Προς Κορινθιους Β΄ 5
1 οιδαμεν γαρ οτι εαν η επιγειος ημων οικια του σκηνους καταλυθη οικοδομην εκ θεου εχομεν οικιαν αχειροποιητον αιωνιον εν τοις ουρανοις (aiōnios g166)
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)
2 και γαρ εν τουτω στεναζομεν το οικητηριον ημων το εξ ουρανου επενδυσασθαι επιποθουντες
Even while in our present body we sigh, longing to put over it our heavenly house,
3 ειγε και ενδυσαμενοι ου γυμνοι ευρεθησομεθα
sure that, when we have put it on, we will never be found naked.
4 και γαρ οι οντες εν τω σκηνει στεναζομεν βαρουμενοι εφ ω ου θελομεν εκδυσασθαι αλλ επενδυσασθαι ινα καταποθη το θνητον υπο της ζωης
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.
5 ο δε κατεργασαμενος ημας εις αυτο τουτο θεος ο και δους ημιν τον αρραβωνα του πνευματος
And he who has prepared us for this change is God, who has also given us his Spirit as a pledge.
6 θαρρουντες ουν παντοτε και ειδοτες οτι ενδημουντες εν τω σωματι εκδημουμεν απο του κυριου
Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, while our home is in the body, we are absent from our home with the Lord.
7 δια πιστεως γαρ περιπατουμεν ου δια ειδους
For we guide our lives by faith, and not by what we see.
8 θαρρουμεν δε και ευδοκουμεν μαλλον εκδημησαι εκ του σωματος και ενδημησαι προς τον κυριον
And in this confidence we would gladly leave our home in the body, and make our home with the Lord.
9 διο και φιλοτιμουμεθα ειτε ενδημουντες ειτε εκδημουντες ευαρεστοι αυτω ειναι
Therefore, whether in our home or absent from our home, our one ambition is to please him.
10 τους γαρ παντας ημας φανερωθηναι δει εμπροσθεν του βηματος του χριστου ινα κομισηται εκαστος τα δια του σωματος προς α επραξεν ειτε αγαθον ειτε κακον
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.
11 ειδοτες ουν τον φοβον του κυριου ανθρωπους πειθομεν θεω δε πεφανερωμεθα ελπιζω δε και εν ταις συνειδησεσιν υμων πεφανερωσθαι
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.
12 ου γαρ παλιν εαυτους συνιστανομεν υμιν αλλα αφορμην διδοντες υμιν καυχηματος υπερ ημων ινα εχητε προς τους εν προσωπω καυχωμενους και ου καρδια
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.
13 ειτε γαρ εξεστημεν θεω ειτε σωφρονουμεν υμιν
For, if we were “beside ourselves,” it was in God’s service! If we are not in our senses, it is in yours!
14 η γαρ αγαπη του χριστου συνεχει ημας κριναντας τουτο οτι [ει] εις υπερ παντων απεθανεν αρα οι παντες απεθανον
It is the love of the Christ which compels us, when we reflect that, as one died for all, therefore all died;
15 και υπερ παντων απεθανεν ινα οι ζωντες μηκετι εαυτοις ζωσιν αλλα τω υπερ αυτων αποθανοντι και εγερθεντι
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.
16 ωστε ημεις απο του νυν ουδενα οιδαμεν κατα σαρκα ει δε και εγνωκαμεν κατα σαρκα χριστον αλλα νυν ουκετι γινωσκομεν
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.
17 ωστε ει τις εν χριστω καινη κτισις τα αρχαια παρηλθεν ιδου γεγονεν καινα τα παντα
Therefore, if anyone is in union with Christ, he is a new being! His old life has passed away; a new life has begun!
18 τα δε παντα εκ του θεου του καταλλαξαντος ημας εαυτω δια ιησου χριστου και δοντος ημιν την διακονιαν της καταλλαγης
But all this is the work of God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and gave us the ministry of reconciliation –
19 ως οτι θεος ην εν χριστω κοσμον καταλλασσων εαυτω μη λογιζομενος αυτοις τα παραπτωματα αυτων και θεμενος εν ημιν τον λογον της καταλλαγης
To proclaim that God, in Christ, was reconciling the world to himself, not reckoning people’s offenses against them, and that he had entrusted us with the message of this reconciliation.
20 υπερ χριστου ουν πρεσβευομεν ως του θεου παρακαλουντος δι ημων δεομεθα υπερ χριστου καταλλαγητε τω θεω
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.
21 τον γαρ μη γνοντα αμαρτιαν υπερ ημων αμαρτιαν εποιησεν ινα ημεις γενωμεθα δικαιοσυνη θεου εν αυτω
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.
