1 For we know that if our Earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, a house not made with hands in the Heavens of the Kingdom Age.
2 For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven:
3 If being clothed we shall not be found naked.
4 For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up by genuine and absolute fullness of life.
5 Now He Who has wrought us into the selfsame thing is God, who also has given to us the earnest of the Spirit.
6 Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord:
7 (For we walk by supernatural belief and trust, not by sight:)
8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.
9 Therefore we labor, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of Him.
10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he has done, whether it is good or bad.
11 Knowing therefore the holy reverence of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are visible to God, and, I have divinely inspired expectation, also are visible in your consciences. *
12 For we commend not ourselves again to you, but give you occasion to glory on our behalf, that you may have somewhat to answer those who glory in appearance, and not in innermost mind.
13 For whether we are beside ourselves, it is to God: or whether we are sane, it is for your cause.
14 For the love of Christ constrains us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:
15 And that He died for all so that from now on they who live would not live to themselves but to Him who died for them, and rose again.
16 Therefore from now on we don't know anyone after the flesh. Yes, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet from now on we don't know Him after the flesh any more. *
17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, that person is a new creature. Old things have passed away; all things have become new. *
18 And all these things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself by Jesus Christ, and has given to us the ministry of reconciliation;
19 which is that God was in Christ, reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them; and has committed to us the utterance of reconciliation. *
20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beg you by us: we pray you instead of Christ, be reconciled to God.
21 For he has made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.