2 Corinthians 5

1 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)

For we know that if this poor tent, our earthly house, is taken down, we have in Heaven a building which God has provided, a house not built by human hands, but eternal. (aiōnios g166)

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

For in this one we sigh, because we long to put on over it our dwelling which comes from Heaven--

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

if indeed having really put on a robe we shall not be found to be unclothed.

4 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.

Yes, we who are in this tent certainly do sigh under our burdens, for we do not wish to lay aside that with which we are now clothed, but to put on more, so that our mortality may be absorbed in Life.

5 Now he who made us for this very thing is God, who also gave to us the down payment of the Spirit.

And He who formed us with this very end in view is God, who has given us His Spirit as a pledge and foretaste of that bliss.

6 Therefore, we are always confident and know that while we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord;

We have therefore a cheerful confidence. We know that while we are at home in the body we are banished from the Lord;

7 for we walk by faith, not by sight.

for we are living a life of faith, and not one of sight.

8 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.

So we have a cheerful confidence, and we anticipate with greater delight being banished from the body and going home to the Lord.

9 Therefore also we make it our aim, whether at home or absent, to be well pleasing to him.

And for this reason also we make it our ambition, whether at home or in exile, to please Him perfectly.

10 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.

For we must all of us appear before Christ's judgement-seat in our true characters, in order that each may then receive an award for his actions in this life, in accordance with what he has done, whether it be good or whether it be worthless.

11 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.

Therefore, because we realize how greatly the Lord is to be feared, we are endeavouring to win men over, and God recognizes what our motives are, and I hope that you, in your hearts, recognize them too.

12 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.

We are not again commending ourselves to your favour, but are furnishing you with a ground of boasting on our behalf, so that you may have a reply ready for those with whom superficial appearances are everything and sincerity of heart counts for nothing.

13 For if we are out of control, it is for God. If we are in a reasonable way, it is for you.

For if we have been beside ourselves, it has been for God's glory; or if we are now in our right senses, it is in order to be of service to you.

14 For the love of Christ constrains us; because we judge thus, that one died for all, therefore all died.

For the love of Christ overmasters us, the conclusion at which we have arrived being this--that One having died for all, His death was their death,

15 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.

and that He died for all in order that the living may no longer live to themselves, but to Him who died for them and rose again.

16 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.

Therefore for the future we know no one simply as a man. Even if we have known Christ as a man, yet now we do so no longer.

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

So that if any one is in Christ, he is a new creature: the old state of things has passed away; a new state of things has come into existence.

18 But all things are of God, who reconciled us to himself through Jesus Christ, and gave to us the ministry of reconciliation;

And all this is from God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Christ, and has appointed us to serve in the ministry of reconciliation.

19 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.

We are to tell how God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not charging men's transgressions to their account, and that He has entrusted to us the Message of this reconciliation.

20 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.

On Christ's behalf therefore we come as ambassadors, God, as it were, making entreaty through our lips: we, on Christ's behalf, beseech men to be reconciled to God.

21 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.

He has made Him who knew nothing of sin to be sin for us, in order that in Him we may become the righteousness of God.