1 For we know that if 1Lit our earthly house of the tentthe AJob 4:19; 1 Cor 15:47; 2 Cor 4:7earthly B2 Pet 1:13ftent which is our house is torn down, we have a building from God, a house CMark 14:58; Acts 7:48; Heb 9:11, 24not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2 For indeed in this house we ARom 8:23; 2 Cor 5:4groan, longing to be B1 Cor 15:53f; 2 Cor 5:4clothed with our dwelling from heaven, 3 inasmuch as we, having put it on, will not be found naked. 4 For indeed while we are in this tent, we A2 Cor 5:2groan, being burdened, because we do not want to be unclothed but to be B1 Cor 15:53f; 2 Cor 5:2clothed, so that what is C1 Cor 15:54mortal will be swallowed up by life. 5 Now He who prepared us for this very purpose is God, who ARom 8:23; 2 Cor 1:22gave to us the Spirit as a 1Or down paymentpledge.

6 Therefore, being always of good courage, and knowing that AHeb 11:13fwhile we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord— 7 for A1 Cor 13:12; 2 Cor 4:18we walk by faith, not by 1Or appearancesight— 8 we are of good courage, I say, and APhil 1:23prefer rather to be absent from the body and BJohn 12:26; Phil 1:23to be at home with the Lord. 9 Therefore we also have as our ambition, whether at home or absent, to be ARom 14:18; Col 1:10; 1 Thess 4:1pleasing to Him. 10 For we must all appear before AMatt 16:27; Acts 10:42; Rom 2:16; 14:10, 12; Eph 6:8the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for 1Lit the things through the bodyhis deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.

11 Therefore, knowing the AHeb 10:31; 12:29; Jude 23fear of the Lord, we persuade men, but we are made manifest to God; and I hope that we are B2 Cor 4:2made manifest also in your consciences. 12 We are not A2 Cor 3:1again commending ourselves to you but are giving you an B2 Cor 1:14; Phil 1:26occasion to be proud of us, so that you will have an answer for those who take pride in appearance and not in heart. 13 For if we 1Lit wereare AMark 3:21; 2 Cor 11:1, 16ff; 12:11beside ourselves, it is for God; if we are of sound mind, it is for you. 14 For the love of Christ AActs 18:5controls us, having concluded this, that BRom 5:15; 6:6f; Gal 2:20; Col 3:3one died for all, therefore all died; 15 and He died for all, so that they who live might no longer ARom 14:7-9live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf.

16 Therefore from now on we recognize no one 1I.e. by what he is in the fleshAJohn 8:15; 2 Cor 11:18; Phil 3:4according to the flesh; even though we have known Christ 1I.e. by what he is in the fleshaccording to the flesh, yet now we know Him in this way no longer. 17 Therefore if anyone is ARom 16:7in Christ, 1Or there is a new creationhe is BJohn 3:3; Rom 6:4; Gal 6:15a new creature; CIs 43:18f; 65:17; Eph 4:24; Rev 21:4fthe old things passed away; behold, new things have come. 18 Now A1 Cor 11:12all these things are from God, BRom 5:10; Col 1:20who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the C1 Cor 3:5ministry of reconciliation, 19 namely, that ACol 2:9God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, BRom 4:8; 1 Cor 13:5not counting their trespasses against them, and 1Lit havingHe has 2Lit placed in uscommitted to us the word of reconciliation.

20 Therefore, we are AMal 2:7; Eph 6:20ambassadors for Christ, B2 Cor 6:1as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be CRom 5:10; Col 1:20reconciled to God. 21 He made Him who AActs 3:14; Heb 4:15; 7:26; 1 Pet 2:22; 1 John 3:5knew no sin to be BRom 3:25; 4:25; 8:3; Gal 3:13sin on our behalf, so that we might become the CRom 1:17; 3:21f; 1 Cor 1:30righteousness of God in Him.