This verse does not mean we have to ignore our senses (touch, sight, hearing, smell, and taste) or turn off the intelligence of our brains, to live as good Christians. It does not mean we have to blindly, stupidly, stagger through life based on “faith” of our leaders. But you might think so based on the number of cults that have been energized based on wrong applications of these two verses…
- Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation. (Hebrews 13:7 KJV)
- (for we walk by faith, not by sight:) (2 Corinthians 5:7 KJV)
Let us consider the context of what the Apostle Paul was trying to tell the Corinthians. Let us consider what the Greek words really mean. Let us evaluate whether 1611 English conveys this concept in a modern world. And ask God for sight to apply this in our walk.
What is the context?
First, this verse is parenthetical phrase. It actually has parenthesis in the English translation. How is it possible to pull this out of its context and apply it as a general principle? And yet, most people who quote this verse do not have any idea what the context is.
The context of this verse is one of the most beautiful realities of the Christian life. It gives us hope for our time on earth because of our confidence looking forward to an eternity in heaven with our savior.
For we know that if our earthly tent which is our house is torn down, we have a building from God, a house not made by hands, eternal in the heavens. For indeed, in this tent we groan, longing to be clothed with our dwelling from heaven, since in fact after putting it on, we will not be found naked. For indeed, we who are in this tent groan, being burdened, because we do not want to be unclothed but to be clothed, so that what is mortal will be swallowed up by life. Now He who prepared us for this very purpose is God, who gave us the Spirit as a [first installment].
Therefore, being always of good courage, and knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord—for we walk by faith, not by [appearance]—but we are of good courage and prefer rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord. Therefore we also have as our ambition, whether at home or absent, to be pleasing to Him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive compensation for his deeds done through the body, in accordance with what he has done, whether good or bad. (2 Corinthians 5:1-10 NAS)
This agrees with the same message that Paul gave to the Romans…
For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the eagerly awaiting creation waits for the revealing of the sons and daughters of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, [in hope; because the creation] itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now. And not only that, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons and daughters, the redemption of our body. For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for who hopes for what he already sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, through perseverance we wait eagerly for it. (Romans 8:18-25 NAS)
This is the same subject at the culmination of Hebrews…
Now faith is the certainty of things [expected], a [conviction about] things not seen. For by it the people of old [obtained a good testimony]. (Hebrews 11:1-2 NAS)
And all these, having gained approval through their faith, did not receive [the promise], because God had [foreseen] something better for us, so that apart from us they would not be made perfect. (Hebrews 11:39-40 NAS)
Therefore, since we also have such a great cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let’s rid ourselves of every obstacle and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let’s run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking only at Jesus, the [a]originator and perfecter of the faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:1-2 NAS)
What is the meaning for us today?
Sometimes it’s good to look back at the original Greek language to understand more of the overall picture that is being presented, which might have been more dramatic and nuanced than a single Greek-to-English sentence could convey. Here is the Greek interlinear translation of 2 Corinthians 5:7 (for we walk by faith, not by sight)…
| G1223 by | With the genitive: through; of place; its tropical use of state or condition in which (properly, passing through which as through a space) one does or suffers something, where we, with a different conception, employ with, in, etc. (Thayer’s Greek Lexicon) |
| G4102 faith | Conviction of the truth of anything, belief; in the N.T. of a conviction or belief respecting man’s relationship to God and divine things, generally with the included idea of trust and holy fervor born of faith and conjoined with it. (Thayer’s Greek Lexicon) |
| G1063 for | A conjunction, is properly a particle of affirmation and conclusion, denoting truly therefore, verily as the case stands. Now since by a new affirmation not infrequently the reason and nature of something previously mentioned are set forth, it comes to pass that, by the use of this particle, either the reason and cause of a foregoing statement is added, whence arises the causal or argumentative force of the particle. (Thayer’s Greek Lexicon) |
| G4043 we walk | Hebraistically, to live (common in Paul and John, but not found in James or in Peter), i.e., to regulate one’s life, to conduct oneself, equivalent to [living your] life. (Thayer’s Greek Lexicon) |
| G3756 not | It is used in disjunctive statements where one thing is denied that another may be established. (Thayer’s Greek Lexicon) This is similar to many proverbs where opposite thoughts are contrasted in one sentence. |
| G1223 by | With the genitive: through; of place; its tropical use of state or condition in which (properly, passing through which as through a space) one does or suffers something, where we, with a different conception, employ with, in, etc. (Thayer’s Greek Lexicon) |
| G1491 sight | That which strikes the eye, which is exposed to view; the external appearance, form, figure, shape, as encompassed with the visible appearance (of eternal things). (Thayer’s Greek Lexicon) |
THAYER’S GREEK LEXICON, Electronic Database.
Copyright © 2002, 2003, 2006, 2011 by Biblesoft, Inc.
This is consistent with Paul’s confidence that a Christian is either alive in this life or alive in the next life. There is no in between for a Christian. Therefore, heaven should be our motivation not just our destination.
For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. But if I live on in the flesh, this will bring fruit from my work; yet I don’t know what I will choose. But I am in a dilemma between the two, having the desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better. Yet, to remain in the flesh is more needful for your sake. Having this confidence, I know that I will remain, yes, and remain with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith, that your rejoicing may abound in Christ Jesus in me through my presence with you again. (Philippians 1:21-26 WEB)
Modern transliterations that give the sense of this verse.
Here are a few modern English translations that give the sense of this verse in a more understandable way…
So then, being always filled with good courage and confident hope, and knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord— for we walk by faith, not by sight [living our lives in a manner consistent with our confident belief in God’s promises]— we are [as I was saying] of good courage and confident hope, and prefer rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord. 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. For we [believers will be called to account and] must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be repaid for what has been done in the body, whether good or bad [that is, each will be held responsible for his actions, purposes, goals, motives—the use or misuse of his time, opportunities and abilities]. (2 Corinthians 5:6-10 AMP)
Now the power that has planned this experience for us is God, and he has given us his Spirit as a guarantee of its truth. This makes us confident, whatever happens. We realize that being “at home” in the body means that to some extent we are “away” from the Lord, for we have to live by trusting him without seeing him. We are so sure of this that we would really rather be “away” from the body (in death) and be “at home” with the Lord. (2 Corinthians 5:7 PHILLIPS)
That’s why we live with such good cheer. You won’t see us drooping our heads or dragging our feet! Cramped conditions here don’t get us down. They only remind us of the spacious living conditions ahead. It’s what we trust in but don’t yet see that keeps us going. Do you suppose a few ruts in the road or rocks in the path are going to stop us? When the time comes, we’ll be plenty ready to exchange exile for homecoming. (2 Corinthians 5:7 MSG)
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