Death to the World and the New Creation

They are clothed in incorruption. But if anyone is handed over to punishment, he is no different from being naked (2 Cor 5:4). The following is intended: that which we want to be clothed with is incorruption, but not to strip off the body itself into corruption. Therefore also it has led to this: so that the mortal might be swallowed up by life (2 Cor 5:5). For this very purpose, it is evident, to become incorruptible (2 Cor 5:5).

Instead of thinking that, while living in the body, that is to say, still passing through this world in the flesh (2 Cor 5:6), we hope through faith toward God (2 Cor 5:7); for his appearance is not visible to us; but this we believe, that we shall depart to him, when we shall see him, insofar as it is possible to see God as a man (2 Cor 5:8). For Moses also saw bodily, and angels see as it is possible for them to see; for no one has ever seen God, and every creature of God leaves behind the sight (2 Cor 5:8).

If you are pleasing here, you will be even more pleasing there without contradiction, no longer struggling but secure in being pleasing (2 Cor 5:9). And it enters into the thought that we walk through faith, not through sight, and concerning the economy of the God the Word to be spoken, since he himself was not among those who had seen the Lord in the flesh before the passion (2 Cor 5:10).

Those who please men and boast not through piety, it is evident they boast through the face of men; for the heart is observed by God (2 Cor 5:11). Boasting is called ecstasy (2 Cor 5:12). Let us boast so that he may be glorified; let us keep silence regarding boasting—which he says is to be prudent—in order that I may teach you not to boast (2 Cor 5:13). But ecstasy is called the one who, having to flee from boasting, is compelled to boast. The boasting regarding the state of affairs is called ecstasy; for boasting has gone out of bounds, while the prudent ones measure. Often, therefore, we are compelled to step out and boast, so that God may be glorified through us. But we strive to be prudent and to measure, so that I may also teach you not to boast. And he says ecstasy regarding the one who, having to speak, is compelled to boast, to come to this.

Desiring to be silent, we are compelled to boast, being compelled by the love of Christ, so that he might be glorified (2 Cor 5:14–15).

All have died; he speaks of the faithful as being dying to the world both through baptism and through life. And they no longer live for themselves; for even I, if I were living for myself, I would not have boasted, but since I live for Christ, through him I am silent if it would be for your benefit, and through him I boast, so that he might be glorified. Whether we are beside ourselves or we act with prudence for you, we do everything through the love of Christ (2 Cor 5:17). Since he who dies for some rescues those already judged from death, and insofar as we were dead regarding what concerns us, if one died for all, therefore all have died insofar as to the condemnation. But he speaks of the faithful, who through baptism were crucified to the world, no longer living for themselves but for Christ; for Christ, having died for all and having paid the common debt, made the world his debtor.

Thus we from now on know no one according to the flesh (2 Cor 5:16). Since circumcision is of the flesh, and this to eat and that not to eat, and the Sabbath, he says that we of the faithful know no one according to the flesh. But since it was expedient for the Lord to be circumcised and to keep the Sabbath, he says this opportunely, so that he might benefit those under the law. But now we do not yet... have known this; for he does not want us to live according to the law. This was said not only to crucify the desires, but also not even to obey the law any longer; for even if Christ was circumcised and became subject to the observances of the law—that is, even if we knew Christ according to the flesh—but now we no longer know him. For when he was among men, as a man he lived out his citizenship fulfilling the law by his life; but having died and having risen, incorruptible, he abolished the things of the law and showed the way of the heavenly citizenship. Therefore also those being baptized, as if dying to bodily citizenships, imitate the pure conduct in the heavens and join themselves according to the heart to God. If anyone lives in Christ and is baptized, this one is a new creation (2 Cor 5:17), no longer living according to the law but according to the new grace of the Spirit. For whether you say law or grace, all flow from...