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Selected Verse: 2 Corinthians 5:9 - Strong Concordance

Verse	Translation	Text
2Co 5:9	Strong Concordance	Wherefore [1352] we labour [5389], that [2532], whether [1535] present [1736] or [1535] absent [1553], we may be [1511] accepted [2101] of him [846].
	King James	Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him.

Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse

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A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]
Wherefore--with such a sure "confidence" of being blessed, whether we die before, or be found alive at Christ's coming. we labour--literally, "make it our ambition"; the only lawful ambition. whether present or absent--whether we be found at His coming present in the body, or absent from it. accepted--Greek, "well-pleasing."

A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]

Wherefore--with such a sure "confidence" of being blessed, whether we die before, or be found alive at Christ's coming.

we labour--literally, "make it our ambition"; the only lawful ambition.

whether present or absent--whether we be found at His coming present in the body, or absent from it.

accepted--Greek, "well-pleasing."

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]
Wherefore - (Διὸ Dio). In view of the facts stated above. Since we have the prospect of a resurrection and of future glory; since we have the assurance that there is a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens; and since God has given to us this hope, and has granted to us the earnest of the Spirit, we make it our great object so to live as to be accepted by him. We labor - The word used here (φιλοτιμούμεθα philotimoumetha, from φίλος philos and τιμὴ timē, loving honor) means properly to love honor; to be ambitious. This is its usual Classical signification. In the New Testament, it means to be ambitious to do anything; to exert oneself; to strive, as if from a love or sense of honor. As in English, to make it a point of honor to do so and so - Robinson (Lexicon); see Rom 15:20; Th1 4:1 l. It means here, that Paul made it a point of constant effort; it was his leading and constant aim to live so as to be acceptable to God, and to meet his approbation wherever he was. Whether present or absent - Whether present with the Lord Co2 5:8, or absent from him Co2 5:6; that is, whether in this world or the next; whether we are here, or removed to heaven. Wherever we are, or may be, it is, and will be our main purpose and object so to live as to secure his favor. Paul did not wish to live on earth regardless of his favor or without evidence that he would be accepted by him. He did not make the fact that he was absent from him, and that he did not see him with the physical eye, an excuse for walking in the ways of ambition, or seeking his own purposes and ends. The idea is, that so far as this point was concerned, it made no difference with him whether he lived or died; whether he was on earth or in heaven; whether in the body or out of the body; it was the great fixed principle of his nature so to live as to secure the approbation of the Lord. And this is the true principle on which the Christian should act, and will act. The fact that he is now absent from the Lord will be to him no reason why he should lead a life of sin and self-indulgence, anymore than he would if he were in heaven; and the fact that he is soon to be with him is not the main reason why he seeks to live so as to please him. It is because this has become the fixed principle of the soul; the very purpose of the life; and this principle and this purpose will adhere to him, and control him wherever he may be placed, or in whatever world he may dwell. We may be accepted of him - The phrase used here εὐάρεστοι εἶναι euarestoi einai means to be well-pleasing; and then to be acceptable, or approved; Rom 12:1; Rom 14:18; Eph 5:10; Phi 4:18; Tit 2:9. The sense here is, that Paul was earnestly desirous of so living as to please God, and to receive from him the tokens and marks of his favor. And the truth taught in this verse is, that this will be the great purpose of the Christian's life, and that it makes no difference as to the existence and operation of this principle whether a man is on earth or in heaven. He will equally desire it, and strive for it; and this is one of the ways in which religion makes a man conscientious and holy, and is a better guard and security for virtue than all human laws, and all the restraints which can be imposed by man.

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]

Wherefore - (Διὸ Dio). In view of the facts stated above. Since we have the prospect of a resurrection and of future glory; since we have the assurance that there is a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens; and since God has given to us this hope, and has granted to us the earnest of the Spirit, we make it our great object so to live as to be accepted by him.

We labor - The word used here (φιλοτιμούμεθα philotimoumetha, from φίλος philos and τιμὴ timē, loving honor) means properly to love honor; to be ambitious. This is its usual Classical signification. In the New Testament, it means to be ambitious to do anything; to exert oneself; to strive, as if from a love or sense of honor. As in English, to make it a point of honor to do so and so - Robinson (Lexicon); see Rom 15:20; Th1 4:1 l. It means here, that Paul made it a point of constant effort; it was his leading and constant aim to live so as to be acceptable to God, and to meet his approbation wherever he was.

