2 Corinthians 5:6-6:2

Holman Christian Standard Bible

⁶So, we are always confident and know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. ⁷For we walk by faith,^(A) not by sight,^(B) ⁸and we are confident and satisfied to be out of the body and at home with the Lord.^(C) ⁹Therefore, whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to be pleasing^(D) to Him. ¹⁰For we must all appear before the tribunal^(E) of Christ,^(F) so that each may be repaid^(G) for what he has done in the body, whether good or worthless.

¹¹Therefore, because we know the fear of the Lord,^(H) we seek to persuade people. We are completely open before God, and I hope we are completely open to your consciences as well. ¹²We 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^[a] rather than in the heart. ¹³For if we are out of our mind,^(I) it is for God; if we have a sound mind,^(J) it is for you. ¹⁴For Christ’s love compels^[b] us, since we have reached this conclusion: If One died for all,^(K) then all died. ¹⁵And 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

¹⁶From now on, then, we do not know^[c] anyone in a purely human way.^[d] Even if we have known^[e] Christ in a purely human way,^[f] yet now we no longer know^[g] Him in this way. ¹⁷Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation;^(O) old things have passed away, and look,^(P) new things^[h] have come.^(Q) ¹⁸Everything is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation:^(R) ¹⁹That 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. ²⁰Therefore, we are ambassadors^(U) for Christ, certain that God is appealing through us. We plead on Christ’s behalf,^(V) “Be reconciled to God.” ²¹He made the One who did not know sin^(W) to be sin^[i] for us,^(X) so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

6 Working together^[j] with Him, we also appeal to you, “Don’t receive God’s grace in vain.” ²For He says:

I heard you in an acceptable time,
and I helped you in the day of salvation.^(Y)^[k]

Look, now is the acceptable time; now is the day of salvation.^(Z)

Footnotes

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
2 Corinthians 6:1 Or As we work together
2 Corinthians 6:2 Is 49:8