Shared Word Translation
2 Corinthians 5
The Earthly Tent and the Heavenly Dwelling
For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this tent we groan, longing to be clothed with our dwelling from heaven— if indeed, when we have been clothed, we will not be found naked.
For while we are in this tent, we groan, being burdened—not because we want to be unclothed, but further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. The one who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a first pledge.
Living by Faith
Therefore we are always confident, even though we know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord— for we walk by faith, not by sight. Yet we are confident, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord.
So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to be pleasing to him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each may receive what is due for what has been done in the body, whether good or bad.
The Ministry of Reconciliation
Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade others; but what we are is known to God, and I hope that it is also known to your consciences. We are not commending ourselves to you again but giving you an occasion to boast about us, so that you may have an answer for those who boast in outward appearance and not in the heart.
For if we are out of our mind, it is for God; if we are of sound mind, it is for you. For the love of Christ compels us, because we have concluded this: one has died for all; therefore all have died. And he died for all, so that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for the one who died and was raised for them.
From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh; even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: the old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.
Therefore we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making an appeal through us; we implore you on behalf of Christ: be reconciled to God. The one who knew no sin, God made to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.