The apostle’s hope and desire of heavenly glory
The believer not only is well assured by faith that there is another and a happy life after this is ended, but he has good hope, through grace, of heaven as a dwelling-place, a resting-place, a hiding-place. In our Father’s house there are many mansions, whose Builder and Maker is God. The happiness of the future state is what God has prepared for those that love him: everlasting habitations, not like the earthly tabernacles, the poor cottages of clay, in which our souls now dwell; that are molding and decaying, whose foundations are in the dust. The body of flesh is a heavy burden, the calamities of life are a heavy load. But believers groan, being burdened with a body of sin, and because of the many corruptions remaining and raging within them. Death will strip us of the clothing of flesh, and all the comforts of life, as well as end all our troubles here below. But believing souls shall be clothed with garments of praise, with robes of righteousness and glory. The present graces and comforts of the Spirit are earnests of everlasting grace and comfort. And though God is with us here, by his Spirit, and in his ordinances, yet we are not with him as we hope to be. Faith is for this world, and sight is for the other world. It is our duty, and it will be our interest, to walk by faith, till we live by sight. This shows clearly the happiness to be enjoyed by the souls of believers when absent from the body, and where Jesus makes known his glorious presence. We are related to the body and to the Lord; each claims a part in us. But how much more powerfully the Lord pleads for having the soul of the believer closely united with himself! Thou art one of the souls I have loved and chosen; one of those given to me. What is death, as an object of fear, compared with being absent from the Lord!
Verses that belong to this explanation: 1-8
1 For we know that if our earthly house of [this] tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2 For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven: 3 If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked. 4 For we that are in [this] tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life. 5 Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing [is] God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit. 6 Therefore [we are] always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: 7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight:) 8 We are confident, [I say], and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.
 | Author: Matthew Henry Rank: Priest AD: 1714 Source: Title: Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible Author: Matthew Henry |
In [Verse 1], the Apostle refers to our present mortal body as an "earthly tent." A tent is not a permanent, but a portable dwelling for pilgrims and travelers.
Paul speaks of death destroying this "tent." At the time of our death, the tent is taken down. The body is laid in the grave, while the spirit and soul of the believer go to the Lord.
Paul begins the chapter with confidence: If this "earthly tent" should ever be "destroyed," he knows that he has "a building from God," and "a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens." Note the difference between the "tent" and the "building." The temporary "tent" is taken down, but a new, permanent house awaits the believer in the heavenly homeland. This is a "building from God," in the sense that God gives it to us.
Furthermore, it is a "house not made with hands." Why does Paul mention this? Even our current bodies are not made with hands, so why emphasize that our future, glorified bodies are not made with hands? The answer is that the phrase "not made with hands" means that the bodies of glory are not of this creation. This is clarified in [Heb 9:11], where we read: "But Christ came as a high priest of the good things to come, through the greater and more perfect tent—not made with hands, that is, not of this creation ... entered..." Paul intends to say in [Verse 1] that although our present bodies are suitable for life on this earth, our future, glorified bodies do not belong to this creation. They will be especially suited for life in heaven.
The future body of the believer is described as "eternal... in the heavens." It is a body no longer subject to sickness, decay, and death. Rather, it is a body that will endure forever in our heavenly home.
It might sound as though this verse states that the believer receives the body at the moment of death, but this is not the case. He receives his glorified body only when Jesus returns for his church [1Thess 4:13-18]. Here's what happens to the believer: When he dies, his spirit and soul go to Christ, where he can fully enjoy the glory of heaven. His body is laid in the grave. When the Lord returns, the dust from the grave will be raised. God will make this dust into a new, glorified body, which will then be reunited with the spirit and soul. There is thus a time between his death and Christ's coming for his saints. In view of this, it can be said that he is in a disembodied state. However, this does not mean that he cannot enjoy the joy and glory of heaven. He is fully aware of all these things!
Before we leave [Verse 1], we should mention that there are three basic ways of interpreting the expression "a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens."
