2 Corinthians 5:10

THE MESSAGE

Parallel Translations

Simplified Cowboy Version
We're all going to stand in front of Jesus and give an account of the things we did on his spread. We will then receive our reward or our damnation based on what we did down here.

New American Standard Bible (1995)
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.

Legacy Standard Bible
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.

Bible in Basic English
For we all have to come before Christ to be judged; so that every one of us may get his reward for the things done in the body, good or bad.

Darby Translation
For we must all be manifested before the judgment-seat of the Christ, that each may receive the things [done] in the body, according to those he has done, whether [it be] good or evil.

Christian Standard Bible®
For we must all appear before the tribunal of Christ, so that each may be repaid for what he has done in the body, whether good or worthless.

World English Bible
For we must all be revealed before the judgment seat of Christ; that each one may receive the things in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that every one may receive according to what he hath done in the body, whether good or evil.

Weymouth's New Testament
For we must all of us appear before Christ's judgement-seat in our true characters, in order that each may then receive an award for his actions in this life, in accordance with what he has done, whether it be good or whether it be worthless.

King James Version (1611)
For we must all appeare before the iudgement seat of Christ, that euery one may receiue the things done in his body, according to that hee hath done, whether it be good or bad.

Literal Translation
For we all must appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive the things done through the body, according to what he did, whether good or bad.

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
For we must all appeare before the iudgment seate of Christ, yt euery one maye receaue in his body, acordinge to yt he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

Mace New Testament (1729)
for we must all appear before the tribunal of Christ; that every one may receive the retribution, according as his actions in the body were either good or evil.

Amplified Bible
For we [believers will be called to account and] must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be repaid for what has been done in the body, whether good or bad [that is, each will be held responsible for his actions, purposes, goals, motives—the use or misuse of his time, opportunities and abilities].

American Standard Version
For we must all be made manifest before the judgment-seat of Christ; that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

Revised Standard Version
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive good or evil, according to what he has done in the body.

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
For we must all appere before the iudgement seate of Christ that every man maye receave the workes of his body accordynge to that he hath done whether it be good or bad?

Update Bible Version
For we must all be made manifest before the judgment-seat of Christ; that each one may receive the things [done] in the body, according to what he has done, whether [it is] good or bad.

Webster's Bible Translation
For we must all appear before the judgment-seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things [done] in [his] body, according to what he hath done, whether good or bad.

Young's Literal Translation
for all of us it behoveth to be manifested before the tribunal of the Christ, that each one may receive the things [done] through the body, in reference to the things that he did, whether good or evil;

New Century Version
because we must all stand before Christ to be judged. Each of us will receive what we should get—good or bad—for the things we did in the earthly body.

New English Translation
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be paid back according to what he has done while in the body, whether good or evil.

Berean Standard Bible
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive his due for the things done in the body, whether good or bad.

Contemporary English Version
After all, Christ will judge each of us for the good or the bad that we do while living in these bodies.

Complete Jewish Bible
for we must all appear before the Messiah's court of judgment, where everyone will receive the good or bad consequences of what he did while he was in the body.

English Standard Version
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.

Geneva Bible (1587)
For we must all appeare before the iudgement seate of Christ, that euery man may receiue the things which are done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or euill.

George Lamsa Translation
For we must all stand before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may be rewarded according to that which he has done with his body, whether it be good or bad.

Hebrew Names Version
For we must all be revealed before the judgment seat of Messiah; that each one may receive the things in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.

International Standard Version
For all of us must appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what he deserves for what he has done in his body, whether good or worthless.bad">[fn]Matthew 25:31-32; Romans 2:6; 14:10; Galatians 6:7; Ephesians 6:8; Colossians 3:24-25; Revelation 22:12;">[xr]

Etheridge Translation
For we are all to stand before the tribunal of the Meshiha, that every man may be recompensed in his body (for) that which is done in it, whether of good or of evil.

Murdock Translation
10 For we are all to stand before the judgment-seat of the Messiah, that each may receive retribution in the body, [fn] what he hath done in it, whether of good, or whether of evil.

New King James Version
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.

New Living Translation
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.

New Life Bible
For all of us must stand before Christ when He says who is guilty or not guilty. Each one will receive pay for what he has done. He will be paid for the good or the bad done while he lived in this body.

