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. (Mr 14:58; 2Co 4:7; 2Pe 1:13)2For in this tent we groan, longing to put on our heavenly dwelling, (Ro 8:23; 1Co 15:53)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. (1Co 15:54)5He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee. (Ro 8:23; 2Co 1:22)6So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, (Heb 11:13)7for we walk by faith, not by sight. (Joh 20:29; 1Co 13:12; 2Co 4:18)8Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. (Php 1:23)9So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him. (Col 1:10; 1Th 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. (Ps 62:12; Mt 25:31; Ac 10:42; Ro 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. (Job 31:23; Ac 9:31; 2Co 4:2; Heb 10:31; Jud 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. (2Co 1:14; 2Co 3:1)13For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. (2Co 11:1; 2Co 11:16; 2Co 12:6; 2Co 12:11)14For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; (Ac 18:5; Ro 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. (Ro 6:11; Ro 14:7; 2Co 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. (Ga 2:6; Php 3:7; Col 2:11; 1Ti 5:21)17Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.[2] The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. (Isa 43:18; Isa 65:17; Joh 3:3; Ro 6:4; Ro 16:7; 2Co 12:2; Ga 1:22; Eph 2:15; Eph 4:24; Heb 8:13; Re 21:5)18All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; (Ro 5:10; Ro 5:11; Col 1:20; 1Jo 2:2)19that is, in Christ God was reconciling[3] the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. (Ps 32:2; Ro 4:8; 2Co 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. (Mal 2:7; 2Co 6:1; Ga 4:14; Eph 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. (Ro 1:17; Ro 4:25; Ro 8:3; 1Co 1:30; Ga 3:13; 1Pe 2:22)
1For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands.2Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling,3because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked.4For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life.5Now the one who has fashioned us for this very purpose is God, who has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.6Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord.7For we live by faith, not by sight.8We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord.9So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it.10For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due to us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.
The ministry of reconciliation
11Since, then, we know what it is to fear the Lord, we try to persuade others. What we are is plain to God, and I hope it is also plain to your conscience.12We are not trying to commend ourselves to you again, but are giving you an opportunity to take pride in us, so that you can answer those who take pride in what is seen rather than in what is in the heart.13If we are ‘out of our mind,’ as some say, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you.14For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died.15And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.16So from now on we regard no-one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer.17Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come:[1] the old has gone, the new is here!18All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation:19that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.20We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: be reconciled to God.21God made him who had no sin to be sin[2] for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
1We know that the earthly tent we live in will be destroyed. But we have a building made by God. It is a house in heaven that lasts for ever. Human hands did not build it.2During our time on earth we groan. We long to put on our house in heaven as if it were clothing.3Then we will not be naked.4While we live in this tent of ours, we groan under our heavy load. We don’t want to be naked. Instead, we want to be fully dressed with our house in heaven. What must die will be swallowed up by life.5God has formed us for that very purpose. He has given us the Holy Spirit as a down payment. The Spirit makes us sure of what is still to come.6So here is what we can always be certain about. As long as we are at home in our bodies, we are away from the Lord.7We live by believing, not by seeing.8We are certain about that. We would rather be away from our bodies and at home with the Lord.9So we try our best to please him. We want to please him whether we are at home in our bodies or away from them.10We must all stand in front of Christ to be judged. Each one of us will be judged for what we do while in our bodies. We’ll be judged for the good things and the bad things. Then each of us will receive what we are supposed to get.
Christ brings us back to God
11We know what it means to have respect for the Lord. So we try to help other people to understand it. What we are is plain to God. I hope it is also plain to your way of thinking.12We are not trying to make an appeal to you again. But we are giving you a chance to take pride in us. Some people take pride in their looks rather than what’s in their hearts. If you take pride in us, you will be able to answer them.13Are we ‘out of our minds,’ as some people say? If so, it is because we want to serve God. Does what we say make sense? If so, it is because we want to serve you.14Christ’s love controls us. We are sure that one person died for everyone. And so everyone died.15Christ died for everyone. He died so that those who live should not live for themselves anymore. They should live for Christ. He died for them and was raised again.16So from now on we don’t look at anyone the way the world does. At one time we looked at Christ in that way. But we don’t anymore.17When anyone lives in Christ, the new creation has come. The old is gone! The new is here!18All this is from God. He brought us back to himself through Christ’s death on the cross. And he has given us the task of bringing others back to him through Christ.19God was bringing the world back to himself through Christ. He did not hold people’s sins against them. God has trusted us with the message that people may be brought back to him.20So we are Christ’s official messengers. It is as if God were making his appeal through us. Here is what Christ wants us to beg you to do. Come back to God!21Christ didn’t have any sin. But God made him become sin for us. So we can be made right with God because of what Christ has done for us.
