2 Corinthians 5

1 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)

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 verily in this we groan, longing to be clothed upon 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 if so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked.

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

4 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.

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 that wrought us for this very thing is God, who gave unto us the earnest 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 Being therefore always of good courage, and knowing that, whilst 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 Wherefore also we make it our aim, whether at home or absent, to be well-pleasing unto 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 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.

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 men, but we are made manifest unto God; and I hope that we are made manifest 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 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.

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 whether we are beside ourselves, it is unto God; or whether we are of sober mind, it is unto 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 constraineth us; because we thus judge, 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 and he died for all, that they which live should no longer live unto themselves, but unto 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 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.

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

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 Christ, and gave unto 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 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.

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 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.

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

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.