2 Corinthians 5
World English Bible
5 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. 2 For most certainly in this we groan, longing to be clothed with our habitation which is from heaven, 3 if indeed being clothed, we will not 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. 5 Now he who made us for this very thing is God, who also gave to us the down payment of the Spirit.
6 Therefore we are always confident and know that while we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord; 7 for we walk by faith, not by sight. 8 We are courageous, I say, and are willing rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord. 9 Therefore also we make it our aim, whether at home or absent, to be well pleasing to 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.
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. 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. 13 For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God. Or if we are of sober mind, it is for you. 14 For the love of Christ compels us; because we judge thus: that 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.
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. 17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old things have passed away. Behold,[a] all things have become new. 18 But all things are of God, who reconciled us to himself through Jesus Christ, and gave to 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.
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. 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.
Footnotes
- 5:17 “Behold”, from “ἰδοὺ”, means look at, take notice, observe, see, or gaze at. It is often used as an interjection.
2 Corinthians 5
Holman Christian Standard Bible
Our Future after Death
5 For we know that if our temporary, earthly dwelling[a](A) is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal dwelling[b] in the heavens,(B) not made with hands.(C) 2 Indeed, we groan in this body, desiring(D) to put on our dwelling from heaven, 3 since, when we are clothed,[c] we will not be found naked.(E) 4 Indeed, we groan while we are in this tent, burdened as we are, because we do not want to be unclothed but clothed, so that mortality(F) may be swallowed up by life. 5 And the One who prepared us for this very purpose is God, who gave us the Spirit as a down payment.
6 So, we are always confident and know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. 7 For we walk by faith,(G) not by sight,(H) 8 and we are confident and satisfied to be out of the body and at home with the Lord.(I) 9 Therefore, whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to be pleasing(J) to Him. 10 For we must all appear before the tribunal(K) of Christ,(L) so that each may be repaid(M) for what he has done in the body, whether good or worthless.
11 Therefore, because we know the fear of the Lord,(N) we seek to persuade people. We are completely open before God, and I hope we are completely open to your consciences as well. 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 the outward appearance[d] rather than in the heart. 13 For if we are out of our mind,(O) it is for God; if we have a sound mind,(P) it is for you. 14 For Christ’s love compels[e] us, since we have reached this conclusion: If One died for all,(Q) then all died. 15 And He died for all(R) so that those who live should no longer live for themselves,(S) but for the One(T) who died for them and was raised.
The Ministry of Reconciliation
16 From now on, then, we do not know[f] anyone in a purely human way.[g] Even if we have known[h] Christ in a purely human way,[i] yet now we no longer know[j] Him in this way. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation;(U) old things have passed away, and look,(V) new things[k] have come.(W) 18 Everything is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation:(X) 19 That is, in Christ, God was reconciling the world(Y) to Himself,(Z) not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed the message of reconciliation to us. 20 Therefore, we are ambassadors(AA) for Christ, certain that God is appealing through us. We plead on Christ’s behalf,(AB) “Be reconciled to God.” 21 He made the One who did not know sin(AC) to be sin[l] for us,(AD) so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
Footnotes
- 2 Corinthians 5:1 = our present physical body
- 2 Corinthians 5:1 = our future body
- 2 Corinthians 5:3 Other mss read stripped
- 2 Corinthians 5:12 Lit in face
- 2 Corinthians 5:14 Or For the love of Christ impels, or For the love of Christ controls
- 2 Corinthians 5:16 Or regard
- 2 Corinthians 5:16 Lit anyone according to the flesh
- 2 Corinthians 5:16 Or have regarded
- 2 Corinthians 5:16 Lit Christ according to the flesh
- 2 Corinthians 5:16 Or regard
- 2 Corinthians 5:17 Other mss read look, all new things
- 2 Corinthians 5:21 Or be a sin offering
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