Through love and faithfulness sin is atoned for;
    through the fear of the Lord(A) evil is avoided.(B)

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By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the Lord men depart from evil.

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28 Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One(A) who can destroy both soul and body in hell.

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28 And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

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“I tell you, my friends,(A) do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after your body has been killed, has authority to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him.(B)

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And I say unto you my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do.

But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him.

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10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us(A) for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.

The Ministry of Reconciliation

11 Since, then, we know what it is to fear the Lord,(B) we try to persuade others. What we are is plain to God, and I hope it is also plain to your conscience.(C) 12 We are not trying to commend ourselves to you again,(D) but are giving you an opportunity to take pride in us,(E) so that you can answer those who take pride in what is seen rather than in what is in the heart. 13 If we are “out of our mind,”(F) as some say, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. 14 For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died.(G) 15 And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves(H) but for him who died for them(I) and was raised again.

16 So from now on we regard no one from a worldly(J) point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ,(K) the new creation(L) has come:[a] The old has gone, the new is here!(M) 18 All this is from God,(N) who reconciled us to himself through Christ(O) and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them.(P) And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 20 We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors,(Q) as though God were making his appeal through us.(R) We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.(S) 21 God made him who had no sin(T) to be sin[b] for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.(U)

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Corinthians 5:17 Or Christ, that person is a new creation.
  2. 2 Corinthians 5:21 Or be a sin offering

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.

18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;

19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.

20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.

21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

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