Faith, Judgment, and the Life of the Believer: A Reassessment of 2 Corinthians 5:6-10

Abstract

Given the cosmic scope of Pauline eschatology, there is often ambiguity concerning the role of the believer in God's redemption of creation. In the present essay, I examine the interrelated Pauline themes of faith, judgment, and existence through the lens of 2 Cor 5:6-10. I seek to establish that the significance of Paul's argument stems not from a temporal divide between the present and the future but rather from a theological divide between two present modes of existence shaped by two distinct perceptions of Christ—one defined by the realm of faith and one defined by the realm of human appearances.