SEV Biblia, Chapter 5:9
Por tanto procuramos tambin, ausentes, o presentes, agradarle;
Clarke's Bible Commentary - 2 Corinthians 5:9
Verse 9. Wherefore we labour] filotimoumeqa? from filov, loving, and timh, honour; we act at all times on the principles of honour; we are, in the proper sense of the word, ambitious to do and say every thing consistently with our high vocation: and, as we claim kindred to the inhabitants of heaven, to act as they do. We may be accepted of him.] euarestoi autw einai To be pleasing to him. Through the love we have to God, we study and labour to please him.
This is and will be our heaven, to study to love, please, and serve him from whom we have received both our being and its blessings.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 9. Wherefore we labour, that whether present or absent , etc..] This may be understood either of the ministers of the Gospel in particular, who labour in the word and doctrine, are ambitious, as the word here used signifies, and strive to preach the Gospel, not to please men, but their Lord and master; or of saints in general, who are intent upon this, and whose highest ambition is, that whether living or dying they may be accepted of him ; both persons and services: such who are born again, who are believers in Christ, and truly love him, are earnestly desirous of doing those things which are pleasing to him; and do in the strength of Christ endeavour to perform them. Faith is a diligent, industrious, and operative grace, and makes persons like itself. As none ought to be, so none are more careful to perform good works, or more ambitious to excel others in them, and thereby please their Lord, than believers. And these are the only persons that can please him, for without faith it is impossible to please him; for these act from a principle of love to him, and with a view to his glory; and may they be but accepted of him, living and dying, both in this and the other world, they have the highest favour they can wish for and desire.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 9-15 - The apostle quickens himself and others to acts of duty. Well-grounde hopes of heaven will not encourage sloth and sinful security. Let all consider the judgment to come, which is called, The terror of the Lord Knowing what terrible vengeance the Lord would execute upon the worker of iniquity, the apostle and his brethren used every argument an persuasion, to lead men to believe in the Lord Jesus, and to act as his disciples. Their zeal and diligence were for the glory of God and the good of the church. Christ's love to us will have a like effect upo us, if duly considered and rightly judged. All were lost and undone dead and ruined, slaves to sin, having no power to deliver themselves and must have remained thus miserable for ever, if Christ had not died We should not make ourselves, but Christ, the end of our living an actions. A Christian's life should be devoted to Christ. Alas, how man show the worthlessness of their professed faith and love, by living to themselves and to the world!
Greek Textus Receptus
διο 1352 CONJ και 2532 CONJ φιλοτιμουμεθα 5389 5736 V-PNI-1P ειτε 1535 CONJ ενδημουντες 1736 5723 V-PAP-NPM ειτε 1535 CONJ εκδημουντες 1553 5723 V-PAP-NPM ευαρεστοι 2101 A-NPM αυτω 846 P-DSM ειναι 1511 5750 V-PXN
Vincent's NT Word Studies
9. We labor (filotimoumeqa). Used by Paul only, here, Rom. xv. 20 (note), 1 Thess. iv. 11. Labor is a feeble translation, not bringing out the idea of the end contemplated, as the motive of the toil. Rev., we make it our aim.
Robertson's NT Word Studies
5:9 {We make it our aim} (filotimoumeqa). Old and common verb, present middle, from filotimos (filos, time, fond of honor), to act from love of honor, to be ambitious in the good sense (#1Th 4:11; 2Co 5:9; Ro 15:20). The Latin _ambitio_ has a bad sense from _ambire_, to go both ways to gain one's point. {To be well-pleasing to him} (euarestoi autwi einai). Late adjective that shows Paul's loyalty to Christ, his Captain. Found in several inscriptions in the _Koin_ period (Deissmann, _Bible Studies_, p. 214; Moulton and Milligan's _Vocabulary_).
