The Meaning of 2 Corinthians 5:5 Explained

2 Corinthians 5:5

KJV: Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit.

YLT: And He who did work us to this self-same thing is God, who also did give to us the earnest of the Spirit;

Darby: Now he that has wrought us for this very thing is God, who also has given to us the earnest of the Spirit.

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

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Now  he that hath wrought  us  for  the selfsame thing  [is] God,  who  also  hath given  unto us  the earnest  of the Spirit. 

What does 2 Corinthians 5:5 Mean?

Verse Meaning

The hope of an immortal body is not just wishful thinking. We already have the down payment of our inheritance in the Holy Spirit. In modern Greek the word translated "pledge" (NASB) or "deposit" (NIV) here, arrhabona, elsewhere describes an engagement ring (cf. 2 Corinthians 1:22). Our present possession of the Holy Spirit is God"s guarantee that He will provide all that we need in the future.
The Spirit may not seem like a very convincing guarantee since we cannot see Him. However, we can see what His presence in us produces, namely, our character and conduct transformation (cf. John 3:8). This should give us confidence that God will transform us completely in the future.

Context Summary

2 Corinthians 5:1-10 - Longing To Be "at Home With The Lord"
This mortal life is a pilgrimage, and our body is a tent, so slight, so transitory, so easily taken down; but what does it matter, since there is awaiting us a mansion prepared by God? Often in this veil of flesh we groan. It cages us, anchors us down to earth, hampers us with its needs, obstructs our vision, and becomes the medium of temptation. How good it would be if our physical body could be suddenly transmuted into the glorified ethereal body which should be like the resurrection body of our Lord! It would be sweet to escape the wrench of death. But if not, then through death we shall carry with us the germ of the glorified body. That which shall be quickened will first die, but God will give it a body as it shall please Him.
The gate of death may look gloomy on this side, but on the other it is of burnished gold, and opens directly into the presence-chamber of Jesus. We long to see Him and to be with Him; and such desires are the work of the Holy Spirit and the first fruits of heaven. But remember that just inside the door there is Christ's judgment seat, where He will adjudge our life and apportion our reward. Prepare, my soul, to give an account of thy talents! [source]

Chapter Summary: 2 Corinthians 5

1  That in his assured hope of immortal glory,
9  and in expectation of it, he labors to keep a good conscience;
12  not that he may boast of himself,
14  but as one that, having received life from Christ,
17  endeavors to live as a new creature to Christ only,
18  and by his ministry of reconciliation, to reconcile others also in Christ to God

Greek Commentary for 2 Corinthians 5:5

Wrought [κατεργασάμενος]
The compound is significant, indicating an accomplished fact. Through the various operations of His Spirit and the processes of His discipline, God has worked us out (Stanley, worked up ) for this change. The process includes the dissolution of what is mortal no less than the renewal. The one is a step to the other. See 1 Corinthians 15:36. [source]
Earnest of the Spirit []
See on 2 Corinthians 1:22, and compare Romans 8:11. Of the Spirit is appositional, the Spirit as the earnest. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for 2 Corinthians 5:5

2 Corinthians 1:22 Earnest [ἀῥῤαβῶνα]
Only here, 2 Corinthians 5:5, and Ephesians 1:14. It means caution-money, deposited by a purchaser in pledge of full payment. [source]
2 Corinthians 1:22 The earnest of the Spirit [τον αρραβωνα του πνευματος]
A word of Semitic origin (possibly Phoenician) and spelled both αραβων — arabōn and αρραβων — arrabōn It is common in the papyri as earnest money in a purchase for a cow or for a wife (a dowry). In N.T. only here; 2 Corinthians 5:5; Ephesians 1:14. It is part payment on the total obligation and we use the very expression today, “earnest money.” It is God, says Paul, who has done all this for us and God is Paul‘s pledge that he is sincere. He will come to Corinth in due time. This earnest of the Spirit in our hearts is the witness of the Spirit that we are God‘s. [source]
Titus 3:7 We should be made heirs [κληρονόμοι γενηθῶμεν]
Κληρονόμος heironly here in Pastorals. A favorite idea of Paul. See Romans 4:13; Romans 8:17; Galatians 3:29. Heirship of eternal life is the result of justification. So, clearly, 2Corinthians href="/desk/?q=2co+5:5&sr=1">2 Corinthians 5:5; Ephesians 1:14. [source]

What do the individual words in 2 Corinthians 5:5 mean?

The [One] now having prepared us for very this [is] God - having given to us the pledge of the Spirit
δὲ κατεργασάμενος ἡμᾶς εἰς αὐτὸ τοῦτο Θεός δοὺς ἡμῖν τὸν ἀρραβῶνα τοῦ Πνεύματος

  The  [One] 
Parse: Article, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
δὲ  now 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: δέ  
Sense: but, moreover, and, etc.
κατεργασάμενος  having  prepared 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Participle Middle, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: κατεργάζομαι  
Sense: to perform, accomplish, achieve.
ἡμᾶς  us 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Accusative 1st Person Plural
Root: ἐγώ  
Sense: I, me, my.
αὐτὸ  very 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Accusative Neuter 3rd Person Singular
Root: αὐτός  
Sense: himself, herself, themselves, itself.
τοῦτο  this 
Parse: Demonstrative Pronoun, Accusative Neuter Singular
Root: οὗτος  
Sense: this.
Θεός  [is]  God 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: θεός  
Sense: a god or goddess, a general name of deities or divinities.
  - 
Parse: Article, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
δοὺς  having  given 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Participle Active, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: διδῶ 
Sense: to give.
ἡμῖν  to  us 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Dative 1st Person Plural
Root: ἐγώ  
Sense: I, me, my.
ἀρραβῶνα  pledge 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Masculine Singular
Root: ἀρραβών  
Sense: an earnest.
τοῦ  of  the 
Parse: Article, Genitive Neuter Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
Πνεύματος  Spirit 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Neuter Singular
Root: πνεῦμα  
Sense: a movement of air (a gentle blast.