English Revised Version
For we must all be made manifest before the judgment–seat of Christ; that each one may receive the things [done] in the body, according to what he hath done, whether [it be] good or bad.

New Revised Standard
For all of us must appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each may receive recompense for what has been done in the body, whether good or evil.

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
For, we all, must needs be made manifest before the judgment seat of the Christ, that each one may get back the things done by means of the body, according to the things which he practised, whether good or corrupt.

Douay-Rheims Bible
For we must all be manifested before the judgment seat of Christ, that every one may receive the proper things of the body, according as he hath done, whether it be good or evil.

King James Version
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.

Lexham English Bible
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, in order that each one may receive back the things through the body according to what he has done, whether good or bad.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
For we must all appeare before the iudgement seate of Christe, that euery man may receaue the workes of his bodie according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

Easy-to-Read Version
We must all stand before Christ to be judged. Everyone will get what they should. They will be paid for whatever they did—good or bad—when they lived in this earthly body.

New American Standard Bible
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive compensation for his deeds done through the body, in accordance with what he has done, whether good or bad.

Good News Translation
For all of us must appear before Christ, to be judged by him. We will each receive what we deserve, according to everything we have done, good or bad, in our bodily life.

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
For it bihoueth vs alle to be schewid bifor the trone of Crist, that euery man telle the propre thingis of the bodi, as he hath don, ethir good, ether yuel.

Contextual Overview

¹For instance, we know that when these bodies of ours are taken down like tents and folded away, they will be replaced by resurrection bodies in heaven—God-made, not handmade—and we'll never have to relocate our "tents" again. Sometimes we can hardly wait to move—and so we cry out in frustration. Compared to what's coming, living conditions around here seem like a stopover in an unfurnished shack, and we're tired of it! We've been given a glimpse of the real thing, our true home, our resurrection bodies! The Spirit of God whets our appetite by giving us a taste of what's ahead. He puts a little of heaven in our hearts so that we'll never settle for less. ⁶That's why we live with such good cheer. You won't see us drooping our heads or dragging our feet! Cramped conditions here don't get us down. They only remind us of the spacious living conditions ahead. It's what we trust in but don't yet see that keeps us going. Do you suppose a few ruts in the road or rocks in the path are going to stop us? When the time comes, we'll be plenty ready to exchange exile for homecoming. ⁹But neither exile nor homecoming is the main thing. Cheerfully pleasing God is the main thing, and that's what we aim to do, regardless of our conditions. Sooner or later we'll all have to face God, regardless of our conditions. We will appear before Christ and take what's coming to us as a result of our actions, either good or bad. ¹¹That keeps us vigilant, you can be sure. It's no light thing to know that we'll all one day stand in that place of Judgment. That's why we work urgently with everyone we meet to get them ready to face God. God alone knows how well we do this, but I hope you realize how much and deeply we care. We're not saying this to make ourselves look good to you. We just thought it would make you feel good, proud even, that we're on your side and not just nice to your face as so many people are. If I acted crazy, I did it for God; if I acted overly serious, I did it for you. Christ's love has moved me to such extremes. His love has the first and last word in everything we do. Our firm decision is to work from this focused center: One man died for everyone. That puts everyone in the same boat. He included everyone in his death so that everyone could also be included in his life, a resurrection life, a far better life than people ever lived on their own. Because of this decision we don't evaluate people by what they have or how they look. We looked at the Messiah that way once and got it all wrong, as you know. We certainly don't look at him that way anymore. Now we look inside, and what we see is that anyone united with the Messiah gets a fresh start, is created new. The old life is gone; a new life burgeons! Look at it! All this comes from the God who settled the relationship between us and him, and then called us to settle our relationships with each other. God put the world square with himself through the Messiah, giving the world a fresh start by offering forgiveness of sins. God has given us the task of telling everyone what he is doing. We're Christ's representatives. God uses us to persuade men and women to drop their differences and enter into God's work of making things right between them. We're speaking for Christ himself now: Become friends with God; he's already a friend with you. How? you ask. In Christ. God put the wrong on him who never did anything wrong, so we could be put right with God.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

we: Genesis 18:25, 1 Samuel 2:3, 1 Samuel 2:10, Psalms 7:6-8, Psalms 9:7, Psalms 9:8, Psalms 50:3-6, Psalms 96:10-13, Psalms 98:9, Ecclesiastes 11:9, Ecclesiastes 12:14, Ezekiel 18:30, Matthew 25:31-46, Acts 10:42, Acts 17:31, Romans 14:10-12, 1 Peter 4:5, Jude 1:14, Jude 1:15, Revelation 20:11-15

