Cambridge Greek Testament Commentary

2 Corinthians 5:6-10

6–10. These verses sum up results, and recall the strong conviction expressed in 2 Corinthians 5:1. The A.V. does not bring out the construction of 2 Corinthians 5:6-8, which is broken by the parenthesis in 2 Corinthians 5:7. Confident therefore always, and knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord, for we walk by means of faith and not by means of visible form,—we are confident, I say, and are well pleased rather to get absent from the body and to get home unto the Lord. The repetition of θαρρεῖν must be preserved; and the change from presents (ἐνδημοῦντες, ἐκδημοῦμεν) to aorists (ἐκδημῆσαι, ἐνδημῆσαι) must be marked. For the thought comp. Philippians 1:23; 1 Thessalonians 5:10; also ἄφιξις in Acts 20:29, where (as invariably in Hdt., Dem., &c.) it means ‘arrival’ = ἐνδημῆσαι πρὸς τὸν κύριον, not ‘departing’ (A.V., R.V.), discessio (Vulg.). Comp. the German Heimgang for ‘death,’ and see Chase, Credibility of the Acts, pp. 263, 264. In the N.T. θαρρεῖν is rare (2 Corinthians 7:16; 2 Corinthians 10:1-2; Hebrews 13:6), in the LXX. perhaps only Proverbs 1:21 : θαρσεῖν is more common, especially in the imperative.

Continues after advertising

BibliaPlus

Cambridge Greek Testament Commentary

2 Corinthians 5:6-10

Old Testament

New Testament