5:1 For we know that if our ①earthly tent which is our house is torn down, we have a building from God, a house not made by hands, eternal in the heavens.
▷ ①Lit earthly house of the tent
5:2 For indeed, in this tent we groan, longing to be clothed with our ①dwelling from heaven,
▷ ①I.e., the resurrected body
5:3 since in fact after putting it on, we will not be found naked.
5:4 For indeed, we who are in this tent groan, being burdened, because we do not want to be unclothed but to be clothed, so that what is mortal will be swallowed up by life.
5:5 Now He who prepared us for this very purpose is God, who gave us the Spirit as a ①pledge.
▷ ①Or first installment
5:6 Therefore, being always of good courage, and knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord—
5:7 for we walk by faith, not by ①sight—
▷ ①Or appearance
5:8 but we are of good courage and prefer rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord.
5:9 Therefore we also have as our ambition, whether at home or absent, to be pleasing to Him.
5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive compensation for ①his deeds done through the body, in accordance with what he has done, whether good or bad.
▷ ①Lit the things
5:11 Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade people, but we are well known to God; and I hope that we are also well known in your consciences.
5:12 We are not commending ourselves to you again, but are giving you an opportunity to be proud of us, so that you will have an answer for those who take pride in appearance and not in heart.
5:13 For if we have lost our minds, it is for God; if we are of sound mind, it is for you.
5:14 For the love of Christ controls us, having concluded this, that one died for all, therefore all died;
5:15 and He died for all, so that those who live would no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose on their behalf.
5:16 Therefore from now on we recognize no one ①by the flesh; even though we have known Christ by the flesh, yet now we know Him in this way no longer.
▷ ①I.e., by what one is in the flesh
5:17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, this person is a new ①creation; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.
▷ ①Or creature
5:18 Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation,
5:19 namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their wrongdoings against them, and ①He has ②committed to us the word of reconciliation.
▷ ①Lit having ②Lit placed in us
5:20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.
5:21 He made Him who knew no sin to be ①sin in our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
▷ ①Or a sin offering