2 Corinthians (2 Co) 5
5
1We know that when the tent which houses us here on earth is torn down, we have a permanent building from God, a building not made by human hands, to house us in heaven. 2For in this tent, our earthly body, we groan with desire to have around us the home from heaven that will be ours. 3With this around us we will not be found naked. 4Yes, while we are in this body, we groan with the sense of being oppressed: it is not so much that we want to take something off, but rather to put something on over it; so that what must die may be swallowed up by the Life. 5Moreover, it is God who has prepared us for this very thing, and as a pledge he has given us his Spirit.
6So we are always confident — we know that so long as we are at home in the body, we are away from our home with the Lord; 7for we live by trust, not by what we see. 8We are confident, then, and would much prefer to leave our home in the body and come to our home with the Lord.
9Therefore, whether at home or away from home, we try our utmost to please him; 10for we must all appear before the Messiah’s court of judgment, where everyone will receive the good or bad consequences of what he did while he was in the body.
11So it is with the fear of the Lord before us that we try to persuade people. Moreover, God knows us as we really are; and I hope that in your consciences you too know us as we really are. 12We are not recommending ourselves to you again but giving you a reason to be proud of us, so that you will be able to answer those who boast about a person’s appearance rather than his inner qualities. 13If we are insane, it is for God’s sake; and if we are sane, it is for your sake. 14For the Messiah’s love has hold of us, because we are convinced that one man died on behalf of all mankind (which implies that all mankind was already dead), 15and that he died on behalf of all in order that those who live should not live any longer for themselves but for the one who on their behalf died and was raised. 16So from now on, we do not look at anyone from a worldly viewpoint. Even if we once regarded the Messiah from a worldly viewpoint, we do so no longer. 17Therefore, if anyone is united with the Messiah, he is a new creation — the old has passed; look, what has come is fresh and new! 18And it is all from God, who through the Messiah has reconciled us to himself and has given us the work of that reconciliation, 19which is that God in the Messiah was reconciling mankind to himself, not counting their sins against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. 20Therefore we are ambassadors of the Messiah; in effect, God is making his appeal through us. What we do is appeal on behalf of the Messiah, “Be reconciled to God! 21God made this sinless man be a sin offering on our behalf, so that in union with him we might fully share in God’s righteousness.”
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2 Corinthians (2 Co) 5: CJB
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Learn More About Complete Jewish Bible2 Corinthians 5
5
Our Future after Death
1For we know that if our temporary, earthly dwelling # = our present physical body # 2Pt 1:13 is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal dwelling # = our future body in the heavens, # Eph 6:9; Php 2:10 not made with hands. # Col 2:11 2Indeed, we groan in this body, desiring # 1Pt 2:2 to put on our dwelling from heaven, 3since, when we are clothed, # Other mss read stripped we will not be found naked. # Mt 25:36; Lk 10:30 4Indeed, we groan while we are in this tent, burdened as we are, because we do not want to be unclothed but clothed, so that mortality # Rm 7:24; 8:23; 1Co 15:26 may be swallowed up by life. 5And the One who prepared us for this very purpose is God, who gave us the Spirit as a down payment.
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, # Mt 8:10; Ac 3:16; Rm 1:8; 1Co 2:5; Gl 2:16; 1Tm 1:2; Heb 4:2 not by sight, # Lk 3:22 8and we are confident and satisfied to be out of the body and at home with the Lord. # Php 1:23 9Therefore, whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to be pleasing # Heb 13:21 to Him. 10For we must all appear before the tribunal # Jn 5:22-30 of Christ, # Mt 25:31-46; Php 1:6; Heb 10:31 so that each may be repaid # Mt 16:27 for what he has done in the body, whether good or worthless.
11Therefore, because we know the fear of the Lord, # Ps 147:11; Pr 1:7; 1Pt 1:17; Rv 14:7 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 # Lit in face rather than in the heart. 13For if we are out of our mind, # Ac 10:45 it is for God; if we have a sound mind, # 1Pt 4:7 it is for you. 14For Christ’s love compels # Or For the love of Christ impels, or For the love of Christ controls us, since we have reached this conclusion: If One died for all, # Jn 11:51; 2Co 4:10 then all died. 15And He died for all # Lk 20:38; Heb 2:9 so that those who live should no longer live for themselves, # Rm 14:7 but for the One # Lk 20:38 who died for them and was raised.
The Ministry of Reconciliation
16From now on, then, we do not know # Or regard anyone in a purely human way. # Lit anyone according to the flesh Even if we have known # Or have regarded Christ in a purely human way, # Lit Christ according to the flesh yet now we no longer know # Or regard Him in this way. 17Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; # Jn 1:3; Rv 3:14 old things have passed away, and look, # Rm 8:24 new things # Other mss read look, all new things have come. # Is 43:19; 65:17; Rm 6:4; Eph 4:24; Rv 21:5 18Everything is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: # Rm 5:11 19That is, in Christ, God was reconciling the world # 2Pt 2:20 to Himself, # Ti 2:11 not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed the message of reconciliation to us. 20Therefore, we are ambassadors # Eph 6:20 for Christ, certain that God is appealing through us. We plead on Christ’s behalf, # 2Co 12:10; Php 1:29 “Be reconciled to God.” 21He made the One who did not know sin # 1Jn 3:5 to be sin # Or be a sin offering for us, # Rm 8:3; Gl 3:13; 1Pt 2:24 so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
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