2 Corinthians 5

1 For we know, if our earthly house of this habitation be dissolved, that we have a building of God, a house not made with hands, eternal in heaven.2 For in this also we groan, desiring to be clothed upon with our habitation that is from heaven.3 Yet so that we be found clothed, not naked.4 For we also, who are in this tabernacle, do groan, being burthened; because we would not be unclothed, but clothed upon, that that which is mortal may be swallowed up by life.5 Now he that maketh us for this very thing, is God, who hath given us the pledge of the Spirit.6 Therefore having always confidence, knowing that, while we are in the body, we are absent from the Lord.7 (For we walk by faith, and not by sight.)8 But we are confident, and have a good will to be absent rather from the body, and to be present with the Lord.9 And therefore we labour, whether absent or present, to please him.10 For we must all be manifested before the judgement seat of Christ, that every one may receive the proper things of the body, according as he hath done, whether it be good or evil.11 Knowing therefore the fear of the Lord, we use persuasion to men; but to God we are manifest. And I trust also that in your consciences we are manifest.12 We commend not ourselves again to you, but give you occasion to glory in our behalf; that you may have somewhat to answer them who glory in face, and not in heart.13 For whether we be transported in mind, it is to God; or whether we be sober, it is for you.14 For the charity of Christ presseth us: judging this, that if one died for all, then all were dead.15 And Christ died for all; that they also who live, may not now live to themselves, but unto him who died for them, and rose again.16 Wherefore henceforth, we know no man according to the flesh. And if we have known Christ according to the flesh; but now we know him so no longer.17 If then any be in Christ a new creature, the old things are passed away, behold all things are made new.18 But all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Christ; and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation.19 For God indeed was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, not imputing to them their sins; and he hath placed in us the word of reconciliation.20 For Christ therefore we are ambassadors, God as it were exhorting by us. For Christ, we beseech you, be reconciled to God.21 Him, who knew no sin, he hath made sin for us, that we might be made the justice of God in him.

2 Corinthians 5

Living by Faith, Not by Sight

1 For we know that if our earthly house, the tent we live in,s is dismantled,t we have a building from God, a house not built by human hands, that is eternal in the heavens.2 For in this earthly houset we groan, because we desire to put ont our heavenly dwelling,3 if indeed, after we have put ons our heavenly house,t we will not be found naked.4 For we groan while we are in this tent,s since we are weighed down,t because we do not want to be unclothed, but clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life.5 Now the one who prepared us for this very purposet is God, who gave us the Spirit as a down payment.t6 Therefore we are always full of courage, and we know that as long as we are alive here on eartht we are absent from the Lord –7 for we livet by faith, not by sight.8 Thus we are full of courage and would prefer to be awayt from the body and at home with the Lord.9 So then whether we are alivet or away, we make it our ambition to please him.t

10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ,s so that each one may be paid back according to what he has done while in the body, whether good or evil.t

The Message of Reconciliation

11 Therefore, because we know the fear of the Lord,t we try to persuadet people,t but we are well knownt to God, and I hope we are well known to your consciences too.12 We are not trying to commendt ourselves to you again, but are giving you an opportunity to be proud of us,t so that you may be able to answer those who take pridet in outward appearancet and not in what is in the heart.13 For if we are out of our minds, it is for God; if we are of sound mind, it is for you.14 For the love of Christt controls us, since we have concluded this, that Christt died for all; therefore all have died.15 And he died for all so that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised.t16 So then from now on we acknowledget no one from an outward human point of view.t Even though we have known Christ from such a human point of view,t now we do not know him in that way any longer.17 So then, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; what is old has passed awayt – look, what is news has come!t18 And all these things are from God who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and who has given us the ministry of reconciliation.19 In other words, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting people’s trespasses against them, and he has given ust the message of reconciliation.20 Therefore we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making His pleat through us. We plead with yout on Christ’s behalf, “Be reconciled to God!”

21 Godt made the one who did not know sins to be sin for us, so that in hims we would become the righteousness of God.