2 Corinthians 5–6

Awaiting the New Body

5For we know that if the earthly^s tent^t we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. ²Meanwhile we groan,^u longing to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling,^{v 3}because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. ⁴For while we are in this tent, we groan^w and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling,^x 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.^y

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.^{z 8}We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord.^{a 9}So we make it our goal to please him,^b 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 us^c 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,^d we try to persuade others. What we are is plain to God, and I hope it is also plain to your conscience.^{e 12}We are not trying to commend ourselves to you again,^f but are giving you an opportunity to take pride in us,^g 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,”^h 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.^{i 15}And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves^j but for him who died for them^k and was raised again.

¹⁶So from now on we regard no one from a worldly^l point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. ¹⁷Therefore, if anyone is in Christ,^m the new creationⁿ has come:^a The old has gone, the new is here!^{o 18}All this is from God,^p who reconciled us to himself through Christ^q and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: ¹⁹that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them.^r And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. ²⁰We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors,^s as though God were making his appeal through us.^t We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.^{u 21}God made him who had no sin^v to be sin^b for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.^w

6As God’s co-workers^x we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain.^{y 2}For he says,

“In the time of my favor I heard you,

and in the day of salvation I helped you.”^az

I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.

Paul’s Hardships

³We put no stumbling block in anyone’s path,^a so that our ministry will not be discredited. ⁴Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses; ⁵in beatings, imprisonments^b and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger;^{c 6}in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit^d and in sincere love;^{e 7}in truthful speech^f and in the power of God;^g with weapons of righteousness^h in the right hand and in the left; ⁸through glory and dishonor,ⁱ bad report^j and good report; genuine, yet regarded as impostors;^{k 9}known, yet regarded as unknown; dying,^l and yet we live on;^m beaten, and yet not killed; ¹⁰sorrowful, yet always rejoicing;ⁿ poor, yet making many rich;^o having nothing,^p and yet possessing everything.^q

¹¹We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians, and opened wide our hearts to you.^{r 12}We are not withholding our affection from you, but you are withholding yours from us. ¹³As a fair exchange—I speak as to my children^s—open wide your hearts^t also.

Warning Against Idolatry

¹⁴Do not be yoked together^u with unbelievers.^v For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?^{w 15}What harmony is there between Christ and Belial^b?^x Or what does a believer^y have in common with an unbeliever?^{z 16}What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols?^a For we are the temple^b of the living God.^c As God has said:

“I will live with them

and walk among them,

and I will be their God,

and they will be my people.”^cd

¹⁷Therefore,

“Come out from them^e

and be separate,

says the Lord.

Touch no unclean thing,

and I will receive you.”^df

¹⁸And,

“I will be a Father to you,

and you will be my sons and daughters,^g

says the Lord Almighty.”^eh