Whether present or absent - Whether present with the Lord Co2 5:8, or absent from him Co2 5:6; that is, whether in this world or the next; whether we are here, or removed to heaven. Wherever we are, or may be, it is, and will be our main purpose and object so to live as to secure his favor. Paul did not wish to live on earth regardless of his favor or without evidence that he would be accepted by him. He did not make the fact that he was absent from him, and that he did not see him with the physical eye, an excuse for walking in the ways of ambition, or seeking his own purposes and ends. The idea is, that so far as this point was concerned, it made no difference with him whether he lived or died; whether he was on earth or in heaven; whether in the body or out of the body; it was the great fixed principle of his nature so to live as to secure the approbation of the Lord. And this is the true principle on which the Christian should act, and will act. The fact that he is now absent from the Lord will be to him no reason why he should lead a life of sin and self-indulgence, anymore than he would if he were in heaven; and the fact that he is soon to be with him is not the main reason why he seeks to live so as to please him. It is because this has become the fixed principle of the soul; the very purpose of the life; and this principle and this purpose will adhere to him, and control him wherever he may be placed, or in whatever world he may dwell.

We may be accepted of him - The phrase used here εὐάρεστοι εἶναι euarestoi einai means to be well-pleasing; and then to be acceptable, or approved; Rom 12:1; Rom 14:18; Eph 5:10; Phi 4:18; Tit 2:9. The sense here is, that Paul was earnestly desirous of so living as to please God, and to receive from him the tokens and marks of his favor. And the truth taught in this verse is, that this will be the great purpose of the Christian's life, and that it makes no difference as to the existence and operation of this principle whether a man is on earth or in heaven. He will equally desire it, and strive for it; and this is one of the ways in which religion makes a man conscientious and holy, and is a better guard and security for virtue than all human laws, and all the restraints which can be imposed by man.

The Scofield Bible Commentary, by Cyrus Ingerson Scofield, [1917]
labour (Greek, "philotimeomai", means "are ambitious").

Vincent's Word Studies, by Marvin R. Vincent [1886]
We labor (φιλοτιμούμεθα) Used by Paul only, here, Rom 15:20 (note), Th1 4:11. Labor is a feeble translation, not bringing out the idea of the end contemplated, as the motive of the toil. Rev., we make it our aim.

Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65]
Therefore we are ambitious - The only ambition which has place in a Christian. Whether present - In the body. Or absent - From it.

Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826
Wherefore we labor - Φιλοτιμουμεθα· from φιλος, loving, and τιμη, honor; we act at all times on the principles of honor; we are, in the proper sense of the word, ambitious to do and say every thing consistently with our high vocation: and, as we claim kindred to the inhabitants of heaven, to act as they do. We may be accepted of him - Ευαρεστοι αυτῳ ειναι To be pleasing to him. Through the love we have to God, we study and labor to please him. This is and will be our heaven, to study to love, please, and serve him from whom we have received both our being and its blessings.

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⁹ Exhort servants [1401] to be obedient [5293] unto their own [2398] masters [1203], and to [1511] please them well [2101] in [1722] all [3956] things; not [3361] answering again [483];

¹⁸ But [1161] I have [568] all [3956], and [2532] abound [4052]: I am full [4137], having received [1209] of [3844] Epaphroditus [1891] the things which were sent from [3844] you [5216], an odour [3744] of a sweet smell [2175], a sacrifice [2378] acceptable [1184], wellpleasing [2101] to God [2316].

¹⁰ Proving [1381] what [5101] is [2076] acceptable [2101] unto the Lord [2962].

¹⁸ For [1063] he that in [1722] these things [5125] serveth [1398] Christ [5547] is acceptable [2101] to God [2316], and [2532] approved [1384] of men [444].

¹ I beseech [3870] you [5209] therefore [3767], brethren [80], by [1223] the mercies [3628] of God [2316], that ye present [3936] your [5216] bodies [4983] a living [2198] sacrifice [2378], holy [40], acceptable [2101] unto God [2316], which is your [5216] reasonable [3050] service [2999].

⁶ Therefore [3767] [2532] we are always [3842] confident [2292], knowing [1492] that [3754], whilst we are at home [1736] in [1722] the body [4983], we are absent [1553] from [575] the Lord [2962]:

⁸ We are confident [2292], I say, and [1161] [2532] willing [2106] rather [3123] to be absent [1553] from [1537] the body [4983], and [2532] to be present [1736] with [4314] the Lord [2962].

¹ Furthermore [3063] then [3767] we beseech [2065] you [5209], brethren [80], and [2532] exhort [3870] you by [1722] the Lord [2962] Jesus [2424], that as [2531] ye have received [3880] of [3844] us [2257] how [4459] ye [5209] ought [1163] to walk [4043] and [2532] to please [700] God [2316], so [2443] ye would abound [4052] more and more [3123].

²⁰ Yea [1161], so [3779] have I strived [5389] to preach the gospel [2097], not [3756] where [3699] Christ [5547] was named [3687], lest [3363] I should build [3618] upon [1909] another man's [245] foundation [2310]:

¹¹ And [2532] that ye study [5389] to be quiet [2270], and [2532] to do [4238] your own business [2398], and [2532] to work with [2038] your [5216] own [2398] hands [5495], as [2531] we commanded [3853] you [5213];