The Second Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Corinthians

⭑ Unlocked Literal Bible :: World English Bible Catholic ⭑

- Chapter 5 -

(Romans 8:18–27)

We know that if the earthly dwelling that we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God. It is a house not made by human hands, but an eternal house, in heaven.

For in this tent we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling.

We long for this because by putting it on we will not be found to be naked.

For indeed while we are in this tent, we groan, being burdened. We do not want to be unclothed. Instead, we want to be clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life.

The one who prepared us for this very thing is God, who gave us the Spirit as a pledge of what is to come.

Therefore, always be confident. Be aware that while we are at home in the body, we are away from the Lord.

For we walk by faith, not by sight.

So we have confidence. We would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord.

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

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

Ambassadors for Christ

Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade people. What we are is clearly seen by God. I hope that it is also clear to your conscience.

We are not trying to persuade you again to view us as sincere. Instead, we are giving you a reason to be proud of us, so you may have an answer for those who boast about appearances but not about what is in the heart.

For if we are out of our minds, it is for God. And if we are in our right minds, it is for your sake.

For the love of Christ compels us, because we are certain of this: That one person died for all, and that therefore all have died.

And Christ died for all, so that those who live should live no longer for themselves. Instead, they should live for him who died and was raised.

For this reason, from now on we do not judge anyone according to human standards, even though we once regarded Christ in this way. But now we do not judge anyone in this way any longer.

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old things have passed away. See, they have become new.

All these things are from God. He reconciled us to himself through Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation.

That is, in Christ, God is reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them. He is entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.

So we are appointed as representatives of Christ, as though God were making his appeal through us. We plead with you, for the sake of Christ: “Be reconciled to God!”

He made Christ become the sacrifice for our sin. He is the one who never sinned. He did this so that we might become the righteousness of God in him.

(Romans 8:18–27)

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

For most certainly in this we groan, longing to be clothed with our habitation which is from heaven,

if indeed being clothed, we will not be found naked.

For indeed we who are in this tent do groan, being burdened, not that we desire to be unclothed, but that we desire to be clothed, that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life.

Now he who made us for this very thing is God, who also gave to us the down payment of the Spirit.

Therefore we are always confident and know that while we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord;

for we walk by faith, not by sight.

We are courageous, I say, and are willing rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord.

Therefore also we make it our aim, whether at home or absent, to be well pleasing to him.

For we must all be revealed before the judgment seat of Christ that each one may receive the things in the body according to what he has done, whether good or bad.

Ambassadors for Christ

Knowing therefore the fear of the Lord, we persuade men, but we are revealed to God, and I hope that we are revealed also in your consciences.

For we are not commending ourselves to you again, but speak as giving you occasion of boasting on our behalf, that you may have something to answer those who boast in appearance and not in heart.

For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God. Or if we are of sober mind, it is for you.

For the love of Christ compels us; because we judge thus: that one died for all, therefore all died.

He died for all, that those who live should no longer live to themselves, but to him who for their sakes died and rose again.

Therefore we know no one according to the flesh from now on. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know him so no more.

Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old things have passed away. Behold,(a) all things have become new.

But all things are of God, who reconciled us to himself through Jesus Christ, and gave to us the ministry of reconciliation;

namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself, not reckoning to them their trespasses, and having committed to us the word of reconciliation.

We are therefore ambassadors on behalf of Christ, as though God were entreating by us: we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.

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

Footnotes

(a)5:17 “Behold”, from “ἰδοὺ”, means look at, take notice, observe, see, or gaze at. It is often used as an interjection.