1Защото знаем, че ако се разруши земният ни дом, телесното ни жилище, имаме от Бога здание на небесата, дом неръкотворен, вечен. (Йов 4:19; 2 Кор 4:7; Евр 9:11; 2 Пет 1:13; 2 Пет 1:14)2Затова сега стенем, като копнеем да се облечем с нашето небесно жилище, (Рим 8:23)3стига само, облечени с него, да не се намерим голи. (Ис 61:10; Отк 3:18; Отк 16:15)4Наистина, докато сме в това тяло, стенем обременени. Затова не искаме просто да се съблечем, а да се облечем в небесното тяло, та смъртното да се погълне от живота. (1 Кор 15:53; 1 Кор 15:54)5А Бог е, Който ни е направил точно за това и ни е дал Духа в залог. (Рим 8:23; 2 Кор 1:22; Еф 1:14; Еф 2:10; Еф 4:30)6И така, нека бъдем дръзновени и да знаем, че докато живеем в това тяло, ние сме далеч от Господа7(защото с вярване ходим, а не с виждане), (Рим 8:24; Рим 8:25; 1 Кор 13:12; 2 Кор 4:18; Евр 11:1)8но имаме дръзновение и предпочитаме по-скоро да се отделим от тялото си и да се преселим при Господа. (Фил 1:23)9Затова и ревностно се стараем да Му бъдем угодни, било когато живеем в тяло, било когато го напускаме.10Защото всички трябва да застанем открити пред Христовия съд, за да получи всеки според каквото е правил в тялото – било добро или зло. (Мт 16:27; Мт 25:31; Мт 25:32; Рим 2:6; Рим 14:10; Гал 6:7; Еф 6:8; Кол 3:24; Кол 3:25; Отк 22:12)
1For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. (Мк 14:58; 2 Кор 4:7; 2 Пет 1:13; 2 Пет 1:14)2For in this tent we groan, longing to put on our heavenly dwelling, (Рим 8:23; 1 Кор 15:53; 1 Кор 15:54)3if indeed by putting it on[1] 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 may be swallowed up by life. (1 Кор 15:54)5He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.[2] (Рим 1:22; Рим 8:23)6So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, (Евр 11:13; Евр 11:14)7for we walk by faith, not by sight. (Йн 4:18; Йн 20:29; 1 Кор 13:12)8Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. (Фил 1:23)9So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him. (Кол 1:10; 1 Сол 4:1)10For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil. (Пс 62:12; Мт 25:31; Мт 25:32; Рим 14:10)
The Ministry of Reconciliation
11Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade others. But what we are is known to God, and I hope it is known also to your conscience. (Йов 31:23; Д А 9:31; 2 Кор 4:2; Евр 10:31; Юда 1:23)12We are not commending ourselves to you again but 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. (2 Кор 1:14; 2 Кор 3:1)13For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. (2 Кор 11:1; 2 Кор 11:16; 2 Кор 11:17; 2 Кор 12:6; 2 Кор 12:11)14For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; (Д А 18:5; Рим 5:15)15and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised. (Рим 6:11; Рим 6:12; 2 Кор 12:10)16From 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. (Гал 2:6; Фил 3:7; Фил 3:8; Кол 2:11; 1 Тим 5:21)17Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.[3] The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. (Ис 43:18; Ис 43:19; Ис 65:17; Йн 3:3; Рим 16:7; 2 Кор 12:2; Гал 1:22; Еф 2:15; Еф 4:24; Евр 8:13; Отк 21:5)18All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; (Рим 5:10; Рим 5:11; Кол 1:20; 1 Йн 2:2)19that is, in Christ God was reconciling[4] the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. (Пс 32:2; Рим 4:8; 2 Кор 5:18)20Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. (Мал 2:7; 2 Кор 6:1; Гал 4:14; Еф 6:20)21For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. (Рим 1:17; Рим 4:25; Рим 8:3; 1 Кор 1:30; Гал 3:13; 1 Пет 2:22)