2 Corinthians 5:9
New International Version
So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it.

New Living Translation
So whether we are here in this body or away from this body, our goal is to please him.

English Standard Version
So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him.

Berean Standard Bible
So we aspire to please Him, whether we are here in this body or away from it.

Berean Literal Bible
Therefore also we are ambitious, whether being at home or being away, to be well-pleasing to Him.

King James Bible
Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him.

New King James Version
Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him.

New American Standard Bible
Therefore we also have as our ambition, whether at home or absent, to be pleasing to Him.

NASB 1995
Therefore we also have as our ambition, whether at home or absent, to be pleasing to Him.

NASB 1977
Therefore also we have as our ambition, whether at home or absent, to be pleasing to Him.

Legacy Standard Bible
Therefore we also have as our ambition, whether at home or absent, to be pleasing to Him.

Amplified Bible
Therefore, whether we are at home [on earth] or away from home [and with Him], it is our [constant] ambition to be pleasing to Him.

Christian Standard Bible
Therefore, whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to be pleasing to him.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Therefore, whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to be pleasing to Him.

American Standard Version
Wherefore also we make it our aim, whether at home or absent, to be well-pleasing unto him.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
We are diligent that, whether away from home or an inhabitant, we may be pleasing to him.

Contemporary English Version
But whether we are at home with the Lord or away from him, we still try our best to please him.

Douay-Rheims Bible
And therefore we labour, whether absent or present, to please him.

English Revised Version
Wherefore also we make it our aim, whether at home or absent, to be well-pleasing unto him.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Whether we live in the body or move out of it, our goal is to be pleasing to him.

Good News Translation
More than anything else, however, we want to please him, whether in our home here or there.

International Standard Version
So whether we are at home or away from home, our goal is to be pleasing to him.

Literal Standard Version
We are also ambitious for this reason, whether at home or away from home, to be well pleasing to Him,

Majority Standard Bible
So we aspire to please Him, whether we are here in this body or away from it.

New American Bible
Therefore, we aspire to please him, whether we are at home or away.

NET Bible
So then whether we are alive or away, we make it our ambition to please him.

New Revised Standard Version
So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him.

New Heart English Bible
Therefore also we make it our aim, whether at home or absent, to be well pleasing to him.

Webster's Bible Translation
Wherefore we labor, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted by him.

Weymouth New Testament
And for this reason also we make it our ambition, whether at home or in exile, to please Him perfectly.

World English Bible
Therefore also we make it our aim, whether at home or absent, to be well pleasing to him.

Young's Literal Translation
Wherefore also we are ambitious, whether at home or away from home, to be well pleasing to him,

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Our Eternal Dwelling
8We are confident, then, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. 9So we aspire to please Him, whether we are here in this body or away from it. 10For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive his due for the things done in the body, whether good or bad.…

Cross References
Romans 14:18
For whoever serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and approved by men.

Colossians 1:10
so that you may walk in a manner worthy of the Lord and may please Him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God,

1 Thessalonians 4:1
Finally, brothers, we ask and encourage you in the Lord Jesus to live in a way that is pleasing to God, just as you have received from us. This is how you already live, so you should do so all the more.


Treasury of Scripture

Why we labor, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him.

we labour.

John 6:27
Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.

Romans 15:20
Yea, so have I strived to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should build upon another man's foundation:

1 Corinthians 9:26,27
I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: …

whether.

2 Corinthians 5:6,8
Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: …

Romans 14:8
For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's.

accepted.

Genesis 4:7
If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.

Isaiah 56:7
Even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer: their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon mine altar; for mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people.

Acts 10:35
But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.

Jump to Previous
Absent Accepted Agreeable Aim Ambition Ambitious Body Exile Goal Home Labour Perfectly Please Pleasing Present Purpose Reason Well-Pleasing Wherefore Whether
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Absent Accepted Agreeable Aim Ambition Ambitious Body Exile Goal Home Labour Perfectly Please Pleasing Present Purpose Reason Well-Pleasing Wherefore Whether
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.














(9) Wherefore we labour.--Better, we strive earnestly after. The English "labour" is quite inadequate, the Greek expressing the thought of striving, as after some honour or prize. Our ambition is that . . . we may be accepted would be, perhaps, the best equivalent. For "accepted of him" read acceptable, or better, well-pleasing to him: the Greek word implying the quality on which acceptance depends, rather than the act itself.

Verse 9. - We labour; literally, we are emulous. This, says Bengel, is "the sole legitimate ambition." The same word occurs in Romans 15:20. Whether present or absent; literally, whether at home or away from home; i.e. whether with Christ or separated from him (as in ver. 8); or, "whether in the body or out of the body" (as in ver. 6). The latter would resemble 1 Thessalonians 5:10, "That whether we wake or sleep we may live with him." We may be accepted of him; literally, to be well pleasing to him.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
So
διὸ (dio)
Conjunction
Strong's 1352: Wherefore, on which account, therefore. From dia and hos; through which thing, i.e. Consequently.

we aspire
φιλοτιμούμεθα (philotimoumetha)
Verb - Present Indicative Middle or Passive - 1st Person Plural
Strong's 5389: To be zealous, strive eagerly, desire very strongly.

to
εἶναι (einai)
Verb - Present Infinitive Active
Strong's 1510: I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.

please
εὐάρεστοι (euarestoi)
Adjective - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 2101: Acceptable, well-pleasing (especially to God), grateful. From eu and arestos; fully agreeable.

Him,
αὐτῷ (autō)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.

whether
εἴτε (eite)
Conjunction
Strong's 1535: And if, whether. From ei and te; if too.

we are here in this body
ἐνδημοῦντες (endēmountes)
Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 1736: To be at home, live in a place. From a compound of en and demos; to be in one's own country, i.e. Home.

or
εἴτε (eite)
Conjunction
Strong's 1535: And if, whether. From ei and te; if too.

away from it.
ἐκδημοῦντες (ekdēmountes)
Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 1553: To go abroad, be absent. From a compound of ek and demos; to emigrate, i.e. vacate or quit.


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NT Letters: 2 Corinthians 5:9 Therefore also we make it our aim (2 Cor. 2C iiC 2Cor ii cor iicor)
2 Corinthians 5:8
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