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 tabernacle be dissolved, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal, in the heavens. (aiōnios g166)

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

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

3 sure that, when we have put it on, we shall never be found discarnate.

if so be that being clothed we shall 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 indeed we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened; not for that we would be unclothed, but that we would be clothed upon, that what is mortal may be swallowed up of 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 that wrought us for this very thing is God, who gave unto us the earnest 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.

Being therefore always of good courage, and knowing that, whilst we are 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.

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

Wherefore also we make it our aim, whether at home or absent, to be well-pleasing unto him.

10 For at the Bar of the Christ we must all appear in our true characters, 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 be made manifest before the judgment-seat of Christ; that each one may receive the things [done] in the body, according to what he hath done, whether [it be] good or bad.

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

Knowing therefore the fear of the Lord, we persuade men, but we are made manifest unto God; and I hope that we are made manifest also 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.

We are not again commending ourselves unto you, but [speak] as giving you occasion of glorying on our behalf, that ye may have wherewith to answer them that glory 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, it is unto God; or whether we are of sober mind, it is unto 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 constraineth us; because we thus judge, that one died for all, therefore 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, that they that live should no longer live unto themselves, but unto him who for their sakes died and rose again.

16 For ourselves, then, from this time forward, we refuse to regard any one 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.

Wherefore we henceforth know no man after the flesh: even though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now we know [him so] no more.

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

Wherefore if any man is in Christ, [he is] a new creature: the old things are passed away; behold, they are 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 —

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

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

to wit, that God was in Christ reconciling the world unto himself, not reckoning unto them their trespasses, and having committed unto 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 ambassadors therefore on behalf of Christ, as though God were entreating by us: we beseech [you] on behalf of Christ, be ye reconciled to God.

21 Him who never knew sin God made to be Sin, on our behalf; so that we, through union with him, might become the Righteousness of God.

Him who knew no sin he made [to be] sin on our behalf; that we might become the righteousness of God in him.