receive: 2 Corinthians 7:3, 1 Kings 8:32, 1 Kings 8:39, Job 34:11, Psalms 62:12, Isaiah 3:10, Isaiah 3:11, Matthew 16:27, Romans 2:5-10, 1 Corinthians 4:5, Galatians 6:7, Galatians 6:8, Ephesians 6:8, Colossians 3:24, Colossians 3:25, Revelation 2:23, Revelation 20:12, Revelation 20:13, Revelation 22:12

in: Romans 6:12, Romans 6:13, Romans 6:19, Romans 12:1, Romans 12:2, 1 Corinthians 6:12-20

Reciprocal: Genesis 49:10 - the gathering Judges 11:27 - the Judge 2 Samuel 22:25 - recompensed Job 19:4 - mine Job 24:17 - in the terrors Psalms 50:6 - God Psalms 94:2 - thou Proverbs 24:12 - and shall Ecclesiastes 3:17 - God Isaiah 33:22 - the Lord is our judge Isaiah 51:5 - mine Jeremiah 32:19 - to give Ezekiel 33:20 - I will Matthew 18:23 - which Matthew 20:8 - when Matthew 25:19 - reckoneth Matthew 25:32 - before Luke 12:2 - General Luke 16:2 - give John 5:19 - for John 5:22 - General John 16:11 - judgment Acts 2:36 - that same Acts 24:25 - judgment Acts 25:6 - sitting Romans 2:6 - General Romans 2:16 - God 1 Corinthians 4:4 - but 1 Corinthians 13:13 - charity Galatians 6:5 - General 2 Timothy 4:1 - who Hebrews 4:13 - with Hebrews 6:2 - eternal Hebrews 9:27 - but Hebrews 10:30 - The Lord shall Hebrews 13:4 - God Hebrews 13:17 - give account James 3:1 - knowing 2 Peter 2:9 - unto

Gill's Notes on the Bible

For we must all appear,.... This is a reason why the saints are so diligent and laborious, so earnest and intent upon it, to be accepted of the Lord, because they must stand

before the judgment seat of Christ; who is appointed Judge of the whole earth, who is every way qualified for it, being God omnipotent and omniscient; and when he comes a second time will sit upon his great white throne, a symbol of purity and integrity, and will enter on this work, and finish it with the strictest justice and equity: and before him "we must all appear"; all the saints as well as others, ministers and people, persons of all ranks and conditions, of every nation, age, and sex; there will be no avoiding this judgment, all "must appear", or "be made manifest"; they will be set in open view, before angels and men; their persons, characters, and actions, even the most secret will be:

that everyone may receive the things done in his body; which he has performed by the members of the body as instruments thereof, or whatsoever he has done whilst in the body; and so this not only reaches to words and actions, but includes all the secret thoughts of the mind, and counsels of the heart, which will be made manifest: and when it is said, that "everyone shall receive" these; the meaning is, that he shall receive the reward of them,

according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad; the reward of good works will be of grace, and not of merit: good works will be considered at the last judgment, not as causes of eternal life and happiness, to which the saints will be adjudged; but will be produced in open court as fruits of grace, and as evidences of the truth of faith, which will justify the Judge in proceeding according to what he himself, as a Saviour, has said,

he that believeth shall be saved, he that believeth not shall be damned. The reward of bad works will be in strict and just proportion, according to the nature and demerit of them. The Jews say f, that

"all the works which a man does in this world, בגופא, "in the body", and spirit, he must give an account of in body and spirit before he goes out of the world.''

And again g, all the works of men are written in a book, הן ביש

הן טוב, "whether good or evil", and for them all they must give account.

f Zohar in Gen. fol. 57. 3. g Midrash Hanneelim in Zohar in Gen. fol. 75. 4.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

For we must - (δεῖ dei). It is proper, fit, necessary that we should all appear there. This fact, to which Paul now refers, is another reason why it was necessary to lead a holy life, and why Paul gave himself with so much diligence and self-denial to the arduous duties of his office. There is a necessity, or a fitness that we should appear there to give up our account, for we are here on trial: we are responsible moral agents; we are placed here to form characters for eternity. Before we receive our eternal allotment it is proper that we should render our account of the manner in which we have lived, and of the manner in which we have improved our talents and privileges. In the nature of things, it is proper that we should undergo a trial before we receive our reward, or before we are punished; and God has made it necessary and certain, by his direct and positive appointment, that we should stand at the bar of the final judge; see Romans 14:10.

