2 Corinthians--a Very Misunderstood Epistle

Many commentaries focus on Paul's defense of his ministry. Paul's main purposes have little to do with defending his ministry. The most common themes are: 1) reconciliation--between us and God, between fellow believers within the church, and between Paul and the Corinthians; 2) exhortation to ministry--Paul has been steadfast and uses his example to spur the Corinthians to look beyond their petty squabbles and reach out to the world, no matter how difficult it will be, because we have God and the rest of the world needs to be in relationship with Him. Be bold, be brave, get out of the pew!

Monday, March 25, 2013

Tabernacle Destroyed

Looking at 2 Corinthians 5.1 again, I noticed that the Greek word for 'destroyed' or 'taken down' is katalythe. It was previously used by Y'shua in the context of the Temple being torn down (cf. Mark 14.58). Similar words were used in Mark 13.2, Luke 21.6 in the same context. That similar word was also used by Gamaliel as he cautioned the Sanhedrin about opposing the apostle's teaching and performing miracles in Y'shua's name. "If they are planning and doing these things merely on their own, it will soon be overthrown" (Acts 5.38 NLT).

Also skenous (or skene) is translated as tabernacle and predominantly used Hebrews 9 and 13. Compare Hebrews 9. 11 and 2 Corinthians 5.1:


  • So Christ has now become the High Priest over all the good things that have come. He has entered that greater, more perfect Tabernacle in heaven, which was not made by human hands and is not part of this created world. (Hebrews 9.11 NLT)
  • For we know that when this earthly [household of the tabernacle] we live in is taken down, we will have a house in heaven, an eternal [dwelling] made for us by God himself and not by human hands. (2 Corinthians 5.1 NLT with editing)
Clearly the passage in Hebrews is not talking about a human body, as most commentators and the NLT translators have implied for the 2 Corinthians passage. Why are those responsible for interpreting 2 Corinthians 5 for us ignoring a key word like 'tabernacle'?

Paul goes on to write about groaning while living in the earthly tabernacle. Could he be talking about persecution? Could he be talking about the discomfort within the organized Jewish religion? Might this also be what Y'shua meant when he said it's not good to put new wine in old wineskins (Matthew 9.17)?

"The [troubles] we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever. For we know that when this earthly household of the tabernacle is taken down, we will have a household in heaven made for us by God himself and not by human hands." (2 Corinthians 4.18-5.1)

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