2 Corinthians 5:6

THE MESSAGE

That'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.

Parallel Translations

Simplified Cowboy Version
So we can walk with our head high even though we know as long as we are down here, we are away from the Lord.

New American Standard Bible (1995)
Therefore, being always of good courage, and knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord—

Legacy Standard Bible
Therefore, being always of good courage, and knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord—

Bible in Basic English
So, then, we are ever without fear, and though conscious that while we are in the body we are away from the Lord,

Darby Translation
Therefore [we are] always confident, and know that while present in the body we are absent from the Lord,

Christian Standard Bible®
So, we are always confident and know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord.

World English Bible
Being therefore always of good courage, and knowing that, while we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord;

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
Therefore we always behave undauntedly; knowing that while we are sojourning in the body, we are absent from the Lord:

Weymouth's New Testament
We have therefore a cheerful confidence. We know that while we are at home in the body we are banished from the Lord;

King James Version (1611)
Therefore we are alwayes confident, knowing that whilest wee are at home in the body, wee are absent from the Lord.

Literal Translation
Then always being fully assured, and knowing that being at home in the body we are away from home from the Lord

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Therfore are we allwaye of good cheare, and knowe, that as longe as we dwell here in the body, we are not at home with the LORDE:

Mace New Testament (1729)
therefore being always certainly assur'd that whilst I sojourn in this body, I am absent from the Lord,

Amplified Bible
So then, being always filled with good courage and confident hope, and knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord—

American Standard Version
Being therefore always of good courage, and knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord

Revised Standard Version
So we are always of good courage; we know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord,

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
Therfore we are alwaye of good chere and knowe well that as longe as we are at home in the body we are absent from God.

Update Bible Version
Being therefore always of good courage, and knowing that, while we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord

Webster's Bible Translation
Therefore [we are] always confident, knowing that, while we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord:

Young's Literal Translation
having courage, then, at all times, and knowing that being at home in the body, we are away from home from the Lord, --

New Century Version
So we always have courage. We know that while we live in this body, we are away from the Lord.

New English Translation
Therefore we are always full of courage, and we know that as long as we are alive here on earth we are absent from the Lord—

Berean Standard Bible
Therefore we are always confident, although we know that while we are at home in the body, we are away from the Lord.

Contemporary English Version
So always be cheerful! As long as we are in these bodies, we are away from the Lord.

Complete Jewish Bible
So we are always confident — we know that so long as we are at home in the body, we are away from our home with the Lord;

English Standard Version
So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord,

Geneva Bible (1587)
Therefore we are alway bolde, though we knowe that whiles we are at home in the bodie, we are absent from the Lord.

George Lamsa Translation
Therefore we know and are convinced, that so long as we dwell in the body, we are absent from our LORD.

Hebrew Names Version
Being therefore always of good courage, and knowing that, while we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord;

International Standard Version
Therefore, we are always confident, and we know that as long as we are at home in this body we are away from the Lord.

Etheridge Translation
For therefore do we know and are persuaded, that so long as we remain in the body we are in pilgrimage from our Lord.

Murdock Translation
Therefore, because we know and are persuaded, that while we lodge in the body we sojourn away from our Lord;

New King James Version
So we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord.

New Living Translation
So we are always confident, even though we know that as long as we live in these bodies we are not at home with the Lord.

New Life Bible
We are sure of this. We know that while we are at home in this body we are not with the Lord.

English Revised Version
Being therefore always of good courage, and knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord

New Revised Standard
So we are always confident; even though we know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord—

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Having good courage, therefore, at all times, and knowing that - remaining at home in the body, we are away from home from the Lord, -

Douay-Rheims Bible
Therefore having always confidence, knowing that while we are in the body we are absent from the Lord.

King James Version
Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord:

Lexham English Bible
Therefore, although we are always confident and know that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord—

Bishop's Bible (1568)
Therfore we are alway of good cheare, and knowe, that as long as we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lorde.

Easy-to-Read Version
So we always have confidence. We know that while we live in this body, we are away from the Lord.

New American Standard Bible
Therefore, being always of good courage, and knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord—

Good News Translation
So we are always full of courage. We know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord's home.

