1 For we know that if Job 4:19our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, a house not made with hand, eternal in the heavens.
2 For in this Rom. 8:23we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven:
3 If so be that Rev. 3:18being 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 1 Cor. 15:53clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life.
5 Now Is. 29:23;Eph. 2:10he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also Rom. 8:23;Eph. 1:14hath 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 Rom. 8:24;Heb. 11:1we walk by faith, not by sight:)
8 We are confident, I say, and Phil. 1:23willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.
9 A reconciling ministry
9 Wherefore we [a]labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him.
10 Rom. 14:10For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; Gal. 6:7;Eph. 6:8;Rev. 22:12that 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 Heb. 10:31;Jude 23the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but ch. 4:2we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences.
12 For ch. 3:1we commend not ourselves again unto you, but give you occasion ch. 1:14to glory on our behalf, that you may have somewhat to answer them which glory [b]in appearance, and not in heart.
13 For ch. 11:1,16whether we be besides 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 Rom. 5:15if one died for all, then were all dead:
15 And that he died for all, Rom. 6:11;1 Cor. 6:19;Gal. 2:20that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.
16 Mat. 12:50;Col. 3:11Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, John 6:63yet now henceforth know we him no more.
17 Therefore if any man Rom. 8:9be in Christ, [c]he is Gal. 5:6a new creature: Is. 65:17;Eph. 2:15;Rev. 21:5old things are past away; behold, all things are become new.
18 And all things are of God, Rom. 5:10;Eph. 2:16;Col. 1:20who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;
19 To wit, that Rom. 3:24God was in Christ reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath [d]committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
20 Now then we are Job 33:23;Mal. 2:7;Eph. 6:20ambassadors for Christ, as ch. 6:1though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.
21 For Is. 53:6,9;Gal. 3:13;1 Pet. 2:22;1 John 3:5he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made Rom. 1:17;& 10:3the righteousness of God in him.
22 A suffering ministry
