Bible Commentaries
2 Corinthians 5

Verses 1-21

The vision of the house of God, and the coming at last to the Lord, throws its light on, and explains the value of, the groaning and the burden of the tabernacle, of the period of absence from the Master. "Absent from the body," "at home with the Lord." This reveals the consciousness. No strangeness, no sense of having to keep up an appearance, "at home with the Lord." The passing of all that is strained, and the coming of the perfect ease of naturalness. Surely Paul was right. The affliction is light when placed in the balance against the weight of the glory.

The twofold impulse of the ministry is revealed, "the fear of the Lord" (verse2 Corinthians 5:11; 2 Corinthians 5:11) , "the love of Christ" (verse 2Co 5:14 ). This fear of the Lord is the constant and passionate anxiety rightly to respond to the love of Christ which constraineth.

All this means that the ministry is the work of reconciliation, and its burden is summarized in the majestic and magnificent declaration, "God was in Christ, reconciling the word unto Himself." On the basis of this great declaration the apostle makes his first appeal, beseeching the Corinthians to be reconciled to God.