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Therfor we ben hardi algatis, and witen that the while we ben in this bodi, we goen in pilgrymage fro the Lord;

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 are always: 2 Corinthians 5:8, Psalms 27:3, Psalms 27:4, Proverbs 14:26, Isaiah 30:15, Isaiah 36:4, Hebrews 10:35, 1 Peter 5:1, Revelation 1:9

whilst: 2 Corinthians 5:1, 1 Chronicles 29:15, Psalms 39:12, Psalms 119:19, Philippians 3:20, Philippians 3:21, Hebrews 11:13, Hebrews 13:14

Reciprocal: Genesis 47:9 - The days John 14:3 - I will Romans 8:10 - but 2 Corinthians 5:9 - whether 2 Corinthians 12:2 - in the Philippians 1:21 - to die 1 Peter 1:17 - in fear 1 John 3:2 - for

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Therefore we are always confident,.... Because God has formed us for immortality and glory, and given us his Spirit as the earnest of it, we take heart, are of good courage, do not sink under our burdens, or despair of happiness, but are fully assured of enjoying what we are desirous of:

knowing that whilst we are at home in the body; or whilst we are inmates or sojourners in the body; for the body is not properly the saints' home; whilst they are in it, they are but pilgrims and strangers; the time of their abode in it is the time of their sojourning: during which time they

are absent from the Lord; not with respect to his general presence, which is everywhere, and attends all creatures, an absence from which is impossible; nor with respect to his spiritual presence, which though not always sensibly enjoyed, yet frequently; nor are the children of God ever deprived of it totally and finally; but with respect to his glorious presence, and the full enjoyment of that. Now the knowledge and consideration of this, that the present state and situation of the saints, whilst in the body, is a state of pilgrimage, and so of absence from the Lord Christ, and from their Father's house, serves to increase their confidence and assurance, that they shall not long continue so, but in a little time shall be at home, and for ever with the Lord.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Therefore we are always confident - The word used here (θαῤῥοῦντες tharrountes) means to be of good cheer. To have good courage, to be full of hope. The idea is, that Paul was not dejected, cast down, disheartened, discouraged. He was cheerful and happy. He was patient in his trials, and diligent in his calling. He was full of hope, and of the confident expectation of heaven; and this filled him with cheerfulness and with joy. Tyndale renders it: “we are always of goud cheere.” And this was not occasional and transitory, it was constant, it was uniform, it always (πάντοτε pantote) existed. This is an instance of the uniform cheerfulness which will be produced by the assured prospect of heaven. It is an instance too when the hope of heaven will enable a man to face danger with courage; to endure toil with patience; and to submit to trials in any form with cheerfulness.

Knowing - see 2 Corinthians 5:1. This is another instance in which the apostle expresses undoubted assurance.

While we are at home in the body - The word used here (ἐνδημοῦντες endēmountes) means literally to be among one’s own people, to be at home; to be present at any place. It is here equivalent to saying, “while we dwell in the body;” see 2 Corinthians 5:1. Doddridge renders it, “sojourning in the body;” and remarks that it is improper to render it “at home in the body,” since it is the apostle’s design to intimate that this is not our home. But Bloomfield says that the word is never used in the sense of sojourning. The idea is not that of being “at home” - for this is an idea which is the very opposite of that which the apostle wishes to convey. His purpose is not at all to represent the body here as our home, and the original word does not imply that. It means here simply to be in the body; to be present in the body; that is, while we are in the body.

We are absent from the Lord - The Lord Jesus; see the notes, Acts 1:24; compare Philippians 1:23. Here he was in a strange world, and among strangers. His great desire and purpose was to be with the Lord; and hence, he cared little how soon the frail tabernacle of the body was taken down, and was cheerful amidst all the labors and sufferings that tended to bring it to the grave, and to release him to go to his eternal home where he would be present forever with the Lord.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 2 Corinthians 5:6. We are always confident — θαρρουντες ουν παντοτε. We are always full of courage; we never despond; we know where our help lies; and, having the earnest of the Spirit, we have the full assurance of hope.

Whilst we are at home in the body, c.] The original words in this sentence are very emphatic: ενδημειν signifies to dwell among one's own people εκδημειν, to be a sojourner among a strange people. Heaven is the home of every genuine Christian, and is claimed by them as such; see Philippians 1:23. Yet, while here below, the body is the proper home of the soul; but as the soul is made for eternal glory, that glory is its country; and therefore it is considered as being from its proper home while below in the body. As all human souls are made for this glory, therefore all are considered, while here, to be absent from their own country. And it is not merely heaven that they have in view, but the Lord; without whom, to an immortal spirit possessed of infinite desires, heaven would neither be a home nor a place of rest. We see plainly that the apostle gives no intimation of an intermediate state between being at home in the body and being present with the Lord. There is not the slightest intimation here that the soul sleeps, or rather, that there is no soul; and, when the body is decomposed, that there is no more of the man till the resurrection: I mean, according to the sentiments of those who do condescend to allow us a resurrection, though they deny us a soul. But this is a philosophy in which St. Paul got no lessons, either from Gamaliel, Jesus Christ, the Holy Ghost, or in the third heaven, where he heard even unutterable things.