2 Corinthians 5:3

2 Corinthians 5:3

If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked.

a. NLT: For we will put on heavenly bodies; we will not be spirits without bodies.

b. NIV: Because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked.

c. YLT: If so be that, having clothed ourselves, we shall not be found naked,

d. Amplified Bible Classic: So that by putting it on we may not be found naked (without a body).

e. Worrell Translation: If, indeed, being also clothed, we will not be found naked.

f. Wuest Translation: Seeing that also, having been clothed, we shall not be found naked [disembodied spirit].

1. “If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked.”

a. If [Strong: 1489 eige i'-gheh from 1487 and 1065; if indeed, seeing that, unless, (with negative) otherwise:--if (so be that, yet).]

b. so [be] [Strong: 2532 kai kahee apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force; and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words:--and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet.]

c. being clothed [Strong: 1746 enduo en-doo'-o from 1722 and 1416 (in the sense of sinking into a garment); to invest with clothing (literally or figuratively):--array, clothe (with), endue, have (put) on.]

1). Paul is referring to being clothed with a glorified body.

a). 2 Corinthians 5:2 For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven:

d. we shall…be found [Strong: 2147 heurisko hyoo-ris'-ko, a prolonged form of a primary heuro hyoo'-ro, which (together with another cognate form) heureo hyoo-reh'-o is used for it in all the tenses except the present and imperfect to find (literally or figuratively):--find, get, obtain, perceive, see.]

e. not [Strong: 3756 ou oo, also (before a vowel) ouk ook, and (before an aspirate) ouch ookh a primary word; the absolute negative (compare 3361) adverb; no or not:--+ long, nay, neither, never, no (X man), none, (can-)not, + nothing, + special, un(-worthy), when, + without, + yet but.]

f. naked [Strong: 1131 gumnos goom-nos' of uncertain affinity; nude (absolute or relative, literal or figurative):--naked.]

1). Pulpit Commentary: The verse may be rendered, "If, that is, being clothed, we shall not be found naked." The word "naked" must then mean "bodiless," and the reference will be to those whom, at his coming, Christ shall find clothed in these mortal bodies, and not separated from them, i.e. quick and not dead (1 Thessalonians 4:17; 1 Corinthians 15:51). This seems to be the simplest and most natural of the multitude of strange interpretations with which the pages of commentators are filled. It is true that the aorist endusamenoi, means literally, "having clothed ourselves," and that, in taking this meaning, we should have expected the perfect participle endedumenoi, having been clothed. If this be thought an insuperable difficulty, we must suppose the verse to mean "If, that is, in reality we shall be found [at Christ's coming] after having put on some intermediate body, and therefore not as mere disembodied spirits." But there is no allusion in Scripture to any intermediate body, nor is any gleam of light shed on the mode of life among the dead between death and resurrection, though the Church rejects the dream of Psychopannychia, or an interval of unconscious sleep. The uncertainty of the meaning is increased by two various readings, ei per instead of ei ge, which latter expresses greater doubt about the matter; and ekdusamenoi (D, F, G), which would mean "if in reality, after unclothing ourselves [i.e. after 'shuffling off this mortal coil'], we shall not be found naked." This seems to be the conjecture of some puzzled copyists, who did not see that a contrast, and not a coincidence, between the two expressions is intended. If this reading were correct, it would mean, as Chrysostom says, "Even if we would lay aside the body. we shall not there be presented without a body, but with the same body which has then become incorruptible."

2). Because of what I have been taught, the link between “naked” and “bodiless” puzzels me. If I remember correctly from what I have been taught, saints in heaven have not received their glorified bodies yet, they will receive them at the rapture/resurrection of saints (1 Corinthians 15:49-53; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Philippians 3:20, 21; Romans 8:19-23). Until then, the saints in heaven are bodiless, described as “spirits” in Hebrews.

a). Hebrews 12:22, 23 But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels,

12:23 To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,

3). When an individual gets born again, they receive “the righteousness of God” by faith (Romans 3:21, 22). Righteousness is described in Isaiah 61:10 and Revelation 19:8 as a “robe”.

4). This will require more study.