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, eternal, in the heavens. (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 For most certainly in this we groan, longing to be clothed with our habitation which is from heaven,

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

3 if indeed being clothed, we will not be found naked.

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

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.

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

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

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

7 for we walk by faith, not by sight.

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

8 We are courageous, I say, and are willing rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord.

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

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

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

10 For we must all be revealed 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 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 Knowing therefore the fear of the Lord, we persuade men, but we are revealed to God, and I hope that we are revealed also in your consciences.

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 For 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 ‘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 For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God. Or if we are of sober mind, it is for you.

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

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

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

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

16 Therefore we know no one according to the flesh from now on. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know him so no more.

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 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old things have passed away. Behold, all things have become new.

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

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

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

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.

20 We are therefore ambassadors on behalf of Christ, as though God were entreating by us: we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.

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 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.

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.