Our Heavenly Dwelling

¹For we know that if kthe tent that is lour earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, ma house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. ²For in this tent nwe groan, longing to oput on our heavenly dwelling, ³if indeed by putting it on1 we may not be found naked. ⁴For while we are still in this tent, we groan, being burdened—not that we would be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed, so that what is mortal pmay be swallowed up by life. ⁵He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, qwho has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.

⁶So we are always of good courage. We know that rwhile we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, ⁷for swe walk by faith, not tby sight. ⁸Yes, we are of good courage, and we uwould rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. ⁹So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to vplease him. ¹⁰For wwe must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, xso that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.

The Ministry of Reconciliation

¹¹Therefore, knowing ythe fear of the Lord, we persuade others. But zwhat we are is known to God, and I hope it is known also to your conscience. ¹²aWe are not commending ourselves to you again but bgiving you cause to boast about us, so that you may be able to answer those who boast about outward appearance and not about what is in the heart. ¹³For if we care beside ourselves, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. ¹⁴For the love of Christ dcontrols us, because we have concluded this: that eone has died for all, therefore all have died; ¹⁵and he died for all, fthat those who live might no longer live for themselves but gfor him who for their sake died and was raised.

¹⁶From now on, therefore, hwe regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. ¹⁷Therefore, if anyone is iin Christ, he is ja new creation.2 kThe old has passed away; behold, the new has come. ¹⁸All this is from God, lwho through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us mthe ministry of reconciliation; ¹⁹that is, in Christ God was reconciling3 the world to himself, nnot counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us mthe message of reconciliation. ²⁰Therefore, owe are ambassadors for Christ, pGod making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. ²¹qFor our sake he made him to be sin rwho knew no sin, so that in him we might become sthe righteousness of God.

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¹tWorking together with him, then, uwe appeal to you vnot to receive the grace of God in vain. ²For he says,

w“In a favorable time I listened to you,

and in a day of salvation I have helped you.”

Behold, xnow is the yfavorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation. ³We zput no obstacle in anyone's way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry, ⁴but aas servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: bby great endurance, cin afflictions, dhardships, calamities, ⁵ebeatings, imprisonments, friots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger; ⁶gby purity, hknowledge, patience, kindness, ithe Holy Spirit, jgenuine love; ⁷by ktruthful speech, and lthe power of God; with mthe weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left; ⁸through honor and dishonor, nthrough slander and praise. We are treated as impostors, and yet are true; ⁹as unknown, and oyet well known; pas dying, and behold, we live; qas punished, and yet not killed; ¹⁰ras sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; sas poor, yet making many rich; tas having nothing, uyet possessing everything.

¹¹We have spoken freely to you,1 Corinthians; vour heart is wide open. ¹²You are not restricted by us, but wyou are restricted in your own affections. ¹³xIn return (I speak yas to children) widen your hearts also.

The Temple of the Living God

¹⁴zDo not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For awhat partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or bwhat fellowship has light with darkness? ¹⁵cWhat accord has Christ with Belial?2 Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever? ¹⁶What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For dwe are the temple of the living God; as God said,

e“I will make my dwelling among them and fwalk among them,

and gI will be their God,

and they shall be my people.

¹⁷Therefore hgo out from their midst,

and be separate from them, says the Lord,

and touch no unclean thing;

then I will welcome you,

¹⁸iand I will be a father to you,

and you shall be sons and daughters to me,

says the Lord Almighty.”

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