2 Corinthians 5
King James Version
1For 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.
1Wir wissen: Wenn unser irdisches Zelt abgebrochen wird, dann haben wir eine Wohnung von Gott, ein nicht von Menschenhand errichtetes ewiges Haus im Himmel. (2Pe 1:13)2Im gegenwärtigen Zustand seufzen wir und sehnen uns danach, mit dem himmlischen Haus überkleidet zu werden. (Ro 8:23)3So bekleidet, werden wir nicht nackt erscheinen.4Solange wir nämlich in diesem Zelt leben, seufzen wir unter schwerem Druck, weil wir nicht entkleidet, sondern überkleidet werden möchten, damit so das Sterbliche vom Leben verschlungen werde. (1Co 15:53)5Gott aber, der uns gerade dazu fähig gemacht hat, er hat uns auch als ersten Anteil den Geist gegeben. (2Co 1:22; Eph 1:13)6Wir sind also immer zuversichtlich, auch wenn wir wissen, dass wir fern vom Herrn in der Fremde leben, solange wir in diesem Leib zu Hause sind; (Heb 13:14)7denn als Glaubende gehen wir unseren Weg, nicht als Schauende. (Ro 8:24; 1Pe 1:8)8Weil wir aber zuversichtlich sind, ziehen wir es vor, aus dem Leib auszuwandern und daheim beim Herrn zu sein. (Php 1:23)9Deswegen suchen wir unsere Ehre darin, ihm zu gefallen, ob wir daheim oder in der Fremde sind.10Denn wir alle müssen vor dem Richterstuhl Christi offenbar werden, damit jeder seinen Lohn empfängt für das Gute oder Böse, das er im irdischen Leben getan hat. (Ro 14:10; 1Co 4:5)
Der Dienst der Versöhnung
11So versuchen wir, erfüllt von der Furcht des Herrn, Menschen zu gewinnen; vor Gott stehen wir offen da. Ich hoffe, dass wir auch vor eurem Gewissen offen dastehen.12Damit wollen wir uns euch nicht wieder empfehlen, sondern wir geben euch Gelegenheit, rühmend auf uns hinzuweisen, damit ihr denen entgegentreten könnt, die sich äußerlich, nicht im Herzen rühmen. (2Co 3:1; 2Co 10:12)13Wenn wir nämlich von Sinnen waren, so geschah es für Gott; wenn wir besonnen sind, geschieht es für euch.14Denn die Liebe Christi drängt uns, da wir erkannt haben: Einer ist für alle gestorben, also sind alle gestorben. (Ro 6:3; Ro 7:4; Ro 8:31; Ro 14:7)15Er ist aber für alle gestorben, damit die Lebenden nicht mehr für sich leben, sondern für den, der für sie starb und auferweckt wurde. (Ga 2:20)16Also kennen wir von jetzt an niemanden mehr dem Fleische nach; auch wenn wir früher Christus dem Fleische nach gekannt haben, jetzt kennen wir ihn nicht mehr so.17Wenn also jemand in Christus ist, dann ist er eine neue Schöpfung: Das Alte ist vergangen, siehe, Neues ist geworden. (Ro 6:4; Ga 6:15; Re 21:5)18Aber das alles kommt von Gott, der uns durch Christus mit sich versöhnt und uns den Dienst der Versöhnung aufgetragen hat. (Ro 5:10)19Ja, Gott war es, der in Christus die Welt mit sich versöhnt hat, indem er ihnen ihre Verfehlungen nicht anrechnete und unter uns das Wort von der Versöhnung aufgerichtet hat. (Ro 3:24; Col 1:19)20Wir sind also Gesandte an Christi statt und Gott ist es, der durch uns mahnt. Wir bitten an Christi statt: Lasst euch mit Gott versöhnen! (Mt 10:40; Lu 10:16)21Er hat den, der keine Sünde kannte, für uns zur Sünde gemacht, damit wir in ihm Gerechtigkeit Gottes würden. (Ro 8:3; 2Co 8:9; Ga 3:13; 1Pe 2:24)