天上的房屋

我們知道,我們的身體好比是地上的帳篷,如果毀壞了,我們就從上帝那裡得到一個住處,不是人手造的,而是天上永恆的「房屋」。 我們在這地上的「帳篷」裡歎息,渴望早日遷進那天上的「房屋」,好像更換衣服一樣。 我們一旦穿上新衣,就不會赤身露體了。 我們在這「帳篷」裡勞苦歎息,並非想脫去這地上的身體,而是切望能穿上那天上的新身體,讓永恆的生命吞滅必朽的身體。 是上帝為此目的預備了我們,並賜給了我們聖靈作擔保。

所以,我們總是坦然無懼,儘管知道住在肉身之內便無法與主在一起。 因為我們行事為人,是憑對上帝的信心,不是憑眼見。 是的,我們坦然無懼,甚至更樂意離開身體,回到天家與主相聚。 因此,我們立定心志,無論是住在肉身之內還是離開肉身,都要取悅主。 10 因為我們所有的人都要出現在基督的審判台前,好按照各人在肉身之時所行的善惡接受賞罰。

勸人與上帝和好

11 我們知道主是當受敬畏的,所以勸人歸信祂。我們的內心如何,上帝知道,我盼望你們的良心也知道。 12 我們不是稱讚自己,而是讓你們有機會以我們為榮,叫你們可以反駁那些只貪圖外表虛榮、不注重內在實質的人。 13 如果我們瘋狂,那是為了上帝;如果我們清醒,那是為了你們。 14 因為基督的愛激勵我們,因為我們確信:基督一人既代替所有的人死了,所有的人就都死了。 15 祂為眾人死,是要叫那些活著的人不再為自己活,而是要為替他們死而復活的基督活。

16 從今以後,我們不再以貌取人了,雖然我們曾這樣看待基督,現在卻不再這樣看待祂了。 17 若有人在基督裡,他就是新造的人,舊事已過,看啊,一切都更新了。 18 這一切都是上帝的作為,祂藉著基督使我們與祂和好,又把勸人與祂和好的職分賜給了我們。 19 也就是說,上帝在基督裡使世人與自己和好,不再追究他們的過犯。祂已託付我們去傳揚這和好之道。 20 所以我們現在是基督的大使,可以說上帝正藉著我們發出呼求。我們替基督懇求你們:要與上帝和好! 21 上帝使無罪的基督擔當我們的罪,使我們可以藉著基督成為被上帝接納的義人。

天上的房屋

我们知道,我们的身体好比是地上的帐篷,如果毁坏了,我们就从上帝那里得到一个住处,不是人手造的,而是天上永恒的“房屋”。 我们在这地上的“帐篷”里叹息,渴望早日迁进那天上的“房屋”,好像更换衣服一样。 我们一旦穿上新衣,就不会赤身露体了。 我们在这“帐篷”里劳苦叹息,并非想脱去这地上的身体,而是切望能穿上那天上的新身体,让永恒的生命吞灭必朽的身体。 是上帝为此目的预备了我们,并赐给了我们圣灵作担保。

所以,我们总是坦然无惧,尽管知道住在肉身之内便无法与主在一起。 因为我们行事为人,是凭对上帝的信心,不是凭眼见。 是的,我们坦然无惧,甚至更乐意离开身体,回到天家与主相聚。 因此,我们立定心志,无论是住在肉身之内还是离开肉身,都要取悦主。 10 因为我们所有的人都要出现在基督的审判台前,好按照各人在肉身之时所行的善恶接受赏罚。

劝人与上帝和好

11 我们知道主是当受敬畏的,所以劝人归信祂。我们的内心如何,上帝知道,我盼望你们的良心也知道。 12 我们不是称赞自己,而是让你们有机会以我们为荣,叫你们可以反驳那些只贪图外表虚荣、不注重内在实质的人。 13 如果我们疯狂,那是为了上帝;如果我们清醒,那是为了你们。 14 因为基督的爱激励我们,因为我们确信:基督一人既代替所有的人死了,所有的人就都死了。 15 祂为众人死,是要叫那些活着的人不再为自己活,而是要为替他们死而复活的基督活。

16 从今以后,我们不再以貌取人了,虽然我们曾这样看待基督,现在却不再这样看待祂了。 17 若有人在基督里,他就是新造的人,旧事已过,看啊,一切都更新了。 18 这一切都是上帝的作为,祂借着基督使我们与祂和好,又把劝人与祂和好的职分赐给了我们。 19 也就是说,上帝在基督里使世人与自己和好,不再追究他们的过犯。祂已托付我们去传扬这和好之道。 20 所以我们现在是基督的大使,可以说上帝正借着我们发出呼求。我们替基督恳求你们:要与上帝和好! 21 上帝使无罪的基督担当我们的罪,使我们可以借着基督成为被上帝接纳的义人。

The Temporal and Eternal

For we know that if our [a](A)earthly (B)tent which is our house is torn down, we have a building from God, a house (C)not made by hands, eternal in the heavens. For indeed, in this tent we (D)groan, longing to be (E)clothed with our [b]dwelling from heaven, since in fact after putting it on, we will not be found naked. For indeed, we who are in this tent (F)groan, being burdened, because we do not want to be unclothed but to be (G)clothed, so that what is (H)mortal will be swallowed up by life. Now He who prepared us for this very purpose is God, who (I)gave us the Spirit as a [c]pledge.

Therefore, being always of good courage, and knowing that (J)while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord— for (K)we walk by faith, not by [d]sight— but we are of good courage and (L)prefer rather to be absent from the body and (M)to be at home with the Lord. Therefore we also have as our ambition, whether at home or absent, to be (N)pleasing to Him. 10 For we must all appear before (O)the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive compensation for [e]his deeds done through the body, in accordance with what he has done, whether good or bad.

11 Therefore, knowing the (P)fear of the Lord, we persuade people, but we are well known to God; and I hope that we are also (Q)well known in your consciences. 12 We are not commending ourselves to you (R)again, but are giving you an (S)opportunity to be proud of us, so that you will have an answer for those who take pride in appearance and not in heart. 13 For if we have (T)lost our minds, it is for God; if we are of sound mind, it is for you. 14 For the love of Christ (U)controls us, having concluded this, that (V)one died for all, therefore all died; 15 and He died for all, so that those who live would no longer (W)live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose on their behalf.

16 Therefore from now on we recognize no one [f](X)by the flesh; even though we have known Christ by the flesh, yet now we know Him in this way no longer. 17 Therefore if anyone is (Y)in Christ, this person is (Z)a new [g]creation; (AA)the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. 18 Now (AB)all these things are from God, (AC)who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the (AD)ministry of reconciliation, 19 namely, that (AE)God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, (AF)not counting their wrongdoings against them, and [h]He has [i]committed to us the word of reconciliation.

20 Therefore, we are (AG)ambassadors for Christ, (AH)as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be (AI)reconciled to God. 21 He made Him who (AJ)knew no sin to be [j](AK)sin in our behalf, so that we might become the (AL)righteousness of God in Him.

Footnotes

  1. 2 Corinthians 5:1 Lit earthly house of the tent
  2. 2 Corinthians 5:2 I.e., the resurrected body
  3. 2 Corinthians 5:5 Or first installment
  4. 2 Corinthians 5:7 Or appearance
  5. 2 Corinthians 5:10 Lit the things
  6. 2 Corinthians 5:16 I.e., by what one is in the flesh
  7. 2 Corinthians 5:17 Or creature
  8. 2 Corinthians 5:19 Lit having
  9. 2 Corinthians 5:19 Lit placed in us
  10. 2 Corinthians 5:21 Or a sin offering