What is the meaning of 2 Corinthians 5:7? For - “For” links verse 7 to the flow of thought in 2 Corinthians 5:1-6. Paul has just spoken of our earthly tent being destroyed and our longing for the heavenly dwelling. - The conjunction grounds his earlier assurance: because eternal realities are certain, our present manner of life is shaped accordingly (see 2 Corinthians 4:17-18; Romans 8:18). - When Paul says, “For we walk…,” he signals that what follows explains why believers can face affliction with confidence. We walk - “Walk” is a Hebrew-style idiom for daily conduct. It pictures a continuous journey, not a single step (compare Ephesians 4:1; Colossians 2:6). - Paul includes himself—“we”—embracing every follower of Christ. The Christian life is communal as well as personal (Philippians 1:27). - This walk involves choices, habits, and attitudes that line up with God’s revealed will (Psalm 119:105). By faith - Faith is trust in God’s character and promises, anchored in the finished work of Christ (Hebrews 12:2). - It relies on what God has said rather than what circumstances suggest (Hebrews 11:1). - Living by faith means: • Accepting God’s Word as truth in every situation (John 17:17). • Acting in obedience even when outcomes are unseen (James 2:22-23). • Drawing strength from the Spirit, not self-effort (Galatians 2:20). - Such faith anticipates the unseen eternal home Paul has just described (2 Corinthians 5:1-5). Not by sight - “Sight” stands for what can be verified by natural senses and human reasoning (John 20:29). - The world walks by sight, evaluating life only by what is visible and measurable (1 John 2:16-17). - Believers refuse to let temporary appearances control them: • Suffering does not disprove God’s goodness (Romans 8:28). • Delayed answers do not negate His faithfulness (Habakkuk 2:3-4). • Worldly success is not the ultimate reward (Matthew 6:19-20). - Paul himself demonstrates this perspective: though outwardly wasting away, he sees inward renewal (2 Corinthians 4:16). Daily implications - Prayer becomes essential conversation with the unseen Lord (1 Thessalonians 5:17). - Scripture is treated as the sure compass over shifting feelings (Psalm 19:7-11). - Hope focuses on Christ’s return and the resurrection of the body (Philippians 3:20-21). - Courage replaces fear because the worst that can happen in this life cannot rob the believer of eternal life (Matthew 10:28; 2 Corinthians 5:8-9). summary 2 Corinthians 5:7 calls believers to a lifestyle grounded in the certainty of God’s promises rather than the uncertainty of visible circumstances. Paul reminds us that our entire journey—our “walk”—is governed by faith: confident trust in the unseen yet utterly reliable God. Sight, with its fleeting and often misleading impressions, no longer dictates our responses. Instead, we order our choices, endure trials, and cultivate hope based on the sure revelation of Scripture and the glorious eternity awaiting us. |
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