive resurrection bodies when Jesus returns.

2 Cor. 5:6 at home . . . away. See note on v. 8.

2 Cor. 5:7 walk by faith, not by sight. Trusting in God’s promises (4:18–5:1).

2 Cor. 5:8 away from the body and at home with the Lord. Paul expects that, when he dies, his spirit will go immediately into Christ’s presence. He will remain in that state until the day of resurrection (compare Phil. 1:23; Heb. 12:23).

2 Cor. 5:9 we make it our aim to please him. See Eph. 5:10; Col. 3:20; Heb. 13:21; by contrast, Paul fears displeasing God; see 2 Cor. 5:11; also Eph. 4:30.

2 Cor. 5:10 the judgment seat of Christ. The “judgment seat” in the Roman courtroom was where the governor sat while giving verdicts. In the coming age, Christ will judge as God the Father’s representative. He will rule the kingdom that the Father has given him (see Rom. 14:10–12). so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done . . . whether good or evil. Present-day actions have eternal consequences.

2 Cor. 5:11–6:2 Paul offers one of his most extensive descriptions of the motivation (5:11–15), content (5:16–19), and call of the new covenant ministry.

2 Cor. 5:11 the fear of the Lord. See 7:1; see note on Acts 5:5.

2 Cor. 5:12 On Paul’s commending himself, see note on 4:2.

2 Cor. 5:13 if we are beside ourselves . . . if we are in our right mind. This possibly responds to some Corinthians calling Paul crazy. Paul’s motivation is to please Christ (v. 9), so his goal is to persuade others (v. 11b). It is not to urge others to seek exotic religious experiences.

2 Cor. 5:14–15 one has died for all, therefore all have died. By Christ’s death, the death penalty for sin (see Gen. 2:17) has been paid for all those who trust in him (see Rom. 3:21–26; 1 Cor. 15:3). the love of Christ controls us. See Titus 2:11–14.

2 Cor. 5:16 Regard no one according to the flesh, that is, according to worldly standards and values which claim that one’s present physical life is all that matters. Before Paul’s conversion, he regarded Christ according to the flesh. He considered Christ to be a false messiah whose suffering and death were punishment from God (see Deut. 21:23).

2 Cor. 5:17 The redemption of a people who live for Christ by living for others is the beginning of the new creation (see Isa. 43:18–19; 65:17–23; 66:22–23). This new creation also begins Israel’s final restoration from God’s judgment in the exile (see the context of Isa. 43:1–21; 65:17–25).

2 Cor. 5:18–20 reconciliation. These verses outline (1) the basis of Paul’s apostolic ministry of the new covenant (Paul’s own reconciliation to God through Christ); (2) its consequence (his ministry and message of reconciliation to the world for Christ); (3) its essential content (the forgiveness of sins because of Christ’s death); and (4) its call (on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God). ambassadors for Christ. Paul is God’s prophetic minister of the new covenant (3:4–6). He announces God’s “peace treaty” (see Isa. 53:5) with those who will trust in Christ to free them from the penalty and power of sin (2 Cor. 5:14–15; see Rom. 5:11).

2 Cor. 5:21 This verse is one of the most important in all of Scripture for understanding the meaning of the atonement and justification. The one who knew no sin is Jesus Christ (v. 20), and he (God) made him (Christ) to be sin. God the Father made Christ to be viewed and treated as “sin” even though Christ himself never sinned (Heb. 4:15; see Gal. 3:13). For our sake. God viewed and treated “our” sin as if it belonged to Christ himself. Thus Christ “died for all” (2 Cor. 5:14) and became our substitute. Christ took the punishment that we deserved (1 Pet. 2:24). The background for this is Isaiah 53, the most lengthy and detailed OT prophecy of Christ’s death. It contains several parallels to 2 Cor. 5:21. so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. Just as God gave our sin and guilt to Christ (“he made him to be sin”) so God also gives Christ’s righteousness to all who believe in Christ. God now views and treats believers as having the legal status of “righteousness.” See further notes on Rom. 5:18; 10:3; 10:6–8; see also Isa. 53:11.