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.

1For we know, that if our earthly house of this Tabernacle were dissolued, wee haue a building of God, an house not made with hand, eternall in the heauens.

2For in this we grone earnestly, desiring to be clothed vpō with our house, which is from heauen.

3If so be that being clothed we shal not be found naked.

4For, we that are in this tabernacle, doe grone, being burdened, not for that wee would bee vnclothed, but clothed vpon, that mortalitie might bee swallowed vp of life.

5Now he þt hath wrought vs for the selfe same thing, is God, who also hath giuen vnto vs the earnest of the spirit.

6Therefore we are alwayes confident, knowing that whilest wee are at home in the body, wee are absent from the Lord.

7(For we walke by faith, not by sight.)

8We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.

9Wherefore we labour, that whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him.

10For we must all appeare before the iudgement seat of Christ, that euery one may receiue the things done in his body, according to that hee hath done, whether it be good or bad.

11Knowing therefore the terrour of the Lord, we perswade men; but we are made manifest vnto God, & I trust also, are made manifest in your consciences.

12For we commend not our selues againe vnto you, but giue you occasion to glory on our behalfe, that you may haue somewhat to answere them, which glory in appearance, and not in heart.

13For whether wee bee besides our selues, it is to God: or whether we bee sober, it is for your cause.

14For the loue of Christ constreineth vs, because wee thus iudge: that if one died for all, then were all dead:

15And that he died for all, that they which liue, should not hencefoorth liue vnto themselues, but vnto him which died for them, and rose againe.

16Wherefore hencefoorth know we no man, after the flesh: yea, though we haue knowen Christ after the flesh, yet now hencefoorth knowe wee him no more.

17Therfore if any man be in Christ, hee is a new creature: old things are past away, behold, al things are become new.

18And all things are of God, who hath reconciled vs to himselfe by Iesus Christ, and hath giuen to vs the ministery of reconciliation,

19To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world vnto himselfe, not imputing their trespasses vnto them, and hath committed vnto vs the word of reconciliation.

20Now then we are Ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by vs; we pray you in Christs stead, that be ye reconciled to God.

21For he hath made him to be sinne for vs, who knewe no sinne, that wee might bee made the righteousnesse of God in him.

5:10==MT 16:27

5:12==2nd COR 3:1

5:14==ROM 5:15 6:6-7

5:17==ROM 16:7 GAL 6:15

5:18==1st COR 11:12 COL 1:20 ROM 5:10

5:20==EPH 6:20

5:21==HEB 4:15 7:25 1st PETER 2:22 1stJN 3:5

 

1 For we know that if our earthly dwelling, a tent, should be destroyed, we have a building from God, a dwelling not made with hands, eternal in heaven. 2 For in this tent we groan, longing to be further clothed with our heavenly habitation 3 if indeed, when we have taken it off, we shall not be found naked. 4 For while we are in this tent we groan and are weighed down, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. 5 Now the one who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a first installment. 6 So we are always courageous, although we know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, 7 for we walk by faith, not by sight. 8 Yet we are courageous, and we would rather leave the body and go home to the Lord. 9 Therefore, we aspire to please him, whether we are at home or away. 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive recompense, according to what he did in the body, whether good or evil. 11 Therefore, since we know the fear of the Lord, we try to persuade others; but we are clearly apparent to God, and I hope we are also apparent to your consciousness. 12 We are not commending ourselves to you again but giving you an opportunity to boast of us, so that you may have something to say to those who boast of external appearance rather than of the heart. 13 For if we are out of our minds, it is for God; if we are rational, it is for you. 14 For the love of Christ impels us, once we have come to the conviction that one died for all; therefore, all have died. 15 He indeed died for all, so that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised. 16 Consequently, from now on we regard no one according to the flesh; even if we once knew Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know him so no longer. 17 So whoever is in Christ is a new creation: the old things have passed away; behold, new things have come. 18 And all this is from God, who has reconciled us to himself through Christ and given us the ministry of reconciliation, 19 namely, God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting their trespasses against them and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. 20 So we are ambassadors for Christ, as if God were appealing through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 21 For our sake he made him to be sin who did not know sin, so that we might become the righteousness of God in him.

v1-4. The thought of chapter four continues with the matter of eternal things. The resurrection was a problem to Corinthian Christians. We know we will die, but as 1 Cor. 15:44, we will be raised a spiritual body. Our desire is not to be stripped of our earthly body, but to receive the glorified heavenly body. If we die before the Rapture, our souls are immediately with the Lord, but we have to wait to be clothed with our new body, see following verses.
v5-9. The earnest, or down payment of the Spirit is the sample and guarantee of all of God’s promises. While we are not physically with the Lord in this body, we have the faith and indeed would find it better for ourselves personally to leave this body and be present with the Lord. But we would lose our service to others, Phil. 1:24. We should make it our aim in either case to be acceptable to God.
v10. The judgment seat of Christ occurs at, Rev. 22:12, or immediately after the return of Christ in the air for His Church. It involves a believers works, not his sins, which are remembered no more, Heb. 10:17. It results in reward or loss of reward, but never loss of salvation. Bad here is useless, not as it ought to be.
11.  The coming judgment mentioned motivated Paul and probably Timothy and Titus to witness.
12. Some others were seeking self acclaim and were teaching deceptively.
v13. Both Paul’s zeal and moderation was because of dedication to God.  
v14-16.  Christ demonstrated His love on the cross, we demonstrate our love by our compulsion to witness of Him. Believers are counted to have died with Christ, and since we are raised in Him, we should live for Him, and not after the flesh, the standards of the world.
v17.  At salvation we become a new, fresh, unspoiled creation. We receive a new nature and are not bound a slave to sin. But the old nature still remains to be avoided and overcome through Christ. It does not pass away by the power of self-will.
v18-21.  The way we were reconciled to God was by the guiltless Christ becoming sin for us. Our sins were imputed onto Him and in Christ we are accounted righteous. God has given us the responsibility as ambassadors, His representatives to announce to others how to be reconciled to God. The importance of reconciliation is shown by persuade v11, constrain v14, committed v19, beseech and beg or pray v20.