Devine Scripture

2 Corinthians 5:6

What does 2 Corinthians 5:6 mean?

A plain-English look at 2 Corinthians 5:6 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What 2 Corinthians 5:6 means

Because God has prepared us and given His Spirit, believers live with steady courage. Paul names a present tension: to be “at home in the body” is to be “absent from the Lord.” He does not deny Christ’s nearness by the Spirit, but acknowledges that the fullness of the Lord’s presence awaits being with Him. This honest assessment keeps expectations realistic while feeding hope. Courage does not come from minimizing our distance from glory, but from trusting God amid it. The verse models a faith that faces the in-between time with calm steadiness, confident that bodily life now is good yet not the final home.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

Being therefore always of good courage, and knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord

KJV

King James Version · 1611

Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord:

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

Being therefore always of good courage, and knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

So, then, we are ever without fear, and though conscious that while we are in the body we are away from the Lord,

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

having courage, then, at all times, and knowing that being at home in the body, we are away from home from the Lord, --

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

Therefore having always confidence, knowing that while we are in the body we are absent from the Lord.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

Therefore [we are] always confident, and know that while present in the body we are absent from the Lord,

Context

Verse 6 draws an inference from God’s guarantee (v. 5): we can be of good courage even while we remain in the mortal condition. Paul introduces the theme of “home” and “away” that will carry through verses 6–9. Verse 7 will explain the principle that governs this courage—walking by faith—and verse 8 will express the preference to be with the Lord. This framing sets up the moral aim in verse 9 and the sober reality of evaluation in verse 10.

v.5Now he that wrought us for this very thing is God, who gave unto us the earnest of the Spirit.

v.6This passage

v.7(for we walk by faith, not by sight);

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Hebrews 13:14

    For we have not here an abiding city, but we seek after the city which is to come.

  • Psalms 27:3

    Though a host should encamp against me, My heart shall not fear: Though war should rise against me, Even then will I be confident.

  • Psalms 39:12

    Hear my prayer, O Jehovah, and give ear unto my cry; Hold not thy peace at my tears: For I am a stranger with thee, A sojourner, as all my fathers were.

  • 2 Corinthians 5:8

    we are of good courage, I say, and are willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be at home with the Lord.

  • 1 Chronicles 29:15

    For we are strangers before thee, and sojourners, as all our fathers were: our days on the earth are as a shadow, and there is no abiding.

  • Hebrews 11:13

    These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.

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