2 Corinthians 5:6-21

Christian Standard Bible

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,^(A) not by sight.^{(B) 8} In fact, we are confident, and we would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord.^{(C) 9} Therefore, whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to be pleasing^(D) to him. ¹⁰ For we must all appear before the judgment seat^(E) of Christ,^(F) so that each may be repaid^(G) for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.

¹¹ Therefore, since we know the fear of the Lord,^(H) 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,^(I) it is for God; if we are in our right mind,^(J) it is for you. ¹⁴ For the love of Christ compels us, since we have reached this conclusion, that one died for all,^(K) and therefore all died. ¹⁵ And he died for all^(L) so that those who live should no longer live for themselves,^(M) but for the one^(N) 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;^(O) the old has passed away, and see,^(P) the new has^[c] come!^{(Q) 18} Everything is from God, who has reconciled us to himself through Christ and has given us the ministry of reconciliation.^{(R) 19} That is, in Christ, God was reconciling the world^(S) to himself,^(T) not counting their trespasses against them, and he has committed the message of reconciliation to us.

²⁰ Therefore, we are ambassadors^(U) for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us. We plead on Christ’s behalf,^(V) “Be reconciled to God.” ²¹ He made the one who did not know sin^(W) to be sin^[d] for us,^(X) so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.