2 Corinthians 5

International Standard Version

5 We know that if the earthly tent we live in is torn down, we have a building in heaven that comes from God, an eternal house not built by human^[a] hands. ²For in this one we sigh, since we long to put on our heavenly dwelling. ³Of course, if we do put it on, we will not be found without a body.^[b] ⁴So while we are still in this tent, we sigh under our burdens, because we do not want to put it off but to put it on, so that our dying bodies may be swallowed up by life. ⁵God has prepared us for this and has given us his Spirit as a guarantee.

⁶Therefore, we are always confident, and we know that as long as we are at home in this body we are away from the Lord. ⁷For we live by faith, not by sight. ⁸We are confident, then, and would prefer to be away from this body and to live with the Lord. ⁹So whether we are at home or away from home, our goal is to be pleasing to him. ¹⁰For all of us must appear before the judgment seat of the Messiah,^[c] so that each of us may receive what he deserves for what he has done in his body, whether good or worthless.^[d]

The Messiah’s Love Controls Us

¹¹Therefore, since we know what it means to fear the Lord, we try to persuade people. We ourselves are perfectly known to God. I hope we are also really known to your consciences. ¹²We are not recommending ourselves to you again but are giving you a reason to be proud of us, so that you can answer those who are proud of outward things rather than inward character.^[e] ¹³So if we were crazy, it was for God; if we are sane, it is for you. ¹⁴The love of the Messiah^[f] controls us, for we are convinced of this: that one person died for all people; therefore, all people have died. ¹⁵He died for all people, so that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for the one who died and rose for them.

¹⁶So then, from now on we do not think of anyone from a human point of view.^[g] Even if we did think of the Messiah^[h] from a human point of view,^[i] we don’t think of him that way anymore. ¹⁷Therefore, if anyone is in the Messiah,^[j] he is a new creation. Old things have disappeared, and—look!—all things have become new!

¹⁸All of this comes from God, who has reconciled us to himself through the Messiah^[k] and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, ¹⁹for through the Messiah,^[l] God was reconciling the world to himself by not counting their sins against them. He has committed his message of reconciliation to us. ²⁰Therefore, we are the Messiah’s^[m] representatives, as though God were pleading through us. We plead on the Messiah’s^[n] behalf: “Be reconciled to God!” ²¹God^[o] made the one who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that God’s righteousness would be produced in us.^[p]

Footnotes

2 Corinthians 5:1 The Gk. lacks human
2 Corinthians 5:3 Lit. found naked
2 Corinthians 5:10 Or Christ
2 Corinthians 5:10 Or bad
2 Corinthians 5:12 Lit. rather than the heart
2 Corinthians 5:14 Or Christ
2 Corinthians 5:16 Lit. according to the flesh
2 Corinthians 5:16 Or Christ
2 Corinthians 5:16 Lit. according to the flesh
2 Corinthians 5:17 Or Christ
2 Corinthians 5:18 Or Christ
2 Corinthians 5:19 Or Christ
2 Corinthians 5:20 Or Christ’s
2 Corinthians 5:20 Or Christ’s
2 Corinthians 5:21 Lit. He
2 Corinthians 5:21 Lit. that we might become God’s righteousness in him

2 Corinthians 5

King James Version

5 For 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.

2 Corinthians 5

English Standard Version

Our Heavenly Dwelling

5 For we know that if ^(A)the tent that is ^(B)our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, ^(C)a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. ²For in this tent ^(D)we groan, longing to ^(E)put on our heavenly dwelling, ³if indeed by putting it on^[a] we may not be found naked. ⁴For while we are still in this tent, we groan, being burdened—not that we would be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed, so that what is mortal ^(F)may be swallowed up by life. ⁵He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, ^(G)who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.^[b]

⁶So we are always of good courage. We know that ^(H)while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, ⁷for ^(I)we walk by faith, not ^(J)by sight. ⁸Yes, we are of good courage, and we ^(K)would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. ⁹So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to ^(L)please him. ¹⁰For ^(M)we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, ^(N)so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.

The Ministry of Reconciliation

¹¹Therefore, knowing ^(O)the fear of the Lord, we persuade others. But ^(P)what we are is known to God, and I hope it is known also to your conscience. ¹²^(Q)We are not commending ourselves to you again but ^(R)giving you cause to boast about us, so that you may be able to answer those who boast about outward appearance and not about what is in the heart. ¹³For if we ^(S)are beside ourselves, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. ¹⁴For the love of Christ ^(T)controls us, because we have concluded this: that ^(U)one has died for all, therefore all have died; ¹⁵and he died for all, ^(V)that those who live might no longer live for themselves but ^(W)for him who for their sake died and was raised.

¹⁶From now on, therefore, ^(X)we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. ¹⁷Therefore, if anyone is ^(Y)in Christ, he is ^(Z)a new creation.^[c] ^(AA)The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. ¹⁸All this is from God, ^(AB)who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us ^(AC)the ministry of reconciliation; ¹⁹that is, in Christ God was reconciling^[d] the world to himself, ^(AD)not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us ^(AE)the message of reconciliation. ²⁰Therefore, ^(AF)we are ambassadors for Christ, ^(AG)God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. ²¹^(AH)For our sake he made him to be sin ^(AI)who knew no sin, so that in him we might become ^(AJ)the righteousness of God.