1 For we know, if our earthly house of this habitation be dissolved, that we have a building of God, a house not made with hands, eternal in heaven.
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VERS. 1.-- *For we know that if our earthly house of this habitation be dissolved, that we have a building,* etc. That is, we shall have an immortal body, if the body be dissolved through tribulations, and therefore, since it shall be so dissolved, so that the condition and the cause is set down first. *Not made with hands, but eternal.* That is, not made by the embrace of men, namely, not brought forth by the work of human generation nor increased by human fomentations, but ineffably framed together by God. *Eternal.* Because in it there shall be abiding without end.
2 For in this also we groan, desiring to be clothed upon with our habitation that is from heaven.
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VERS. 2.-- *For.* Not only for the present habitation, but also, *in this,* that is, in the consideration of this so great glory, *we groan.* From the delay of desire: which we should not do, unless we were certain. In figure of which thing Axa the daughter of Caleb asked for the upper watering and the lower watering, that we should pour out tears, not only for the misery of our present sojourning, but for the delay of the glory above. We groan, because we long beyond the invocation of the soul, which we have already received. *From heaven.* That is, we desire to have an immortal and impassible body, after the likeness of the heavenly. *For we also who,* etc. As if he should say: We who are more perfect groan for the delay, because even the less perfect groan, who cherish the flesh. But the Apostle numbers himself among these, lest they should think the less of themselves.
3 Yet so that we be found clothed, not naked.
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VERS. 3.-- *If so be that clothed* with the glory of the promise; *not naked.* This the saints desire, lest, rising again with the body received back, they be found naked, that is, strangers to the promised glory. For this is what is needful: that, being clothed with the body, they may be clothed upon with glory, which is a change into brightness. *Being burdened with that* body: by which nevertheless we do not wish death to be taken from us, but to be clothed upon, that is, to be clothed by God with the robe of immortality which shall destroy mortality, not that it should come over it.
4 For we also, who are in this tabernacle, do groan, being burthened; because we would not be unclothed, but clothed upon, that that which is mortal may be swallowed up by life.
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VERS. 4.-- *We that are in the tabernacle.* We who love the habitation of this body, for which there is no need to care, since it is not a tabernacle save for a time, *do groan* with the desire of the heavenly. We, I say, being burdened, as if he should say: It is no wonder if we groan: because we are far removed from blessedness. For we groan even over this lesser thing, that we are stripped of this body. *For that.* That is, for that reason we groan. *Because we would not be despoiled,* if this could be done. Or, we groan with the desire of the heavenly. *But God hath wrought this.* Or, we would not be despoiled: *God nevertheless hath wrought it* that we should desire immortality. *That it may be swallowed up,* etc. So that mortality may be nowhere. Not beneath, not above, not within, not without. For death is swallowed up in victory.
5 Now he that maketh us for this very thing is God, who hath given us the pledge of the Spirit,
6 Therefore having always confidence, knowing that while we are in the body we are absent from the Lord.
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VERS. 6.-- *Being confident.* God makes us to will immortality, and makes us also certain through the Spirit, and therefore we are confident. *We are absent from the Lord.* How? when it is written elsewhere: *In him we live, and move, and are?* Because, although God is everywhere, yet he is not seen here as in heaven. We are absent therefore not by faith, but by sight.
7 (For we walk by faith and not by sight.)
8 But we are confident and have a good will to be absent rather from the body and to be present with the Lord.
9 And therefore we labour, whether absent or present, to please him.
10 For we must all be manifested before the judgment seat of Christ, that every one may receive the proper things of the body, according as he hath done, whether it be good or evil.
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VERS. 10.-- *That every one may render.* Even children, who, if not by themselves, have done by others, while through them they believed or believed not, according to which they are judged, not according to what they were about to do if they lived long. For he says: *according as he hath done in the body,* not as he was about to do if he lived, in vain therefore does a man promise himself after this body what here in the body he neglected to procure. *We persuade.* The apostles persuade that the rest, living well, believe and provide for themselves, because by the perverse speech of certain men the day of the Lord is come into doubt
11 Knowing therefore the fear of the Lord, we use persuasion to men: but to God we are manifest. And I trust also that in your consciences we are manifest.
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VERS. 11.-- *But to God we are manifest,* because we preach this which God commands.
