Chapter 5

For we know that if the earthly house in which we dwell be destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made by human hands, eternal in the heavens.

And indeed, in this present state we groan, yearning to be clothed over with that dwelling of ours which is from heaven;

if indeed we shall be found clothed, and not naked.

For we who are in this tent sigh under our burden, because we do not wish to be unclothed, but rather clothed over, that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life.

Now he who made us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as its pledge.

Always full of courage, then, and knowing that while we are in the body we are exiled from the Lord---

for we walk by faith and not by sight---

we even have the courage to prefer to be exiled from the body and to be at home with the Lord.

And therefore we strive, whether in the body or out of it, to be pleasing to him.

For all of us must be made manifest before the tribunal of Christ, so that each one may receive what he has won through the body, according to his works, whether good or evil. His Labor for God and Souls

Knowing therefore the fear of the Lord, we try to persuade men; but to God we are manifest. And I hope also that in your consciences we are manifest.

We are not again commending ourselves to you; but we are giving you occasion to boast about us, that you may have an answer for them who glory in appearances and not in heart.

For if we were out of our mind, it was for God; if we are sane, it is for you.

For the love of Christ impels us, because we have come to the conclusion that, since one died for all, therefore all died;

and that Christ died for all, in order that they who are alive may live no longer for themselves, but for him who died for them and rose again.

So that henceforth we know no one according to the flesh. And even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we known him so no longer.

If then any man is in Christ, he is a new creature: the former things have passed away; behold, they are made new!

But all things are from God, who has reconciled us to himself through Christ and has given to us the ministry of reconciliation.

For God was truly in Christ, reconciling the world to himself by not reckoning against men their sins and by entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Ambassadors of Christ

On behalf of Christ, therefore, we are acting as ambassadors, God, as it were, appealing through us. We exhort you, for Christ's sake, be reconciled to God.

For our sakes he made him to be sin who knew nothing of sin, so that in him we might become the justice of God.