OET interlinear 2COR 5:1

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: grammar-connect-words-phrases

γὰρ

for

Here, the word For could introduce: (1) an explanation of what Paul said in 4:18. Alternate translation: “In fact,” (2) an example or illustration of what Paul said in 4:18. Alternate translation: “For example,” (3) a basis for what Paul said in 4:18. Alternate translation: “That is because”

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / exclusive

οἴδαμεν & ἡμῶν & ἔχομεν

˱we˲_/have/_known & ˱of˲_us & ˱we˲_/are/_having

Here and throughout this chapter, Paul uses the first person plural. See the chapter introduction for more information on how to translate these words. Here, the words we and our could refer to: (1) just Paul and his fellow workers. Paul is focusing on himself and his fellow workers, but he does not mean to exclude the Corinthians entirely. Alternate translation: “we who preach the gospel … our … we have” (2) Paul and everyone who believes, including the Corinthians. Alternate translation: “all of us know … our … we have”

Note 3 topic: grammar-connect-condition-fact

ἐὰν

if

Here, the word if could introduce: (1) something that Paul thinks will definitely happen, but he is not sure when. Alternate translation: “whenever” (2) something that Paul thinks might happen. Alternate translation: “even if”

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / exmetaphor

ἡ ἐπίγειος ἡμῶν οἰκία τοῦ σκήνους καταλυθῇ, οἰκοδομὴν ἐκ Θεοῦ ἔχομεν, οἰκίαν ἀχειροποίητον αἰώνιον ἐν τοῖς οὐρανοῖς

the earthly ˱of˲_us house ˱of˲_the tent /may_be/_torn_down /a/_building from God ˱we˲_/are/_having /a/_house not_hand_made eternal in the heavens

Here Paul speaks as if a person’s body were a house, tent, or building in which that the person lives. This was a common way to refer to a person’s body in Paul’s culture. He identifies the current body as a tent that is torn down, because this body will die. He describes the body that a person will have when God resurrects them as a building from God and an eternal house that is not made with hands. This is an important metaphor in 5:1–9, so preserve the house, tent, and building language if possible. If it would be helpful, you could use a simile or identify the house in another natural way. Alternate translation: “our earthly house of this tent, that is, our mortal body, is torn down, we have a building from God, that is, our resurrection body, an eternal house in the heavens, not made with hands”

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

ἡ ἐπίγειος ἡμῶν οἰκία τοῦ σκήνους καταλυθῇ

the earthly ˱of˲_us house ˱of˲_the tent /may_be/_torn_down

If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you could express the idea in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. If you must state who does the action, you could use an indefinite subject. Alternate translation: “someone tears down our earthly house of this tent”

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / possession

ἡ ἐπίγειος ἡμῶν οἰκία τοῦ σκήνους

the earthly ˱of˲_us house ˱of˲_the tent

Here, Paul uses the possessive form identify the earthly house as a tent. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a more natural form. Alternate translation: “our earthly house, which is a tent,”

Note 7 topic: grammar-collectivenouns

ἡ ἐπίγειος ἡμῶν οἰκία τοῦ σκήνους καταλυθῇ, οἰκοδομὴν & οἰκίαν & αἰώνιον

the earthly ˱of˲_us house ˱of˲_the tent /may_be/_torn_down /a/_building & /a/_house & eternal

Here and throughout 5:1–8, Paul uses the singular form to refer to “bodies” in general, sometimes described as buildings or clothing. See the chapter introduction for more information. Consider what would be natural in your language and use that form throughout these verses. Alternate translation: “our earthly houses of these tents are torn down … buildings … eternal houses”

Note 8 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

ἐν τοῖς οὐρανοῖς

in the heavens

Many people in Paul’s culture believed that the space that they called “heaven” contained multiple layers or spheres of individual heavens. Here Paul refers to how the eternal house can be found in the heavens. Since Paul does not include details about the heavens, translate heavens with a word or phrase that refers to all of heavenly space, including the idea of multiple heavens if possible. Alternate translation: “in the heavenly realm” or “in the heavenly spaces”

Note 9 topic: figures-of-speech / synecdoche

ἀχειροποίητον

not_hand_made

Here, the word hands refers to the main part of the body that we use to make things. So, the phrase refers to the whole person who makes things. If it would be helpful in your language, you could clarify that hands refers to “humans” in general, not just their hands. Alternate translation: “not made by humans” or “not made by people”

Note 10 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

ἀχειροποίητον

not_hand_made

If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you could express the idea in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: “which hands did not make”