μι
from God, sc., not built up by the natural processes of growth but the direct gift of God, a house not made with hands (this being added to emphasise its ‘super- natural”? character; the σκῆνος of the natural body is also, of course, ἀχειρο- ποίητον, and so the idea is not as fitly in place as at Heb. ix. 11, 24, but it is suggested by the word οἰκία. It is just possible that his own trade of tent- making may have been in his mind at the moment), eternal, in the heavens. Cf. Luke xvi. 9, αἰωνίους σκηνάς ; as he has just said (iv. 18) τὰ μὴ βλεπόμενα αἰωνία. It will be observed that here aiwvios is used with the special intention of empha- sising the permanent character of the heavenly house, in contrast with the earthly house which is dissolved; it is therefore not accurate to say (as is some- times said) that aiwvfos never connotes length of time, although it is true that in St. John it is a ‘ qualitative” rather than a ‘‘ quantitative” term.
Vv. 2, 3 and ver. 4 form two parallel sentences, both introduced by kai yap, of which either may be used to elucidate the other. Both bring out the Apostle’s shrinking from death, i.e., the act of dying, and his half-expressed anxiety that he may survive until the Day of Christ (cf. τ Thess. iv. 15).
Ver. 2. καὶ γὰρ ἐν τούτῳ κ.τ.λ.: for indeed in this, sc., in this tabernacle (cf. ver. 3), we groan, sc., being weighed down by the body, longing to be clothed upon, t.¢., to have the heavenly body put on in addition, like an outer garment over our mortal flesh, with our habitation which is from heaven, sc., which is brought thence by the Lord at His Coming (cf. 1 Thess. iv. 16, Rev. xxi. 2,and Ascension of Isaiah (ed. Charles), iv. 16, ix. 17). The verb ἐπιποθεῖν always expresses in St. Paul a yearning for home; here it is used of the heavenly home-sickness of the saints.
Ver. 3. εἴ ye καὶ ἐνδυσάμενοι κ.τ.λ.;: if so be that (εἴ ye = siquidem; cf. Eph. iii, 2, iv. 21, Col. i. 23) we shall be found
66
{1 Cor. xv. 4, etc.
κ Reff. i. 8. 1 Here only in Paul. m Reff. ii. 7.
ἢ Refi.iv.11. τῇ ἧς. ο Reff. i. 22. ΤῊΝ ζωῆς
chaps. vii.