1Vieme predsa, že až zomrieme, znova ožijeme v krajšej, večnej podobe.2-5Túžime po tom, zároveň však váhame, lebo by sme sa radi vyhli umieraniu a vstúpili priamo do nesmrteľného života, na ktorý nás Pán Boh už teraz pripravuje: ako preddavok nám dal svojho Ducha.6Preto sa môžeme s dôverou tešiť na náš nebeský domov; vo svojich telách tu vlastne žijeme v cudzine, ďaleko od svojej vlasti, kde nás čaká Pán Ježiš Kristus.7Nevidíme ho, ale sme s ním spojení vierou.8Preto v plnej dôvere a radi opustíme, hoci aj hneď teraz, toto telo, aby sme mohli byť doma u svojho Pána.9Chceme však konať tak, ako sa jemu páči, už či to znamená zostať tu v cudzine, alebo odísť do svojej vlasti.10Veď nakoniec sa všetci musíme postaviť pred Kristov súd, kde sa spravodlivo zhodnotí každý náš skutok – dobrý i zlý.
Služba zmierenia
11A práve táto bázeň pred Bohom nás núti presviedčať ľudí, aby verili v Pána Ježiša Krista. Boh naše pohnútky pozná a veríme, že ani vy nás nepodozrievate z nejakých bočných úmyslov.12Nie, nejdeme sa znovu chváliť. Chceme vám iba ukázať, že sa za nás nemusíte hanbiť, a tak môžete zatvoriť ústa tým, ktorí taký dôraz kladú na vonkajší prejav namiesto na vnútornú hodnotu.13Ak to prospeje Božej sláve, nech nás ľudia pokladajú aj za bláznov. Že v skutočnosti bláznami nie sme, to je užitočné zase pre vás.14Vo všetkom, čo konáme, nás vedie Kristova láska.15Je predsa zrejmé, že smrť toho, kto zomrel za všetkých, je to isté, ako keby všetci zomreli. A tak naše životy už nepatria nám, ale tomu, kto za nás zomrel a vstal z mŕtvych.16Neposudzujme preto už nikoho podľa vonkajších znakov. Aj my sme kedysi takto posudzovali Krista, ale teraz už tak nerobíme.17Ak niekto odovzdal svoj život Kristovi, stal sa novým stvorením. Čo bolo predtým, pominulo, začalo sa niečo celkom nové.18To všetko je z Boha, ktorý nás prostredníctvom Pána Ježiša Krista zmieril so sebou. A on nás poveril, aby sme do celého sveta niesli zvesť,19že Boh v Kristu zmieril svet so sebou, odpustil ľuďom ich previnenia a neráta im viac ich hriechy.20Ako Kristovi vyslanci vás preto vyzývame: Zmierte sa s Bohom!21Lebo na toho, ktorý sa nikdy nedopustil ničoho zlého, vložil všetok náš hriech a jeho spravodlivosť preniesol na nás.
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. (Mk 14,58; 2 Kor 4,7; 2 Pt 1,13)2For in this tent we groan, longing to put on our heavenly dwelling, (Rim 8,23; 1 Kor 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. (1 Kor 15,54)5He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee. (Rim 8,23; 2 Kor 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, (Hebr 11,13)7for we walk by faith, not by sight. (Jn 20,29; 1 Kor 13,12; 2 Kor 4,18)8Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. (Flp 1,23)9So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him. (Kol 1,10; 1 Sol 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. (Ž 62,12; Mt 25,31; Sk 10,42; Rim 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. (Jób 31,23; Sk 9,31; 2 Kor 4,2; Hebr 10,31; Júd 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 Kor 1,14; 2 Kor 3,1)13For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. (2 Kor 11,1; 2 Kor 11,16; 2 Kor 12,6; 2 Kor 12,11)14For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; (Sk 18,5; Rim 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. (Rim 6,11; Rim 14,7; 2 Kor 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. (Gal 2,6; Flp 3,7; Kol 2,11; 1 Tim 5,21)17Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.[2] The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. (Iz 43,18; Iz 65,17; Jn 3,3; Rim 6,4; Rim 16,7; 2 Kor 12,2; Gal 1,22; Ef 2,15; Ef 4,24; Hebr 8,13; Zjv 21,5)18All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; (Rim 5,10; Rim 5,11; Kol 1,20; 1 Jn 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. (Ž 32,2; Rim 4,8; 2 Kor 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; 2 Kor 6,1; Gal 4,14; Ef 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. (Rim 1,17; Rim 4,25; Rim 8,3; 1 Kor 1,30; Gal 3,13; 1 Pt 2,22)