house of this tabernacle. Our present bodies are called “tabernacles” (or “tents”) because they are only temporary dwelling places, like the tents of the children of Israel in the wilderness. Peter used the same term (2 Peter 1:14), as did John concerning the human body of Jesus (“the Word was made flesh, and [tabernacled] among us”—John 1:14). God, however, will provide an eternal dwelling-place, the resurrection body, for our eternal spirits.

not made with hands. This resurrection body, like that of the resurrection body of the Lord Jesus, is “not made with hands” (note Mark 14:58), but by the creative word of Christ (1 Thessalonians 4:16; John 5:28-29). When Christ returns, those bodies now corrupting in their graves will “put on incorruption,” while those still living but subject to death will “put on immortality” (1 Corinthians 15:54) and both shall “ever be with the Lord” (1 Thessalonians 4:17).

clothed upon. If our earthly house is “dissolved” (2 Corinthians 5:1) before Christ returns, there will be an intermediate period “with the Lord” (2 Corinthians 5:8) in which we shall neither wear our present body nor our future resurrection body. It was thus Paul's earnest desire and, surely ours as well, still to be living when Christ returns, and thus immediately to be “clothed upon” with our resurrection bodies. The latter would thus be put on over our old bodies as it were, and so still be recognizable (as was that of Christ after His resurrection), but with all aspects of their old “mortality” (pain, sin, etc.) immediately “swallowed up of life” (2 Corinthians 5:4).

found naked. The period between one's death and resurrection, even though a time of blessed fellowship with the Lord (2 Corinthians 5:8), is compared to a state of nakedness, since the spirit/soul system is without its body, or “spiritual clothing,” awaiting Christ's return to earth.

earnest of the Spirit. See note on 2 Corinthians 1:22 and note on Ephesians 1:13.

absent from the body. Even though being “absent from the body” is not as good as being in the future resurrection body, it is still something to be anticipated by the Christian with joy, for “to depart, and to be with Christ ... is far better” (Philippians 1:23). “To die” for the Christian “is gain” (Philippians 1:21). In heaven with Christ, our spirits—though without physical bodies—will be distinct and recognizable, in some way still bearing our likenesses. This was true, for example, of the spirits of Samuel and Moses (1 Samuel 28:11-14; Matthew 17:3), and also, in Christ's parable, of the spirits of Abraham and Lazarus (Luke 16:22-25).

labour. This verse is not suggesting that we must “labour” to be “accepted” by Christ. The connotation of “labour” is “be ambitious,” and that of “accepted of” is “be well-pleasing to.” It is our earnest desire to please Christ (2 Timothy 2:4).

judgment seat. The “judgment seat” (Greek bema) is not the “great white throne” (Revelation 20:11) where unbelievers are to be judged by their works and then sent into hell, but a judgment for rewards, or loss of rewards, to believers. See also Romans 14:10-12, 1 Corinthians 3:11-15, Revelation 22:12).

constraineth us. It is not our love for Christ that constrains us, for our love is variable at best. But His great love for us, the love that took Him to the cross in our place, is the greatest motivating factor for our love and service for Him.

were all dead. Literally, this means, “then all died.”

know we him no more. Before our conversion and further enlightenment by the Holy Spirit through His Word, we judged men according to worldly standards, even including Christ in our worldly method of evaluation. Now, however, our concern and judgment is spiritually motivated and guided. Paul says this was true of himself, and it should be true of us as well.

new creature. The miracle of regeneration—being born again and baptized by the Holy Spirit into the spiritual body of Christ—is a true miracle of special creation (not psychological redirection, or anything of that sort), comparable in quality (not quantity) to the creation of the universe. No natural process can accomplish or explain such a miracle.

reconciled to God. The marvelous truth is that God has already reconciled sinners to Himself by virtue of the sacrifice of His Son. The problem now is that sinners are not yet reconciled to Him. Therefore, He has committed to us “the ministry of reconciliation” and “the word of reconciliation” (2 Corinthians 5:18-19), as His ambassadors, to beseech men to accept His Son and His great work of salvation. This is “the Great Commission.”

knew no sin. According to Paul, Christ “knew no sin.” Peter says He “did no sin” (1 Peter 2:22) and John says that “in Him is no sin” (xTerm 3:5). Yet He was “made sin” for us, suffering and dying as the “propitiation ... for the sins of the whole world” (xTerm 2:2), in order to reconcile God to sinful mankind. Then we are “made the righteousness of God,” being given credit before God for His perfect righteousness. No wonder Paul could say: “The love of Christ constraineth us” (2 Corinthians 5:14).