2 Corinthians 5–6

Our Future after Death

5For we know that if our temporary, earthly dwelling ^ghis destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal dwelling ⁱin the heavens, ^jnot made with hands. ^k2Indeed, we groan in this body, desiring ^lto put on our dwelling from heaven, ³since, when we are clothed, ^mwe will not be found naked. ⁿ⁴Indeed, 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 ^omay 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, ^pnot by sight, ^q8and we are confident and satisfied to be out of the body and at home with the Lord. ^r9Therefore, whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to be pleasing ^sto Him. ¹⁰For we must all appear before the tribunal ^tof Christ, ^uso that each may be repaid ^vfor what he has done in the body, whether good or worthless.

¹¹Therefore, because we know the fear of the Lord, ^wwe 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 ^xrather than in the heart. ¹³For if we are out of our mind, ^yit is for God; if we have a sound mind, ^zit is for you. ¹⁴For Christ’s love compels ^aus, since we have reached this conclusion: If One died for all, ^bthen all died. ¹⁵And He died for all ^cso that those who live should no longer live for themselves, ^dbut for the One ^ewho died for them and was raised.

The Ministry of Reconciliation

¹⁶From now on, then, we do not know ^fanyone in a purely human way. ^gEven if we have known ^hChrist in a purely human way, ⁱyet now we no longer know ^jHim in this way. ¹⁷Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; ^kold things have passed away, and look, ^lnew things ^mhave come. ⁿ¹⁸Everything is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: ^o19That is, in Christ, God was reconciling the world ^pto Himself, ^qnot counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed the message of reconciliation to us. ²⁰Therefore, we are ambassadors ^rfor Christ, certain that God is appealing through us. We plead on Christ’s behalf, ^s“Be reconciled to God.” ²¹He made the One who did not know sin ^tto be sin ^ufor us, ^vso that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

6Working together ^wwith Him, we also appeal to you, “Don’t receive God’s grace in vain.” ²For He says:

I heard you in an acceptable time,

and I helped you in the day of salvation. ^xy

Look, now is the acceptable time; now is the day of salvation. ^z

The Character of Paul’s Ministry

³We give no opportunity for stumbling to anyone, so that the ministry will not be blamed. ⁴But as God’s ministers, we commend ourselves in everything:

by great endurance, by afflictions,

by hardship, by difficulties,

⁵by beatings, by imprisonments, ^a

by riots, by labors,

by sleepless nights, by times of hunger,

⁶by purity, ^bby knowledge, ^c

by patience, ^dby kindness, ^e

by the Holy Spirit, by sincere love, ^f

⁷by the message of truth, ^g

by the power of God; ^h

through weapons of righteousness

on the right hand and the left,

⁸through glory ⁱand dishonor,

through slander and good report;

as deceivers yet true;

⁹as unknown yet recognized;

as dying and look—we live;

as being disciplined yet not killed;

¹⁰as grieving yet always rejoicing; ^j

as poor yet enriching many;

as having nothing yet possessing everything.

¹¹We have spoken openly ^kto you, Corinthians; our heart has been opened wide. ¹²You are not limited by us, but you are limited by your own affections. ¹³I speak as to my children. As a proper response, you should also be open to us.

Separation to God

¹⁴Do not be mismatched with unbelievers. For what partnership is there between righteousness and lawlessness? ^lOr what fellowship does light ^mhave with darkness? ⁿ¹⁵What agreement does Christ have with Belial? ^oOr what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? ¹⁶And what agreement does God’s sanctuary have with idols? ^pFor we ^qare the sanctuary of the living God, as God said:

I will dwell among them ^r

and walk among them,

and I will be their God, ^s

and they will be My people. ^tu

¹⁷Therefore, come out from among them

and be separate, says the Lord;

do not touch any unclean thing,

and I will welcome you. ^vw

¹⁸I will be a Father ^xto you,

and you will be sons ^yand daughters to Me,

says the Lord Almighty. ^za