12 We commend not ourselves again to you, but give you occasion to glory in our behalf: that you may have somewhat to answer them who glory in face, and not in heart.
13 For whether we be transported in mind, it is to God: or whether we be sober, it is for you.
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VERS. 13.-- *For whether in mind.* As if he should say: Of us assuredly you may glory, because whatsoever we do is either the honour of God or the profit of our neighbour. *Or whether we go beyond,* that is, if we commend ourselves (wherein we are thought senseless), it is to God, that is, unto the honour of God, who has so exalted us. *Or whether sober:* that we speak not high things of ourselves, this is unto your profit. *For whether we go beyond in mind.* The Apostle speaks of a certain ineffable contemplation and rapture, where he heard what it is not lawful for a man to speak. *It is to God:* not to you, who cannot receive it. *For whether we are sober.* By condescending. *To you.* Because we so speak that you may be able to receive it. These are the angels of whom the Lord says in the Gospel: You shall see heaven opened, and the angels ascending and descending upon the Son of man; these same angels Jacob saw upon the ladder ascending and descending.
14 For the charity of Christ presseth us: judging this, that if one died for all, then all were dead.
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VERS. 14.-- *For the charity of Christ,* etc. Because Christ died for us out of charity, it is evident that all died in Adam; for whom Christ died, that he might free them from death. And lest that grace be useless to men, the apostles, that they may allure them, of necessity praise themselves; for through the glory and merit of the apostles the grace and benefit of Christ is acknowledged. *If one for all.* That is, if Christ died for all as far as in him lay, although he profited not all, therefore all men also ought to die for his honour.
15 And Christ died for all: that they also who live may not now live to themselves, but unto him who died for them and rose again.
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VERS. 15.-- *Who live* in the body, *should live not to themselves, but* to the will of God. Which indeed they ought: because although Christ even unto death was weak and wronged, yet now after the resurrection he is not so, but appears what he seemed to be. Whence: *When you shall have lifted up the Son of man, then shall you know that I am he*. Let them therefore render him recompense as to God, not to a mere man who suffered for them.
16 Wherefore henceforth, we know no man according to the flesh. And if we have known Christ according to the flesh: but now we know him so no longer.
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VERS. 16.-- *We know no man.* That is, we praise. *According to the flesh.* That is, one seeking his own things, not those which are Christ's: temporal things, not eternal. Nor ought anyone to do this, because although Christ was mortal as I am, whereby I thought him to be a man only, while I was unbelieving: yet now he is immortal, and so we are secure of the reward. If therefore anyone is born again new in Christ, for him mortality has already passed away in hope, and shall pass away, and a new immortality shall be given. Or, if anyone is new, the old law has passed away for him, and he has a new one. *No man not according to the flesh.* He holds the life to come with a hope so sure, as though it were already present: which was fulfilled in Christ rising again, which is not according to the flesh: not but that we shall rise again in the same substance of flesh, but that it will not be in the same quality of corruption, which is signified by the name of flesh. *And if we have known according to the flesh.* Because although, while he was unbelieving, he understood Christ to have been promised in the law according to the flesh, so that he observed the things of the law and commanded them to be kept: yet nevertheless after his conversion he does not now believe it to be so any longer, but the shadow wholly ceases.
17 If then any be in Christ a new creature, the old things are passed away. Behold all things are made new.
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VERS. 17.-- *The old things.* Wholly the Old Testament and all things pertaining to the old man, as such. *New things.* There have come the New Testament, and all things of the new man. *The old things.* As the error of idolatry, upon which the knowledge of the one true God has followed.
18 But all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Christ and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation.
19 For God indeed was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, not imputing to them their sins. And he hath placed in us the word of reconciliation.
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VERS. 19.-- *God was in Christ.* By this it is understood that the Father is in the Son, and the Son in the Father, because their substance is one. There is unity, where there is no diversity: and therefore the one is in the other, because both their image and their likeness is one.
20 For Christ therefore we are ambassadors, God as it were exhorting by us, for Christ, we beseech you, be reconciled to God.
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VERS. 20.-- *Be ye reconciled.* We are reconciled by confessing our sins, and by repenting to him who reconciles us to himself.
21 Him, who knew no sin, he hath made sin for us: that we might be made the justice of God in him.