at home
In the fifth chapter in the Second Letter to the Corinthians (NABRE), Paul contrasts being at home in our body with being at home with the Lord. As we read this passage, it’s useful to bear in mind what Paul means by home in this context.
While Ancient Greek has a word to refer to the physical building that is a home, οἶκος (oikos), that’s not what Paul is describing here. Rather, the words used in this passage for at home and not at home, ἐνδημέω (endemeo) and ἐκδημέω (ekdemeo), both contain the root δῆμος (demo), which means “the people.” These words refer to dwelling with or away from your people. Home is defined by who you’re with rather than where you are.
How do sayings from this passage such as “we would rather leave the body and go home to the Lord” change in meaning when we understand what is meant by home? How do you view the idea of being at home? Where is your home?
related topic: economy of grace
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Jesus’ Passion: The Story of Redemptive Suffering is a five-lesson Catholic Bible study offering an in-depth look at the biblical foundations of the movie The Passion of the Christ. This revised study, which has been granted an imprimatur, contains all of the original material of the 2004 edition as well as many new features in an improved, reader-friendly format. Free digital lessons of Jesus’ Passion: The Story of Redemptive Suffering are available on our website during Lent. Click here to view a sample of the first lesson.
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