2 Corinthians 5

2 Corinthians 5:1

HOuse of this tabernacle] S. Paul who was a Tentmaker elegantly compareth our body to a Tent, and that in many regards. 1. A tent or tabernacle is easily rasily raised up, and as easily taken down and spoiled; so is our body by sicknesse and outward violence, Job 4:19. 2. A tent is an habitation proper for pilgrims or souldiers which continue not in the same place; and such are all Christians whilest they live upon earth, strangers and pilgrims, (Psalms 39:12.) and souldiers sighting under Christs banner, Job 7:1. 3. A tent is a moveable house or habitation; so are our bodies, which are now like tents pitched upon the earth, but shall be hereafter transported into heaven. 4. Tents are soulde without, and soild with wind and weather, but have precious things within: so the body and outside of a Christian is but vile and contemptaible, but his inside is most beautifull and glorious (Psalms 45:13.) with speciall treasures of spirituall graces; like the tents of Solomon, (Cant. 1. 5.) which were most richly furnished within. 5. A tent is destroyed not by the consuming of the parts, but by taking them asunder: so the death of the body is nothing but the dissoloution of the parts. whereof man is composed, and taking asunder the soul from the body.

eternall in the heavens] The grave is someme called 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉domus soculi, or domus aeterna, a long home, Ecclesiastes 12:5. or house of eternitie, because the bodies or something of them remains long there, even to the end of the world: but our habitation in heaven is most truly and properly called an eternall house, which though some take here for the celestiall glory, wherewith our immortall bodies shall be glorified at the last day: yet seeing the Apostle doth here expressely speake of a building or house, which we shall have of God, after this tabernacle is dissolved, as soono as we shall go to dwell without our bodies, as appears by the 6. and 8. verses, it may as fitly be understood of the cclestiall glory in gencrall, wherewith the soule is adorned and clothed as it as it were, as soone as soone as she leaveth off this tabernacle, and wherewith the body also shall be clothed hereafter being raised from the dead.

2 Corinthians 5:2

which is front heaven] He calleth this house heavenly, not that the substance of it is heavenlky, but for the glory of it, and because it shall be incorruptible as the celestiall bodies are.

2 Corinthians 5:3

If so be that being clothed] Or, since that. We do not without canse desire to be clad with this heavenly house, that is, with that everlasting and immortall glory as with a gatment. For when we depart hence, we shall not remain naked, having once cast off the covering of this body: but we shall take our bodies againe, which shall put on as it were another arment besides, and therefore we sigh not for the wearinesse of this life, but for the desire of a better.

2 Corinthians 5:4

do grone] There is a double grone, one of nature, from the apprehension and feare of death, another of grace, out of an earnest desire of eternall life, which the Spirit kindleth in us.

being burdened] Both with the burden of sinne, and of manisold heavie crosses laid upon us.

not for that we would be unolothed, but clotherd upon] Gr. for that we would ont be. The Saints desire so to be clothed width a celestiall body, that they put not off thier mortall body, but have the immortall glory put upon it, as an upperroabe: which shall be their happinesse, who shall live kin the body till Christ come, for they shall not die, but be changed, as the Apostle teacheth us, 1 Corinthians 15:51.

that mortalitia] Or, that which is mortall.

2 Corinthians 5:5

wrought us for the self same thing] The Apostle taketh a metaphor from Goldsmiths, who burnish gold, or Carvers and Engravers, who worke upon wood or stone, and make it sit for that for which it naturally unapt: so doth God by his Spirit worke upon us, and make us sit for that by his Spirit of which naturally we are most uncapable, to wit, an immortall and spirituall body.

2 Corinthians 5:6

we are alayes confident] Alwayes resolved with a quiet and sober minde, to suffer what danger soever, nothing doubting but our end shall be happy.

2 Corinthians 5:7

For we walk by faith] The faith of those things we hope for, as not having them presently in our view.

2 Corinthians 5:8

We are confident] Gr. but; or and. kWe are in such fort bold, and do so passe in our pilgrimage with a valinat resolution and quiet minde, that yet notwithstanding we had rather depart home to the Lord; and seeing it is so with us, we strive to live so, that both in this our pilgrimage here we may please him, and that at length we may be received hont to him.

2 Corinthians 5:9

labour] Or, endeaveur.

2 Corinthians 5:10

For we must all appear] See Romans 14:10. That no man might thinke it indifferently to pertaine unto all what he spake of that heavenly flory, he addeth that every one shall first render an account of his pilgrimage after he is departed from hence. The word in the Originall 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 signifth more then to apeare in person, as those do who are cited into a Court; it implies to be laid open and to have our whole life ript up, and all our thoughts, words, and works disclosed and discoverd before men and Angels, Romans 2:23. and Romans 20:12.

done in his boiy] Gr. by his body. That is, in this bodily life of ours; or by the body: for whilest we live here our soul worketh by the body, and seeing th body is, as Methodius speaketh clegantly, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 the colleague of the soule, i is just with God that the body should be partaker with the soule either in immortall blisse, or endlesse torment, according as they have both joyned in this life either in the service of God, or in the service of Satan and this wicked world.

whether it be good or bad] Whether good, the reward of the same by gracc; or bad, the receompence thereof by desert. Ecclesiastes 12:14.

