2 Corinthians 5

1 For we know that if our tent – that earthly body which is now our home – is taken down, we have a house of God’s building, a home not made by hands, imperishable, in heaven. (aiōnios g166)

For we know that if the earthly house of our tent were destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made by hands, eternal in the heavens. (aiōnios g166)

2 Even while in our present body we sigh, longing to put over it our heavenly house,

For also in this we groan, longing to clothe ourselves with our habitation from heaven,

3 sure that, when we have put it on, we will never be found naked.

if indeed also having put it on we will not be found naked.

4 For we who are in this tent sigh under our burden, unwilling to take it off, yet wishing to put our heavenly body over it, so that all that is mortal may be absorbed in life.

For also those who are in the tent groan, being burdened, not in that we want to undress, but to clothe ourselves, so that the mortal may be swallowed up by the life.

5 And he who has prepared us for this change is God, who has also given us his Spirit as a pledge.

Now he who wrought us for this same thing is God, who also gave us the pledge of the Spirit.

6 Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, while our home is in the body, we are absent from our home with the Lord.

Therefore always being confident, and knowing that while at home in the body we are absent from the Lord,

7 For we guide our lives by faith, and not by what we see.

for we walk by faith, not by sight.

8 And in this confidence we would gladly leave our home in the body, and make our home with the Lord.

And we are confident, and are pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be at home near the Lord.

9 Therefore, whether in our home or absent from our home, our one ambition is to please him.

Therefore also we aspire, whether at home or away from home, to be well-pleasing to him.

10 For at the court of the Christ we must all appear in our true characters, so that each may reap the results of the life which he has lived in the body, in accordance with his actions – whether good or worthless.

For we must all appear before the judgment-seat of the Christ, so that each man may receive back about the things that he did through the body, whether good or bad.

11 Therefore, because we know the fear inspired by the Lord, it is true that we are trying to win people over, but our motives are plain to God; and I hope that in your inmost hearts they are plain to you also.

Having seen therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men. But we have been manifested to God, and I hope also to have been manifested in your consciences.

12 We are not ‘commending ourselves’ again to you, but rather are giving you cause for pride in us, so that you may have an answer ready for those who pride themselves on appearances and not on character.

For we are not commending ourselves again to you, but giving you an opportunity of boasting about us, so that ye may have for those who boast in appearance and not in heart.

13 For, if we were ‘beside ourselves,’ it was in God’s service! If we are not in our senses, it is in yours!

For whether we are beside ourselves to God, or we are of normal mind, it is for you.

14 It is the love of the Christ which compels us, when we reflect that, as one died for all, therefore all died;

For the love of Christ holds us together, having judge this, that if one died for all, then all died.

15 and that he died for all, so that the living should no longer live for themselves, but for him who died and rose for them.

And he died for all so that those who live would no longer live to themselves, but to him who died for them, and was raised.

16 For ourselves, then, from this time forward, we refuse to regard anyone from the world’s standpoint. Even if we once thought of Christ from the standpoint of the world, yet now we do so no longer.

So that henceforth we know no man according to flesh, and even if we have known Christ according to flesh, yet now we know him no longer.

17 Therefore, if anyone is in union with Christ, he is a new being! His old life has passed away; a new life has begun!

So then if any man is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old things have passed away, behold, all things have become new.

18 But all this is the work of God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and gave us the ministry of reconciliation –

And all things are from God who reconciled us to himself through Jesus Christ, and who gave to us the ministry of reconciliation.

19 To proclaim that God, in Christ, was reconciling the world to himself, not reckoning people’s offences against them, and that he had entrusted us with the message of this reconciliation.

How that God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself, not imputing to them their trespasses, and having committed to us the word of reconciliation.

20 It is, then, on Christ’s behalf that we are acting as ambassadors, God, as it were, appealing to you through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf – Be reconciled to God.

We are therefore, ambassadors on behalf of Christ, as though God were calling through us. We plead on behalf of Christ, be ye reconciled to God.

21 For our sake God made Christ, who was innocent of sin, one with our sinfulness, so that in him we might be made one with the righteousness of God.

For the man who knew no sin was made sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in him.