Bible Reading Plan

2 Corinthians 5

Chapter 5

Our Future after Death

¹ For we know that if our temporary, earthly dwelling^[a](a) is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal dwelling^[b] in the heavens,^(b) not made with hands.^{(c) 2} Indeed, we groan in this body, desiring^(d) to put on our dwelling from heaven, ³ since, when we are clothed,^[c] we will not be found naked.^{(e) 4} Indeed, 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^(f) may be swallowed up by life. ⁵ And the One who prepared us for this very purpose is God, who gave us the Spirit as a down payment.

⁶ So, we are always confident and know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. ⁷ For we walk by faith,^(g) not by sight,^{(h) 8} and we are confident and satisfied to be out of the body and at home with the Lord.^{(i) 9} Therefore, whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to be pleasing^(j) to Him. ¹⁰ For we must all appear before the tribunal^(k) of Christ,^(l) so that each may be repaid^(m) for what he has done in the body, whether good or worthless.

¹¹ Therefore, because we know the fear of the Lord,⁽ⁿ⁾ we seek to persuade people. We are completely open before God, and I hope we are completely open to your consciences as well. ¹² We 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^[d] rather than in the heart. ¹³ For if we are out of our mind,^(o) it is for God; if we have a sound mind,^(p) it is for you. ¹⁴ For Christ's love compels^[e] us, since we have reached this conclusion: If One died for all,^(q) then all died. ¹⁵ And He died for all^(r) so that those who live should no longer live for themselves,^(s) but for the One^(t) who died for them and was raised.

The Ministry of Reconciliation

¹⁶ From now on, then, we do not know^[f] anyone in a purely human way.^[g] Even if we have known^[h] Christ in a purely human way,^[i] yet now we no longer know^[j] Him in this way. ¹⁷ Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation;^(u) old things have passed away, and look,^(v) new things^[k] have come.^{(w) 18} Everything is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation:^{(x) 19} That is, in Christ, God was reconciling the world^(y) to Himself,^(z) not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed the message of reconciliation to us. ²⁰ Therefore, we are ambassadors^(aa) for Christ, certain that God is appealing through us. We plead on Christ's behalf,^(ab) "Be reconciled to God." ²¹ He made the One who did not know sin^(ac) to be sin^[l] for us,^(ad) so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.