We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.

Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him.

10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

11 Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences.

12 For we commend not ourselves again unto you, but give you occasion to glory on our behalf, that ye may have somewhat to answer them which glory in appearance, and not in heart.

13 For whether we be beside ourselves, it is to God: or whether we be sober, it is for your cause.

14 For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:

15 And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.

16 Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more.

17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

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Yes, we are of good courage, and we (A)would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to (B)please him. 10 For (C)we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, (D)so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.

The Ministry of Reconciliation

11 Therefore, knowing (E)the fear of the Lord, we persuade others. But (F)what we are is known to God, and I hope it is known also to your conscience. 12 (G)We are not commending ourselves to you again but (H)giving you cause to boast about us, so that you may be able to answer those who boast about outward appearance and not about what is in the heart. 13 For if we (I)are beside ourselves, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. 14 For the love of Christ (J)controls us, because we have concluded this: that (K)one has died for all, therefore all have died; 15 and he died for all, (L)that those who live might no longer live for themselves but (M)for him who for their sake died and was raised.

16 From now on, therefore, (N)we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is (O)in Christ, he is (P)a new creation.[a] (Q)The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Corinthians 5:17 Or creature

In fact, we are confident, and we would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord.(A) Therefore, whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to be pleasing(B) to him. 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat(C) of Christ,(D) so that each may be repaid(E) for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.

11 Therefore, since we know the fear of the Lord,(F) we try to persuade people. What we are is plain to God, and I hope it is also plain to your consciences. 12 We are not commending ourselves to you again, but giving you an opportunity to be proud of us, so that you may have a reply for those who take pride in outward appearance rather than in the heart. 13 For if we are out of our mind,(G) it is for God; if we are in our right mind,(H) it is for you. 14 For the love of Christ compels us, since we have reached this conclusion, that one died for all,(I) and therefore all died. 15 And he died for all(J) so that those who live should no longer live for themselves,(K) but for the one(L) who died for them and was raised.

The Ministry of Reconciliation

16 From now on, then, we do not know anyone from a worldly perspective.[a] Even if we have known Christ from a worldly perspective,[b] yet now we no longer know him in this way. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation;(M) the old has passed away, and see,(N) the new has[c] come!(O)

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Footnotes

  1. 5:16 Lit anyone according to the flesh
  2. 5:16 Lit Christ according to the flesh
  3. 5:17 Other mss read look, all new things have

we are of good courage, I say, and (A)prefer rather to be absent from the body and (B)to be at home with the Lord. Therefore we also have as our ambition, whether at home or absent, to be (C)pleasing to Him. 10 For we must all appear before (D)the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for [a]his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.

11 Therefore, knowing the (E)fear of the Lord, we persuade men, but we are made manifest to God; and I hope that we are (F)made manifest also in your consciences. 12 We are not (G)again commending ourselves to you but are giving you an (H)occasion 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 [b]are (I)beside ourselves, it is for God; if we are of sound mind, it is for you. 14 For the love of Christ (J)controls us, having concluded this, that (K)one died for all, therefore all died; 15 and He died for all, so that they who live might no longer (L)live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf.

16 Therefore from now on we recognize no one [c](M)according to the flesh; even though we have known Christ [d]according to the flesh, yet now we know Him in this way no longer. 17 Therefore if anyone is (N)in Christ, [e]he is (O)a new creature; (P)the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Corinthians 5:10 Lit the things through the body
  2. 2 Corinthians 5:13 Lit were
  3. 2 Corinthians 5:16 I.e. by what he is in the flesh
  4. 2 Corinthians 5:16 I.e. by what he is in the flesh
  5. 2 Corinthians 5:17 Or there is a new creation