| 2 Corinthians 4:7-5:10 |
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| Creation or creature (vv.19f.) | Body (creation in miniature)(4:7,11,16) | |
| Glory (vv.17f.,24f.) | Glory (4:17-5:1,4) | |
| Futility and bondage to decay (vv.20f.) | Futility (4:7-10) and bondage to decay (4:11,16) | |
| Suffering (v.17) | Affliction (4:17) | |
| Groaning (vv.22f.)(Note the groaning (LXX stenazo) of Ex.2: 24; 6:5; Judges 2:18) | Groaning (5:2,4) | |
| Adoption as sons (vv.14-17, 19,21,23) | Adoption (implied:4:14,17,cf.3:18; 4:6) | |
| Destruction implied (vv.20f.), cf.1 Thes.5:3 | Destruction (5:1) | |
| Redemption (vv.17,21,23) | Redemption (4:14; 5:1) | |
| Hope in the unseen (vv.20,24f.) | Hope (implied: 4:18; 5:5). Cf. faith in the unseen: 5:7, cf. Heb.11:1 | |
| Expectancy (vv.19f.,23ff.) | Expectancy (4:18; 5:2,4,9) | |
| Confidence (8:15f.) | Confidence (5:6-8) | |
| Eternity in heaven (vv.17,21, cf.24f.) | Eternity in heaven (4:17; 5:1, cf. 5:8 | |
| Holy Spirit the guarantee (vv.16,23) | Holy Spirit the guarantee (5:5) | |
| Plan and purpose of God (v.20) | Plan and purpose of God (5:5) | |
| Patience in waiting (v.25) | Patience (4:18; 5:6-9) | |
What is striking about both of these passages is the lack of explicit reference to sin unless we regard Romans 8:13 and 2 Corinthians 5:10 as such. This being the case, it is reasonable to suppose that Paul, like the author of Hebrews (1:10-12), is concerned with nature or creation irrespective of sin. Nonetheless, to be in this creation, in the physical body (2 Cor.5:6,8f.), is to be separate from the Lord (Rom.8:24f., cf. vv.35,38f.). And since creation is given over to futility, decay and ultimate destruction, to love this world or this age (Rom. 12:2; 2 Tim. 4:10) is to sell an eternal spiritual heritage (Rom. 8:18; 2 Cor. 4:17) for a temporal mess of pottage (1 Cor. 7:31; 2 Cor. 4:18; 1 John 2:15-17).
For an OT version of the above note Pss. 102:25-28 and 103:14-18.