1. Heaven itself.
2. Some kind of transitional body between death and resurrection.
3. The glorified body. The house can hardly be heaven itself because it is said to be "eternal" and "from heaven" [Verse 2] in the heavens. Scripture says nothing about a transitional body. Moreover, it is said of the house not made with hands that it is eternal in heaven, and this does not apply to a transitional body. The third interpretation (that the house refers to the resurrection body) seems to us to be the correct interpretation.
Paul speaks of death destroying this "tent." At the time of our death, the tent is taken down. The body is laid in the grave, while the spirit and soul of the believer go to the Lord.
Paul begins the chapter with confidence: If this "earthly tent" should ever be "destroyed," he knows that he has "a building from God," and "a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens." Note the difference between the "tent" and the "building." The temporary "tent" is taken down, but a new, permanent house awaits the believer in the heavenly homeland. This is a "building from God," in the sense that God gives it to us.
Furthermore, it is a "house not made with hands." Why does Paul mention this? Even our current bodies are not made with hands, so why emphasize that our future, glorified bodies are not made with hands? The answer is that the phrase "not made with hands" means that the bodies of glory are not of this creation. This is clarified in [Heb 9:11], where we read: "But Christ came as a high priest of the good things to come, through the greater and more perfect tent—not made with hands, that is, not of this creation ... entered..." Paul intends to say in [Verse 1] that although our present bodies are suitable for life on this earth, our future, glorified bodies do not belong to this creation. They will be especially suited for life in heaven.
The future body of the believer is described as "eternal... in the heavens." It is a body no longer subject to sickness, decay, and death. Rather, it is a body that will endure forever in our heavenly home.
It might sound as though this verse states that the believer receives the body at the moment of death, but this is not the case. He receives his glorified body only when Jesus returns for his church [1Thess 4:13-18]. Here's what happens to the believer: When he dies, his spirit and soul go to Christ, where he can fully enjoy the glory of heaven. His body is laid in the grave. When the Lord returns, the dust from the grave will be raised. God will make this dust into a new, glorified body, which will then be reunited with the spirit and soul. There is thus a time between his death and Christ's coming for his saints. In view of this, it can be said that he is in a disembodied state. However, this does not mean that he cannot enjoy the joy and glory of heaven. He is fully aware of all these things!
Before we leave [Verse 1], we should mention that there are three basic ways of interpreting the expression "a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens."
1. Heaven itself.
2. Some kind of transitional body between death and resurrection.
3. The glorified body. The house can hardly be heaven itself because it is said to be "eternal" and "from heaven" [Verse 2] in the heavens. Scripture says nothing about a transitional body. Moreover, it is said of the house not made with hands that it is eternal in heaven, and this does not apply to a transitional body. The third interpretation (that the house refers to the resurrection body) seems to us to be the correct interpretation.
 | Author: William MacDonald Rank: Author Posted on: 2024-04-30 Source: Title: Commentary on the New Testament Year (original): 1989 Author: William MacDonald Number of pages: 1504 Publisher/Editor: CLV Print: GGP Media GmbH, Pößneck |
As to the house of this our earthly dwelling-place, when he says that "we have an eternal home in heaven, not made with hands".
It is still the same sentiment which he follows up in the passage in which he puts the recompense above the sufferings: "for we know; "he says, "that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens; ".
With a view to the new house of the Lord
 | Author: Tertullian of Carthage Rank: Author AD: 220 |
Now the followers of Origen bring forward this passage, "For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved"
 | Author: Methodius of Olympus Rank: Bishop AD: 311 |
For this is the crowning point of our hope, that we shall leave behind our present dwelling, which is but for a time, and depart to one that will last forever. For we have "a tabernacle not made with hands"
 | Author: Martyrdom of the Holy Confessors Posted on: 2022-11-13 |
Once again, Paul is alluding to the resurrection, which many of the Corinthians did not understand or accept. The earthly tent is our body. Admittedly, it was not made with hands, but Paul is simply comparing it with the houses we live in. He was not trying to make an exact contrast between the earthly and the heavenly but rather to exalt the latter in every possible way.
