1We know that if our earthly tent1850 is dissolved, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2It is certain that we groan in this [tent], longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling; 3so that being clothed we will not be found naked. 4We who are in this tent are truly groaning as we are burdened;1851 but it is not that we desire to be unclothed; rather, we desire to be clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life.1852 5Now the one who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who also gave us the pledge1853 of the Spirit.
6Therefore, we are always confident and know that while we are at home1854 in the body, we are absent from the Lord; 7for we walk by faith, not by sight. 8I dare say that we are courageous and that we would rather be absent from the body and at home with the Lord. 9And so, we make this our aim: that whether at home or absent, we would be well-pleasing to him. 10For we must all be revealed before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive according to what was done in the body; good or evil.
A new creation—The ministry of reconciliation
11But since we know the fear of the Lord, let us try to persuade others. What we are is revealed to God, and I hope that we are also revealed to your consciences.1855 12Certainly, we are not trying to obtain your approval once again, but we say this to give you an occasion to be proud of us, so that you may have something to answer to those who boast in appearances—not in the heart [of things]. 13If we are unreasonable, it is for God, and if we are reasonable, it is for you. 14Indeed, the love of Christ overwhelms us, because we consider this: that if one died for all, then all have died. 15He died for all, so that those who live should no longer live to themselves but to him who died and rose again for them. 16Therefore, we do not think of anyone according to the flesh1856 any more. Even though we used to think of Christ according to the flesh, we no longer think of him this way. 17Therefore, anyone who is in Christ is a new creation! The old things have passed away. Behold, all things have become new!1857 18But all things are of God, who reconciled us to himself through Jesus Christ and who gave to us the ministry of reconciliation. 19What I mean is that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not imputing1858 sins, but having entrusted us with the word of reconciliation. 20Therefore, we are ambassadors of Christ: it is as if God were making [his] supplication through us: we beg you, on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God! 21For God1859 made him who knew no sin to become sin1860 for our sake; so that in him, we might become the righteousness of God.
Tribulations in the ministry
- Compare 2 Peter 1:13
- Compare verses 1 and 4 with Wisdom 9:15. See also Isaias (Isaiah) 38:12.
- Compare 1 Corinthians 15:53-54
- Or “deposit/earnest/guarantee/downpayment”
- Or “present”
- Or “awareness/consciousness”
- This expression can also be translated “from a human point of view (RSV)”
- Compare Revelation 21:1,5
- Compare Romans 4:7-8 (Greek logizo,menoj—conveying the idea of “take into account/consider/evaluate/count”)
- Greek “he”
- Compare Isaias 53:6
Text: The Eastern / Greek Orthodox Bible, New Testament (EOB). Used with permission.
