2 Corinthians 5

1 Now we know [are conscious, have spiritual awareness] that if the earthly [of this world, temporal] tent [temporary dwelling, body] we live in is dismantled [destroyed, torn down], we have a building [eternal house, spiritual dwelling] from God [the Creator, our Heavenly Father], an eternal [lasting forever, age-during] house [home, abode] in heaven [the spiritual realm, paradise], not built [constructed, made] by human hands [human effort, ingenuity]. word study 2 For [because of this reason] in this [present earthly life] tent [temporary dwelling] we groan [sigh with deep longing], longing [earnestly desiring, deeply yearning] to be clothed [wrapped, covered] with our heavenly [eternal] dwelling [heavenly home, house from heaven], word study 3 because when we are clothed [with our heavenly bodies, if so be that being clothed], we will not be found [in a state of] naked [spiritual unclothedness, without a body]. word study 4 So while we are in this [temporary dwelling, earthly body] tent, we groan [sigh, feel overwhelmed] under our burdens [weight of care, spiritual struggles], because we do not wish to be [completely separated from, stripped of] unclothed but [fully clothed, wrapped in] clothed, so that our mortality [liability to die, fragile existence] may be swallowed up [completely overcome, engulfed] by life [eternal, spiritual existence]. word study 5 And God [the supreme Creator, Elohim] has prepared [worked out, brought about] us for this very purpose [toward this end, with this intention] and has given [bestowed, granted] us the Spirit [the vital principle, breath of God] as a pledge [guarantee, down payment] of what is to come [the future, what is yet to be]. word study 6 Therefore [then, as a consequence] we are always [at all times, continually] confident [having courage, being bold], although we know [are aware, perceive] that while we are at home [dwelling, residing] in the body [our physical person], we are away [absent, separated] from the Lord [our Master, God]. word study 7 For [as a reason, explaining why] we walk [live, follow] by [through, because of] faith [trust, confidence in God, having trust in God’s power], not [completely denying] by [through, because of] sight [external appearance, what we see]. word study 8 We are confident [having courage, being bold], then, and would prefer [are willing, desire] to be away [absent, separated] from the body [our physical person, earthly tent] and at home [present, dwelling] with the Lord [our Master, God]. word study 9 So we [make it our aim, labor] aspire to please [be well-pleasing, acceptable] Him, whether [if, in any case] we are [dwelling, at home] here in this body [our physical presence] or away [absent, in a distant place] from it [our earthly home]. word study 10 For we must all [as believers, every one of us] appear before the judgment seat [tribunal, place of evaluation] of Christ [the Anointed One, Messiah], that each one may receive his due [what is owed to him, reward or punishment] for the things done in the body [physical person, earthly life], whether [in consideration of] good [beneficial, righteous] or bad [evil, worthless]. word study 11 Therefore, since we know [are aware of, have a deep understanding of] what it means to fear [have a profound reverence for, stand in awe of] the Lord [God, the supreme authority], we try to persuade [convince, appeal to] men [human beings, people]. What we are [our true nature, character] is clear [visible, transparent] to God [the all-knowing, omnipresent One], and I hope [trust, have confidence] it is clear [evident, apparent] to your conscience [moral awareness, inner guide] as well. word study 12 We are not commending [recommending, speaking well of] ourselves to you again [once more, a second time]. Instead, we are giving [bestowing, granting] you an occasion [opportunity, chance] to be proud [to boast, to glory] of us, so that you can answer [respond, reply to] those who take pride [glory, boast] in appearances [outward show, face] rather than [instead of, not in] in the heart [the seat of thoughts, feelings, and emotions]. word study 13 If we are [completely beside ourselves, out of our wit] out of our mind, it is [for the sake of, unto] for God; if we are [of sober mind, sane] of sound mind, it is [for your benefit, on your behalf] for you. word study 14 For Christ’s [agape, unconditional] love [of Christ, the anointed One] compels [constrains, holds] us, because we are convinced [thus judge, have formed an opinion] that One [the single, unique Savior] died [suffered death, was put to death] for all [every person, the whole], therefore [as a result, in consequence] all [every person, the whole] died [have undergone death, are considered dead]. word study 15 And He died [for the sake of all people] for all, that those who live [are spiritually alive] should no longer live [pursue their own interests] for themselves, but for Him [the One who gave His life] who died [sacrificed Himself] for them and was raised [brought back to life] again. word study 16 So from now on [henceforth, from this time forward] we regard [know, perceive] no one [nobody, none] according to the flesh [humanly, physically, as a mere mortal]. Although we once [formerly, in the past] regarded Christ [the Anointed One, Jesus] in this way [after the flesh, as a human being], we do so [know Him, think of Him] no longer [not anymore, no more]. word study 17 Therefore if anyone [who trusts in Christ] is in Christ [the Anointed One, Messiah], he is a new [renewed, transformed] creation [a new being]. The old [ancient, former] has passed away [gone, disappeared]. Behold [see, perceive], the new [fresh, renewed] has come [arrived, become present]! word study 18 All this [everything, the whole situation] is from God [the supreme Deity, Creator], who reconciled [made peace with, changed from enmity to friendship] us to Himself [into a state of harmony with Him] through [by means of, because of] Christ [the Anointed One, Jesus] and gave [bestowed, granted] us the ministry [service, work] of reconciliation [restoring a relationship, making peace]: word study 19 that God [the supreme deity, Creator of all] was reconciling [restoring to a state of friendship, making peace] the world [all humanity, the cosmos] to Himself [into a personal relationship with Him] in Christ [the Anointed One, Messiah], not counting [imputing, reckoning] men’s trespasses [sins, offenses] against them [to their account]. And He has committed [entrusted, placed] to us the message [word, proclamation] of reconciliation [restoration, atonement, being made right with God]. word study 20 Therefore we are ambassadors [representatives, messengers] for Christ [the Anointed One, Messiah], as though God [the Supreme Deity, Creator] were making His appeal [pleading, entreating] through us. We implore [beg, pray] you on behalf of Christ [as His emissaries]: Be reconciled [restored, made friends] to God [the Almighty, Heavenly Father]. word study 21 God [the supreme Deity, Creator of all] made Him who knew [was aware of, had knowledge of] no sin [missing the mark, falling short of God’s standards] to be sin [a sin offering, punished for our sins] on our behalf [for our benefit, in our place], so that in Him [through His sacrifice, by faith in Him] we might become [be transformed into, have the character of] the righteousness [justness, uprightness, having God’s nature] of God [the one true deity, our heavenly Father]. word study