1 For we know that
if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have
a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in
the heavens.
2 For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon
with our house which is from heaven:
3 If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked.
4 For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened:
not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality
might be swallowed up of life.
5 Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God,
who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit.
6 Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we
are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord:
7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight:)
8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from
the body, and to be present with the Lord.
9 Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may
be accepted of him.
10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ;
that every one may receive the things done in his body, according
to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.
11 Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men;
but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made
manifest in your consciences.
12 For we commend not ourselves again unto you, but give you
occasion to glory on our behalf, that ye may have somewhat to
answer them which glory in appearance, and not in heart.
13 For whether we be beside ourselves, it is to God: or whether
we be sober, it is for your cause.
14 For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge,
that if one died for all, then were all dead:
15 And that he died for all, that they which live should not
henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for
them, and rose again.
16 Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea,
though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth
know we him no more.
17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature:
old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself
by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;
19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto
himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed
unto us the word of reconciliation.
20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did
beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled
to God.
21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that
we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
Chapter 6
1 We then, as workers
together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the
grace of God in vain.
2 (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in
the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the
accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)
3 Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed:
4 But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of
God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses,
5 In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings,
in fastings;
6 By pureness, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness,
by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned,
7 By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of
righteousness on the right hand and on the left,
8 By honour and dishonour, by evil report and good report: as
deceivers, and yet true;
9 As unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and, behold, we
live; as chastened, and not killed;
10 As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many
rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.
11 O ye Corinthians, our mouth is open unto you, our heart is
enlarged.
12 Ye are not straitened in us, but ye are straitened in your
own bowels.
13 Now for a recompence in the same, (I speak as unto my children,)
be ye also enlarged.
14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for
what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and
what communion hath light with darkness?
15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath
he that believeth with an infidel?
16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for
ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will
dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and
they shall be my people.
17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith
the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive
you,
18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and
daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.
Chapter 7
1 Having therefore
these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from
all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness
in the fear of God.
2 Receive us; we have wronged no man, we have corrupted no man,
we have defrauded no man.
3 I speak not this to condemn you: for I have said before, that
ye are in our hearts to die and live with you.
4 Great is my boldness of speech toward you, great is my glorying
of you: I am filled with comfort, I am exceeding joyful in all
our tribulation.
5 For, when we were come into Macedonia, our flesh had no rest,
but we were troubled on every side; without were fightings,
within were fears.
6 Nevertheless God, that comforteth those that are cast down,
comforted us by the coming of Titus;
7 And not by his coming only, but by the consolation wherewith
he was comforted in you, when he told us your earnest desire,
your mourning, your fervent mind toward me; so that I rejoiced
the more.
8 For though I made you sorry with a letter, I do not repent,
though I did repent: for I perceive that the same epistle hath
made you sorry, though it were but for a season.
9 Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed
to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner,
that ye might receive damage by us in nothing.
10 For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be
repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.
11 For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a
godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing
of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what
vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things
ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter.
12 Wherefore, though I wrote unto you, I did it not for his
cause that had done the wrong, nor for his cause that suffered
wrong, but that our care for you in the sight of God might appear
unto you.
13 Therefore we were comforted in your comfort: yea, and exceedingly
the more joyed we for the joy of Titus, because his spirit was
refreshed by you all.
14 For if I have boasted any thing to him of you, I am not ashamed;
but as we spake all things to you in truth, even so our boasting,
which I made before Titus, is found a truth.
15 And his inward affection is more abundant toward you, whilst
he remembereth the obedience of you all, how with fear and trembling
ye received him.
16 I rejoice therefore that I have confidence in you in all
things. |