December 10, 2021 – Friday
2 Corinthians 5:7 KJV
7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight:)
2 Corinthians 5:7 NIV
7 For we live by faith, not by sight.
2 Corinthians 5:7 ESV
7 for we walk by faith, not by sight.
Comment.
Why three versions when they are so close in what they say? Well, the KJV is interesting as there verse 7 is placed in parenthesis. What’s up with that? Then the NIV has live by faith vs walk by faith. Why the change? Then there is the ESV where with the lowercase “f” to start the verse indicates it is a continuation of the prior verse.
If we look at each version with verse 6 we have:
KJV – Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: (For we walk by faith, not by sight:)
NIV – Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord.For we live by faith, not by sight.
ESV – So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord,for we walk by faith, not by sight.
This shows me the ESV was a good pointer to the prior verse.
Now, about the use of walk vs the use of live, we have an explanation from Barnes’ Notes on the Bible where he writes, To walk, in the Scriptures often denotes to live, to act, to conduct in a certain way. That certainly fits our usage in the NIV.
Looking at the verse directly Ellicott’s Commentary gives us a bit of a surprise along with a great deal of clarity. He writes, For we walk by faith, not by sight—Better, and not by what we see (or, by appearance). It seems almost sad to alter the wording of a familiar and favourite text, but it must be admitted that the word translated “sight” never means the faculty of seeing, but always the form and fashion of the thing seen. I really like this, as we do in fact see what is all around us, but we do not accept what we see as of real or lasting value. The appearances are deceiving! In walking (living) in faith we do not choose the values of the world, but those God has provided to us through Jesus and His word.
Christ is not physically present, so as believers we live and walk by faith. This brings to mind Jesus telling Thomas in John 20:29b, blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed. John MacArthur wrote, The Christian can hope for a heaven he has not seen. He does so by believing what Scripture says about it and living by that belief.
Looking at verse 6 as an introduction to our verse for today, we look at what Paul is telling us. He is saying it is easy to become distracted by the fallen nature of our bodies. That’s when Paul writes we are to walk by faith and not by sight as one day we will no longer have these bodies. We may not like the idea of dying, death, or suffering, but it is not something we need to fear. We only need to walk/live in faith knowing one day we will see our Savior and receive a perfect eternal body.
Prayer: Almighty God, Thank You for the future we look forward to with You and Your Son, our Lord and Savior. It is beyond our comprehension, yet we look forward with great anticipation and faith. – In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
RileyD, nwJ
Riley D. Driver – Pastor
Calvary Chapel of Dayton in Beavercreek