All - Both Jews and Gentiles; old and young; bond and free; rich and poor; all of every class, and every age, and every nation. None shall escape by being unknown; none by virtue of their rank, or wealth; none because they have a character too pure to be judged. All shall be arranged in one vast assemblage, and with reference to their eternal doom; see Revelation 20:12. Rosenmuller supposes that the apostle here alludes to an opinion that was common among the Jews that the Gentiles only would be exposed to severe judgments in the future world, and that the Jews would be saved as a matter of course. But the idea seems rather to be, that as the trial of the great day was the most important that man could undergo, and as all must give account there, Paul and his fellow-laborers devoted themselves to untiring diligence and fidelity that they might be accepted in that great day.

Appear - (φανερωθῆναι phanerōthēnai). This word properly means, to make apparent, manifest, known; to show openly, etc. Here it means that we must be manifest, or openly shown; that is, we must be seen there, and be publicly tried. We must not only stand there, but our character will be seen, our desert will be known, our trial will be public. All will be brought, from their graves, and from their places of concealment, and will be seen at the judgment-seat. The secret things of the heart and the life will all be made manifest and known.

The judgment-seat of Christ - The tribunal of Christ, who is appointed to be the judge of quick and dead; see the John 5:25 note; Acts 10:42; Acts 17:31 notes. Christ is appointed to judge the world; and for this purpose he will assemble it before him, and assign to all their eternal allotments; see Matthew 25:0.

That every one may receive - The word rendered “may receive” κομίσηται komisētai means properly to take care of, to provide for; and in the New Testament, to bear, to bring Luke 7:37; to acquire, to obtain, to receive. This is the sense here. Every individual shall take, receive, or bear away the appropriate reward for the transactions of this life of probation; see Ephesians 6:8; Colossians 3:25.

The things - The appropriate reward of the actions of this life. “done in his body.” Literally, “the things by or through (διὰ dia) the body.” Tyndale renders it: “the works of his body.” The idea is, that every man shall receive an appropriate reward for the actions of this life. Observe here:

(1) That it is the works done in or through the body; not which the body itself has done. It is the mind, the man that has lived in the body, and acted by it, that is to be judged.

(2) It is to be for the deeds of this life; not for what is done after death. People are not to be brought into judgment for what they do after they die. All beyond the grave is either reward or punishment; it is not probation. The destiny is to be settled forever by what is done in this world of probation.

(3) It is to be for all the deeds done in the body; for all the thoughts, plans, purposes, words, as well as for all the outward actions of the man. All that has been thought or done must come into review, and man must give an account for all.

According to that he hath done - As an exact retribution for all that has been done. It is to be a suitable and proper recompence. The retribution is to be measured by what has been done in this life. Rewards shall be granted to the friends, and punishments to the foes of God, just in proportion to, or suitably to their deeds in this life. Every man shall receive just what, under all the circumstances, he ought to receive, and what will be impartial justice in the case. The judgment will be such that it will be capable of being seen to be right; and such as the universe at large, and as the individuals themselves will see ought to be rendered.

Whether it be good or bad - Whether the life has been good or evil. The good will have no wish to escape the trial; the evil will not be able. No power of wickedness, however great, will be able to escape from the trial of that day; no crime that has been concealed in this life will be concealed there; no transgressor of law who may have long escaped the punishment due to his sins, and who may have evaded all human tribunals, will be able to escape there.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 2 Corinthians 5:10. For we must all appear before the judgment seat — We labour to walk so as to please him, because we know that we shall have to give a solemn account of ourselves before the judgment seat of Christ; where he, whose religion we profess, will judge us according to its precepts, and according to the light and grace which it affords.

That every one may receive the things — κομισηται εκαστος. That each may receive to himself, into his own hand, his own reward and his own wages.

The things done in his body] That is, while he was in this lower state; for in this sense the term body is taken often in this epistle. We may observe also that the soul is the grand agent, the body is but its instrument. And it shall receive according to what it has done in the body.