2nd Corinthians 5
2 For in this (corruptible
body) we groan, earnestly desiring to be
clothed upon with our (incorruptible)
house which is from heaven:
3 So that also being clothed (with
His life and light), we shall not be found
naked (and afraid).
4 For we that are in this (earthly)
tabernacle (of our bodies)
do groan, being (pressed in and)
burdened (by the death and corruption in
the world): because we do not want to be (found
naked and ashamed being) unclothed, but
clothed upon (with His immortality),
so that (our)
mortality might be swallowed up by (His)
life.
5 Now He that has done a work for us (in
Christ Jesus)
to give us the
very same thing (which our hearts have
always desired) is God, who has also given
to us the (advance deposit)
guarantee of the Spirit (who is ever in us
assuring our hearts of the certainty for us to be clothed in His life and
likeness).
6 Therefore, we are always confident (He
will clothe us), knowing that (even)
while we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord (we
have this certainty):
7 {For we walk by (the)
faith (revealed in Jesus Christ, who is
the certainty of that which is not yet seen),
not by sight (of temporal things which
pass away):}
8 We are confident (therefore
being satisfied with the full assurance of the reward by the Spirit of God),
and I say, willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with
the Lord.
9 This is why we labor (to
preach Christ crucified, persuading men’s hearts),
so that whether at home (in the body)
or absent (from the body),
(our confidence is)
we are well pleasing to Him (that we might
come to Him for reward).
10 For we all shall be revealed (standing)
before the judgment seat of Christ (where
our hearts will be laid bare); so that
everyone may receive (the reward)
in his body, according to the work (his
heart has believed) for him to do, whether
it is good or evil. (Good, having received
the Spirit whereby you rest in the certainty of His promise that was made
flesh in the resurrection of Jesus, to clothe us with His life and
immortality in our flesh; evil, being naked and afraid, believing you need
to clothe yourself, whereby you run in fear unto destruction).
11 Knowing therefore the (reverential)
fear (and awe)
of the Lord (who is the only One who can
clothe us with the life our hearts desire),
we (preach Christ crucified to)
persuade men’s hearts
(of the faith):
but (the sincerity of)
our hearts are made manifest to God; and I trust also are made manifest in
your consciences.
12 For we do not (need
to) commend (or
prove) ourselves to you again, but give
you occasion to boast on our behalf, so that you may have an answer to those
who glory in (outward)
appearances, and not (in purity of)
the heart.
13 For whether (you
are astonished at our passion thinking) we
are out of our minds, our
enthusiasm is
for God: or whether we seem sound-minded, it is for your sake.
14 For the love of Christ (to
lay down His life for all people) compels
us; because we have concluded this, that if one died for all, then were all
dead (needing to be clothed with life):
15 And that He died for all, so that
they which live should no longer live (laboring)
to (preserve their dying flesh within)
themselves, but (look)
to (the faith that dwelled in the heart of)
Him who died for their (body of)
death and rose again (in immortal flesh
and bone).
16 Wherefore from now on we see no man
after (outward appearances in)
the flesh: yes, though we have seen Christ after the (likeness
of perishable) flesh, yet from now on, we
no longer see Him this way (but a new
creature).
17 Therefore, if any man is in Christ (Jesus
whereby he rests in the certainty of His life),
he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are
become new.
18 And all things are from God (our
Father), who has reconciled us to Himself
by (raising up)
Jesus Christ (from the dead and seating
Him at His right hand, exalting Him in glorified flesh far above the heavens),
and has given to us this ministry of (restoration
and) reconciliation;
19 To know (and
declare), that God (the
Father) was in Christ (on
the cross), reconciling the world to
Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them (but
absorbing their death in Himself); and has
deposited the word of reconciliation (into
our hearts).
20 Now then we are ambassadors for
Christ, as though God (Himself)
did exhort you by us: we implore on Christ's behalf, (that
you) be reconciled to God.
21 For He has made Himself (in
a body that could be) an offering for the
death in our flesh, (In Him)
who never labored to preserve His own life (but
trusted it to the Father), (in
Him whom death had nothing in); so that we
might be fashioned into the righteousness of God in Him (which
is the same likeness of His life and immortality in our flesh, the only life
He ever saw fitting for us, His children).
