1 For we know that if the earthly house of our :tabernacle be dissolved, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal, in the heavens. 2 For verily in this we groan, longing to be clothed upon with our :habitation which is from heaven: 3 if so be that clothed we shall not be found naked. 4 For verily we that are in the tabernacle groan, being burdened; not for that we would be unclothed, but that we would be clothed upon, that the mortal be swallowed up of the life. 5 Now who wrought us for this very thing is God, who gave us the earnest of the Spirit. 6 Always therefore of good courage, and knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are away from home from the Lord 7 (for we walk through faith, not through †sight)—8 we are of good courage, and are pleased rather to be away from home from the body, and to be at home with the Lord. 9 Wherefore also we are ambitious, whether at home or away from home, to be well pleasing to him. 10 For we must all be manifested before the judgment-seat of the Christ; that each receive the things done through the body, according to what he hath done, whether good or bad.
11 Knowing therefore the fear of the Lord, we persuade men, but we are manifested to God; and I hope that we are manifested also in your :consciences. 12 We are not again commending ourselves to you, but as giving you occasion of glorying on our behalf, that ye may have toward those glorying in face, and not in heart. 13 For whether we were beside ourselves, it is to God; whether we are of sober mind, it is to you. 14 For the love of the Christ constraineth us; having thus judged, that one died for all, therefore :all died; 15 and he died for all, that they that live should no longer live to themselves, but to him who for their sakes died and rose again. 16 So that we from :now on know no one after the flesh: even though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now we know him so no more. 17 So that if any is in Christ, he is a new creature: the old are passed away; lo, they are become new. 18 But all the things are of :God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and gave to us the ministry of :reconciliation; 19 to wit, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself, not reckoning to them their :trespasses, and having †committed to us the word of :reconciliation. 20 We are ambassadors therefore on behalf of Christ, as though :God were entreating by us: we beseech on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to :God. 21 Him who knew no sin he made sin on our behalf; that WE might become righteousness of God in him.