 | Author: John Chrysostom Rank: Bishop AD: 407 |
For we know, that if the earthly house of our tabernacle be dissolved, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal, in the heavens. Again he arouses their zeal because many trials drew on. For it was likely that they, in consequence of his absence, were weaker in respect to this [need]. What then says he? One ought not to wonder that we suffer affliction; nor to be confounded, for we even reap many gains thereby. And some of these he mentioned before; for instance, that we bear about the dying of Jesus, and present the greatest proof of His power: for he says, that the exceeding greatness of the power may be of God: and we exhibit a clear proof of the Resurrection, for, says he, that the life of Jesus may be manifested in our mortal flesh. But since along with these things he said that our inward man is thus made better also; for though our outward man is decaying, says he, yet the inward man is renewed day by day; showing again that this being scourged and persecuted is proportionately useful, he adds, that when this is done thoroughly, then the countless good things will spring up for those who have endured these things. For lest when you hear that your outward man perishes, you should grieve; he says, that when this is completely effected, then most of all shall you rejoice and shall come unto a better inheritance. So that not only ought not one to grieve at its perishing now in part, but even earnestly to seek for the completion of that destruction, for this most conducts you to immortality. Wherefore also he added, For we know, that if the earthly house of our tabernacle be dissolved: we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For since he is urging again the doctrine of the Resurrection in respect to which they were particularly unsound; he calls in aid the judgment of his hearers also, and so establishes it; not however in the same way as before, but, as it were, arriving at it out of another subject: (for they had been already corrected:) and says, We know that if the earthly house of our tabernacle be dissolved, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. Some indeed say that the 'earthly house' is this world; But I should maintain that he alludes rather to the body. But observe, I pray, how by the terms [he uses,] he shows the superiority of the future things to the present. For having said earthly he has opposed to it the heavenly; having said, house of tabernacle, thereby declaring both that it is easily taken to pieces and is temporary, he has opposed to it the eternal, for the name tabernacle often times denotes temporariness. Wherefore He says, In My Father's house are many abiding places. John 14:2 But if He anywhere also calls the resting places of the saints tabernacles; He calls them not tabernacles simply, but adds an epithet; for he said not, that they may receive you into their tabernacles, but into the eternal tabernacles. Luke 16:9 Moreover also in that he said, not made with hands, he alluded to that which was made with hands. What then? Is the body made with hands? By no means; but he either alludes to the houses here that are made with hands, or if not this, then he called the body which is not made with hands, 'a house of tabernacle.' For he has not used the term in antithesis and contradistinction to this, but to heighten those eulogies and swell those commendations.
| Author: John Chrysostom Rank: Bishop AD: 407 |
Paul is talking here about two different worlds. One is the earthly, made with hands and visible. The other is invisible, made without hands and heavenly. On earth, our soul is clothed in flesh and blood, which is the visible and organic body. But once this body is left behind, the soul will move to the heavenly realm, where it will receive its body back, but one that has been transformed into a heavenly body. .
 | Author: Didymus the Blind AD: 398 |
For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven: if so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked. For we by sight"
 | Author: Clement Of Alexandria Rank: Author AD: 215 |
Should anyone say that the cause of vices and evil habits lies in the flesh because when the soul is influenced by the flesh it lives in such a manner, he cannot have sufficiently considered human nature as a whole… . But notice that the apostle who, in discussing the corruptible body, had used the words “even though our outer man is decaying,” goes on, a little further, to declare: “For we know that if the earthly house in which we dwell be destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made by human hands, eternal in the heavens.” … On the one hand, our corruptible body may be a burden on our soul; on the other hand, the cause of this encumbrance is not in the nature and substance of the body. Therefore, aware as we are of its corruption, we do not desire to be divested of the body but rather to be clothed with its immortality. In immortal life we shall have a body, but it will no longer be a burden since it will no longer be corruptible.
 | Author: Augustine of Hippo Rank: Bishop AD: 430 |
Our present body is our earthly home. Our resurrection body is our heavenly one. Commentary on Paul’s Epistles.
 | Author: Ambrosiaster Rank: Author AD: 400 |
The listed verse explanations of the individual persons have nothing to do with the explanations of the other persons. This also applies to the Bible translations.
