New Living Translation

English Standard Version

New Bodies

For we know that when this earthly tent we live in is taken down (that is, when we die and leave this earthly body), we will have a house in heaven, an eternal body made for us by God himself and not by human hands.

1

Our Heavenly Dwelling

For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

2

We grow weary in our present bodies, and we long to put on our heavenly bodies like new clothing.

2

For in this tent we groan, longing to put on our heavenly dwelling,

3

For we will put on heavenly bodies; we will not be spirits without bodies.a

3

if indeed by putting it ona we may not be found naked.

4

While we live in these earthly bodies, we groan and sigh, but it’s not that we want to die and get rid of these bodies that clothe us. Rather, we want to put on our new bodies so that these dying bodies will be swallowed up by life.

4

For 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 may be swallowed up by life.

5

God himself has prepared us for this, and as a guarantee he has given us his Holy Spirit.

5

He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.

6

So we are always confident, even though we know that as long as we live in these bodies we are not at home with the Lord.

6

So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord,

7

For we live by believing and not by seeing.

7

for we walk by faith, not by sight.

8

Yes, we are fully confident, and we would rather be away from these earthly bodies, for then we will be at home with the Lord.

8

Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord.

9

So whether we are here in this body or away from this body, our goal is to please him.

9

So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him.

10

For we must all stand before Christ to be judged. We will each receive whatever we deserve for the good or evil we have done in this earthly body.

10

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.

11

We Are God’s Ambassadors

Because we understand our fearful responsibility to the Lord, we work hard to persuade others. God knows we are sincere, and I hope you know this, too.

11

The Ministry of Reconciliation

Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade others. But what we are is known to God, and I hope it is known also to your conscience.

12

Are we commending ourselves to you again? No, we are giving you a reason to be proud of us,b so you can answer those who brag about having a spectacular ministry rather than having a sincere heart.

12

We are not commending ourselves to you again but giving 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.

13

If it seems we are crazy, it is to bring glory to God. And if we are in our right minds, it is for your benefit.

13

For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you.

14

Either way, Christ’s love controls us.c Since we believe that Christ died for all, we also believe that we have all died to our old life.d

14

For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died;

15

He died for everyone so that those who receive his new life will no longer live for themselves. Instead, they will live for Christ, who died and was raised for them.

15

and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.

16

So we have stopped evaluating others from a human point of view. At one time we thought of Christ merely from a human point of view. How differently we know him now!

16

From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer.

17

This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!

17

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.b The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

18

And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him.

18

All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation;

19

For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation.

19

that is, in Christ God was reconcilingc the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.

20

So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!”

20

Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.

21

For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin,e so that we could be made right with God through Christ.

21

For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Parallel

New Living Translation

English Standard Version

2 Corinthians 5

2 Corinthians 5