2 Corinthians 5

1 We know that when this earthly “tent” we live in is taken down, we have a house prepared by God, not made by human hands. It is eternal and is in heaven. (aiōnios g166)

For we know that, when our earthly house of this habitation is dissolved, we have a building of God, a house not made with hands, eternal in heaven. (aiōnios g166)

2 We sigh with longing for this, wanting so badly to be clothed with this new heavenly home.

And for this reason also, we groan, desiring to be clothed from above with our habitation from heaven.

3 When we put on this clothing we won't be seen naked.

If we are so clothed, then we will not be found to be naked.

4 While we are in this “tent” we sigh, being weighed down by this life. It's not so much that we want to take off the clothing of this life but that we look forward to what we shall be clothed with, so that what is mortal may be overwhelmed by life.

Then too, we who are in this tabernacle groan under the burden, because we do not want to be stripped, but rather to be clothed from above, so that what is mortal may be absorbed by life.

5 It's God himself who prepared us for all this, and who provided the Spirit as a guarantee to us.

Now the One who accomplishes this very thing in us is God, who has given us the pledge of the Spirit.

6 So we remain confident, knowing that while we are at home here in our physical bodies, we are away from the Lord.

Therefore, we are ever confident, knowing that, while we are in the body, we are on a pilgrimage in the Lord.

7 (For we live by trusting in God, not by seeing him.)

For we walk by means of faith, and not by sight.

8 As I say, we are confident, wanting to be away from the body so we can be at home with the Lord.

So we are confident, and we have the good will to be on a pilgrimage in the body, so as to be present to the Lord.

9 That's why our goal, whether home here in our bodies or not, is to make sure we please him.

And thus we struggle, whether absent or present, to please him.

10 For all of us must appear before Christ's seat of judgment. Each of us will receive what we deserve for what we have done in this life, whether it is good or bad.

For it is necessary for us to be manifested before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive the proper things of the body, according to his behavior, whether it was good or evil.

11 Knowing how we are in awe of the Lord, we try to convince others. It's clear to God what we are, and I hope that it's clear to your minds too.

Therefore, having knowledge of the fear of the Lord, we appeal to men, but we are made manifest before God. Yet I hope, too, that we may be made manifest in your consciences.

12 We are not trying to speak well of ourselves again, just trying to give you the opportunity to be proud of us, so you can answer those who are proud of outward show and not what they are inside.

We are not commending ourselves again to you, but rather we are presenting you with an opportunity to glory because of us, when you deal with those who glory in face, and not in heart.

13 If we are “crazy people,” it's for God. If we make good sense, it's for you.

For if we are excessive in mind, it is for God; but if we are sober, it is for you.

14 Christ's love urges us on, because we're absolutely sure that he died for everyone, and so everyone died.

For the charity of Christ urges us on, in consideration of this: that if one died for all, then all have died.

15 Christ died for everyone so that they shouldn't live any longer for themselves, but for him who died and rose again for them.

And Christ died for all, so that even those who live might not now live for themselves, but for him who died for them and who rose again.

16 From now on we don't look at anyone from a human point of view. Even though we once viewed Christ this way, we don't do so any longer.

And so, from now on, we know no one according to the flesh. And though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know him in this way no longer.

17 That's why anyone who is in Christ is a new being—what was old is gone, the new has come!

So if anyone is a new creature in Christ, what is old has passed away. Behold, all things have been made new.

18 God did all this by changing us from enemies into friends through Christ. God gave us this same work of changing his enemies into his friends.

But all is of God, who has reconciled us to himself through Christ, and who has given us the ministry of reconciliation.

19 For God was in Christ bringing the world back from hostility to friendship with him, not counting anyone's sins against them, and giving us this message to change his enemies into his friends.

For certainly God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, not charging them with their sins. And he has placed in us the Word of reconciliation.

20 So we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God is pleading through us: “Please, won't you come back and be God's friend?”

Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, so that God is exhorting through us. We beseech you for Christ: be reconciled to God.

21 God made Jesus, who never personally sinned, experience the consequences of sin so that we could have a character that is good and right just as God is good and right.

For God made him who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that we might become the justice of God in him.