New Testament
2 Corinthians 5
Overview
Continuing the hope that buoyed chapter 4, Paul declares that if our earthly "tent" is destroyed we have a building from God, an eternal house in the heavens; we groan, longing to be "further clothed" so that mortality may be swallowed up by life, and God has given the Spirit as the guarantee (5:1-5). Therefore we are always of good courage, knowing that to be at home in the body is to be away from the Lord—"we walk by faith, not by sight"—and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord (5:6-8). So we make it our aim to please Him, "for we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ" to receive what is due for what we have done (5:9-10). Knowing this fear of the Lord, Paul persuades others, controlled by the love of Christ, having concluded that One died for all, therefore all died, that those who live might live no longer for themselves but for Him who died and rose (5:11-15). Consequently he regards no one according to the flesh: "if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation" (5:16-17). All this is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, making Paul an ambassador who implores, "Be reconciled to God," because God made the sinless Christ "to be sin" for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him (5:18-21).
1For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.
2For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven:
3If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked.
4For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life.
5Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit.
6Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord:
7(For we walk by faith, not by sight:)
8We are confident, I say , and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.
9Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him.
10For 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.
11Knowing 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.
12For 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.
13For whether we be beside ourselves, it is to God: or whether we be sober, it is for your cause.
14For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:
15And 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.
16Wherefore 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.
17Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
18And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;
19To 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.
20Now 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.
21For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.