Question: I have a question about II Corinthians 5:3, 9. I tried to keep reading verse 3 and ask and pray for the understanding which is what I usually do then I went on and saw verse 9 and the same, these keep coming back to me.
Answer: I’m not sure what your question is but I think we can come to a solid understanding of II Corinthians 5:3, 9 by a study of the context. Paul is speaking about the our heavenly dwelling, which is a future event. We are going to Heaven because we have placed our faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ. II Corinthians 5:1-10 speaks about the believers physical body and its ailments (e.g. groan, burdened) being replaced by a new body (e.g. building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal, house which is from heaven). II Corinthians 5:3 therefore speaks of the believer having a new resurrection body, instead of being found “naked” or without any covering before God. The only acceptable covering is what is given to the believer as a result of their faith being placed in Jesus Christ (i.e. the resurrection body). II Corinthians 5:9 speaks the unique ability a believer has to work in this physical body (absent from the Lord) and benefit from those works in the new body (present with the Lord). The phrase “we may be accepted of him” is not salvific. It is related to the rewarding stand at the Judgement Seat of Christ, which is further explained in II Corinthians 5:10 (cf. I Corinthians 3:11-15).