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
you also may like our two-part study of the prophets
Thus Says the LORD: God Speaks Through His Servants the Prophets—Volume I: A Kingdom Divided examines the prophets in their historical context using the First and Second Books of the Kings and other Old Testament passages written before the Babylonian Exile in 586 B.C. Volume II: Restoration & Redemption looks at the post-exilic prophets. This 51-lesson Catholic Bible study builds on The United Kingdom of Israel: Saul, David & Solomon Foreshadow Christ the King. Click on the books’ covers to view a sample lesson from each volume.
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