1For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is torn down, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.
2For indeed in this we groan, longing to be clothed over with our dwelling that is from heaven,
3if indeed, having put it on, we will not be found naked.
4For indeed we who are in the tent groan, being burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed over, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life.
5Now the one who prepared us for this very thing is God, who gave us the down payment of the Spirit.
6Being therefore always confident, and knowing that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord—
7for we walk by faith, not by sight—
8we are confident, then, and would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord.
9Therefore also we make it our ambition, whether at home or away, to be pleasing to him.
10For we must all be revealed before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each may receive back the things done through the body, according to what he practiced, whether good or worthless.
11Knowing therefore the fear of the Lord, we persuade people; but to God we have been made manifest, and I hope also to have been made manifest in your consciences.
12We are not again commending ourselves to you, but giving you an occasion to boast on our behalf, so that you may have an answer for those who boast in appearance and not in heart.
13For if we were beside ourselves, it was for God; if we are of sound mind, it is for you.
14For the love of Christ compels us, having concluded this: that one died for all, therefore all died;
15and he died for all so that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for the one who died for them and was raised.
16So then, from now on we regard no one according to the flesh; even if we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know him so no longer.
17So then, if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: the old things have passed away; behold, new things have come.
18And all these things are from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation,
19that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and having placed in us the word of reconciliation.
20On behalf of Christ, then, we are ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ: be reconciled to God.
21The one who knew no sin he made to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in him.
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