2 Corinthians 5:11

Knowing therofore the terour of the Lord] The dreadfull Tribunall of Christ, the Judge of quick and dead, before whom we must give a strict account of all our actions, speeches, yea and our inward thoughts, intentions and affections.

2 Corinthians 5:12

glory on our bohalf] Or, rejoyce for us.

which glory] Or, rejoyce.

which glory in appearance] Gr. in the face. In outward disguising and that doloured shew of mans wisdome and cloquence, and not in true godlinesse which is seated in the heart; or who glory in the multitude of their followers, and applause of their hearers, but want the testimonie of a good conscience.

2 Corinthians 5:13

whether we be besides our selves] Either the meaning is, if we are in our extasies and raptures it is to God; that is, in our private devotions when we speak to him: but to you we speak alwaies words of sobrietie and in a moderate temper: or he hath refrence to the commendation of his Apostlesip For so much as it seemeth to be the part of mad and foolish men to commend themselves, and then the meaning is; that if we exceed at any time, and are so transported in the contemplation of the dignitie of our Apostleshhip, that we seeme to be besides our selves, we do it not to arrogate glory to our selves, but to maintain the glory and honour of God: and if on the other side we speak modestly of our selves, and our ministeric, it is for your good, to teach you modestie, and to condescend to your capacitie, and to use al means to bring you to Christ.

sober] Or, in our right mind.

for your cause] Gr. to you

2 Corinthians 5:14

constr aineth us] Or, keepeth us in.

2 Corinthians 5:16

know we no man after the flesh] Neither my self nor any of the Apostles have any worldly or carnall affection, nor take notice or mens outward appearance, kindred, qualitie, honour, wisdome, or eloquence; but meerly know them after the Spirit; that is, kaccording to the spirituall power, vertur, or grace that is in them.

known Christ after the flesh, &c.] If we have had earthly and carnall thoughts and hopes of Christ, like unto the rest of the Jews, that he as the King of Israel should beging an earthly temporall kingodme, and we enjoy all manner of earthly and carnall benefits in the same; as honour, riches, and power, &c. yet now we know him no more, we hav put off all such carnall imaginations of his Kingdome. To know Christ no more after the flesh, faith Luther, is to seek kor expect no fleshly thing with him, as the Disciples did before his suffering, but to con tent our selves with the word. Or the words may carry this meaning; we serve not men, nor desre to please men, but all our desire is to please Christ and him onely; to whom also we stand no longer affected after any meerly humane, civill, or naturalmanner of affections, such as thos bare unto him who conversed with him here in this world, but altogether in a Divine and spirituall manner agreeable to the state of glory whereunto he is exalted: see John 20:17. And this the Apostle mentioneth here, to take off the edge of that argument whereby the false Apostles sought to vilifie and abase his ministery below that of the rest of the Apostles, namely, that he had not been conversant with Christ in the flesh.

2 Corinthians 5:17

if any man be in Christ] Every ture Christian inserted into the body of Christ by his Spirit, is and ought to be changed in all his senses, motions, desires, and affections: and therefore he is freed of vanitie and self-love according as every faithfull on (the generall state and condition of the Church being renewed by Christ) ought to participate of this newnesse of life.

he is a new creature] Or, let him be. As a thing madee new of God. For though a man be not newly creatd when God giveth him the spirit of regeneration; but onely his qualities are changed: yet notwithstanding it pleaseth the holy Ghost to speak so, to teach us that we must attribute all things to the glory of God: not that we are stocks and blocks, but because God createth in us both the will to will well, and the power to do well.

old things are past away] See Isaiah 43:19 Revelation 21:5.

all things are become new] Namely, in the kingdome of Christ: and here the Apostle hath reserence to th promise kof God, Esa. 65. 17. and 66. 22. where this renovation of all things is promised, whereof part is now already sulfulled in all true beleevers, who are renewed by the Spirit of God, and the rest shall be accomplished in the life to come. See 2 Peter 3:13. Revelation 21:5.

2 Corinthians 5:19

committed unto us] Gr. put in us.

2 Corinthians 5:20

Now then we are amoassadours] Gr. We are therefore ambassadours.

beseech] Or, exhort. or, perswade.

in Christs stead] Gr. for Christ.

2 Corinthians 5:21

he hath mad him to be same for us] That is, a sacrifice for sinne: or he hath imputed the sinnes of the world to Christ (who was most righteous and innocent himself) and hath put upon him all the punishment and malediction due to us, that all the faithfull may be reputed before God as holy and perfect as righteousnesse it self by virtue of Christs righteousnesse, which is given to them by God, and onely is able to stand in his judgement.

who knew no sinne] That is, who knew no sinne by himself, who was conscious to himself of no sinne. For other waie; he best knew the nature and power of sinne, who bare our sinnes on his body on the tree.

of God in him] In Christ, in regard that we are in him, and that his righteousnesse is imputed to us. Non nostra, nec in nobis. Ita Hieronym.