Our Heavenly Dwelling

For we know that if (A)the tent that is (B)our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, (C)a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this tent (D)we groan, longing to (E)put on our heavenly dwelling, if indeed by putting it on[a] we may not be found naked. For while we are still in this tent, we groan, being burdened—not that we would be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed, so that what is mortal (F)may be swallowed up by life. He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, (G)who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.[b]

So we are always of good courage. We know that (H)while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for (I)we walk by faith, not (J)by sight. Yes, we are of good courage, and we (K)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 (L)please him. 10 For (M)we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, (N)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 (O)the fear of the Lord, we persuade others. But (P)what we are is known to God, and I hope it is known also to your conscience. 12 (Q)We are not commending ourselves to you again but (R)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 (S)are beside ourselves, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. 14 For the love of Christ (T)controls us, because we have concluded this: that (U)one has died for all, therefore all have died; 15 and he died for all, (V)that those who live might no longer live for themselves but (W)for him who for their sake died and was raised.

16 From now on, therefore, (X)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 (Y)in Christ, he is (Z)a new creation.[c] (AA)The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 18 All this is from God, (AB)who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us (AC)the ministry of reconciliation; 19 that is, in Christ God was reconciling[d] the world to himself, (AD)not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us (AE)the message of reconciliation. 20 Therefore, (AF)we are ambassadors for Christ, (AG)God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 21 (AH)For our sake he made him to be sin (AI)who knew no sin, so that in him we might become (AJ)the righteousness of God.

Footnotes

  1. 2 Corinthians 5:3 Some manuscripts putting it off
  2. 2 Corinthians 5:5 Or down payment
  3. 2 Corinthians 5:17 Or creature
  4. 2 Corinthians 5:19 Or God was in Christ, reconciling

Assurance of the Resurrection

For we know that if (A)our earthly [a]house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house (B)not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this (C)we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed with our [b]habitation which is from heaven, if indeed, (D)having been clothed, we shall not be found naked. For we who are in this tent groan, being burdened, not because we want to be unclothed, (E)but further clothed, that mortality may be swallowed up by life. Now He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who also (F)has given us the Spirit as [c]a guarantee.

So we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord. For (G)we walk by faith, not by sight. We are confident, yes, (H)well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.

The Judgment Seat of Christ

Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him. 10 (I)For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, (J)that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. 11 Knowing, therefore, (K)the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are well known to God, and I also trust are well known in your consciences.

Be Reconciled to God

12 For (L)we do not commend ourselves again to you, but give you opportunity (M)to boast on our behalf, that you may have an answer for those who boast in appearance and not in heart. 13 For (N)if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; or if we are of sound mind, it is for you. 14 For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that (O)if One died for all, then all died; 15 and He died for all, (P)that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.

16 (Q)Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, (R)yet now we know Him thus no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone (S)is in Christ, he is (T)a new creation; (U)old things have passed away; behold, all things have become (V)new. 18 Now all things are of God, (W)who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, 19 that is, that (X)God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not [d]imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.

20 Now then, we are (Y)ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God. 21 For (Z)He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become (AA)the righteousness of God in Him.

Footnotes

  1. 2 Corinthians 5:1 Physical body
  2. 2 Corinthians 5:2 dwelling
  3. 2 Corinthians 5:5 down payment, earnest
  4. 2 Corinthians 5:19 reckoning

For we have da’as that if the beit mishkaneinu [IYOV 4:19; 2C 4:7] is made churban, we have a bais from Hashem, a Bais not made with hands, in Shomayim L’olamim. [YESHAYAH 38:12]

For indeed in this mishkaneinu we groan, longing for the train of our robe to be our sukkah from Shomayim. [Ro 8:23]

If indeed thus clothed we will not be found naked.

For while we are still in this mishkan, we groan under our burden, in as much as we do not want to be unclothed but to be clothed, that the mortal may be swallowed up by Chayyim.[1C 15:53-54]

Now the One having prepared us for this very thing is Hashem, the One having given us the eravon (pledge) of the Ruach Hakodesh. [Ro 8:16,23; 2C 1:22; Ep 1:13]

Therefore we always have bitachon since we have da’as that being at home in the basar, we are away from home in Adoneinu. [MJ 11:13-16]

For we walk by emunah (faith), not by sight; [1C 13:12]

Therefore we have bitachon and are pleased rather to leave home from the basar and to be at home with Adoneinu. [Pp 1:23]

Therefore, also we are aspiring, whether at home, or away from home, to be well pleasing to Hashem, [Co 1:10; 1Th 4:1]

10 Since it is necessary for all of us to be revealed/laid bare for an appearance before the Kisse Din (Judgment Throne, i.e., Moshiach’s Bet Din) of Moshiach, in order that each one of us [individually] may receive recompense for the things done in the basar, according to his ma’asim, whether tov or rah. [1C 9:27; 3:10-15; Koh 12:14; Yn 5:22; Ac 17:31; Ro 2:16; 14:10]

11 Therefore, since we have da’as of the yirat [Moshiach] Adoneinu, we persuade men, and we have been made manifest to Hashem and I have tikvah also that we have been made manifest to your matzpunim. [Job 23:15; 2C 4:2]

12 We are not commending ourselves to you again [2C 3:1], but are giving an opportunity to you of glorying on behalf of us [2C 1:14] that you may respond to those who glory in outer appearance and not in lev.

13 For if we seem meshuggah, it is for Hashem; if we are in our right mind, it is for you.

14 For the ahavah (love) of Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach controls us, because we have judged this, that one [Moshiach] died on behalf of all and therefore all died.

15 And Moshiach died, on behalf of all [I Ti 2:6] that the ones living may no longer live to themselves but may live to the one [Moshiach] who both died and has been made to stand up alive in his Techiyas HaMoshiach for their sakes. [Ro 14:7-8]

16 From now on, therefore, we have da’as of no one from a purely human point of view; if indeed we have had da’as of Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach according to the basar, we now no longer so have da’as of him,

17 So that if anyone is in Moshiach, he is a bria chadasha (a new being) [Ro 8:1,10; Ga 6:15]: the old things passed away; hinei, all has become chadashot. [YESHAYAH 43:18; 65:17; Rv 21:5]

18 And all things are of Hashem, Who is the One having granted to us ritztzuy (reconciliation) to Himself through Moshiach [Ro 5:10] and has given to us the sherut haRitztzuy (the ministry of reconciliation),

19 Davka (specifically), that Hashem was in Moshiach reconciling the Olam to himself, [Ro 3:24-25; Co 1:19-20) Not reckoning their avonot against them and putting in us the Dvar HaRitztzuy (Message of Reconciliation).

20 On behalf of Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach, therefore, we are emissaries of shalom [YESHAYAH 27:5; 52:7; Ep 6:20], as if Hashem were entreating through us, we ask on behalf of Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach: be reconciled to Hashem!

21 The one who in his person had no da’as of chattat (sin) [Ac 3:14; Yn 8:46; MJ 4:15; 7:26; 1K 2:22; 1Y 3:5], this one Hashem made a chattat sin offering [Ga 3:13; YESHAYAH 53:10; VAYIKRA 4:24 TARGUM HASHIVIM] on our behalf that we might become the Tzidkat Hashem [DANIEL 9:24] in Moshiach. [1C 1:30; Pp 3:9] [T.N. In this next chapter Rav Sha’ul warns against associations or worldly influences or fascinations that will contaminate the believer, who should not think he can have both the world’s evil pleasures and the House of G-d’s holy chelek.]