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 if the earthly house of our tent is dissolved, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, everlasting, in the heavens. (aiōnios g166)

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

For truly in this we groan, longing to be clothed with our habitation which is from heaven,

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

since, after we have put it on, we will not be found 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.

For indeed we who are in this tent do groan, being burdened; not that we desire to be unclothed, but that we desire to be clothed, that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life.

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

Now he who made us for this very thing is God, who also gave to us the down payment 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 always confident and know that while we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord;

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

for we walk by faith, 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.

We are of good courage, I say, and are willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be at home with the Lord.

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

Therefore also we make it our aim, whether at home or absent, to be well pleasing to 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 we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that each one may receive the things in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.

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.

Knowing therefore the fear of the Lord, we persuade people, but we are revealed to God; and I hope that we are revealed also 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 to you again, but speak as giving you occasion of boasting on our behalf, that you may have something to answer those who boast in appearance, 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 out of control, it is for God. If we are in a reasonable way, 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 love of Christ constrains us; because we judge thus, that one died for all, therefore all 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.

He died for all, that those who live should no longer live to themselves, but to him who for their sakes died and 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.

Therefore we know no one after the flesh from now on. Even though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now we no longer know him in this way.

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

Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old things have passed away. Look, new things have come.

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 things are of God, who reconciled us to himself through Jesus Christ, and gave to 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.

namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and having committed to 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?”

We are therefore ambassadors on behalf of Christ, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of 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 him who knew no sin he made to be sin on our behalf; so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.