Study Desk

For we know that if ^[a]the ^(a)earthly ^(b)tent which is our house is torn down, we have a building from God, a house ^(c)not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

For indeed in this house we ^(d)groan, longing to be ^(e)clothed with our dwelling from heaven,

inasmuch as we, having put it on, will not be found naked.

For indeed while we are in this tent, we ^(f)groan, being burdened, because we do not want to be unclothed but to be ^(g)clothed, so that what is ^(h)mortal will be swallowed up by life.

Now He who prepared us for this very purpose is God, who ⁽ⁱ⁾gave to us the Spirit as a ^[b]pledge.

Therefore, being always of good courage, and knowing that ^(j)while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord—

for ^(k)we walk by faith, not by ^[c]sight—

we are of good courage, I say, and ^(l)prefer rather to be absent from the body and ^(m)to be at home with the Lord.

Therefore we also have as our ambition, whether at home or absent, to be ⁽ⁿ⁾pleasing to Him.

For we must all appear before ^(o)the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for ^[d]his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.

Therefore, knowing the ^(p)fear of the Lord, we persuade men, but we are made manifest to God; and I hope that we are ^(q)made manifest also in your consciences.

We are not ^(r)again commending ourselves to you but are giving you an ^(s)occasion to be proud of us, so that you will have an answer for those who take pride in appearance and not in heart.

For if we ^[e]are ^(t)beside ourselves, it is for God; if we are of sound mind, it is for you.

For the love of Christ ^(u)controls us, having concluded this, that ^(v)one died for all, therefore all died;

and He died for all, so that they who live might no longer ^(w)live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf.

Therefore from now on we recognize no one ^[f](x)according to the flesh; even though we have known Christ ^[g]according to the flesh, yet now we know Him in this way no longer.

Therefore if anyone is ^(y)in Christ, ^[h]he is ^(z)a new creature; ^(aa)the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.

Now ^(ab)all these things are from God, ^(ac)who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ^(ad)ministry of reconciliation,

namely, that ^(ae)God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, ^(af)not counting their trespasses against them, and ^[i]He has ^[j]committed to us the word of reconciliation.

Therefore, we are ^(ag)ambassadors for Christ, ^(ah)as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be ^(ai)reconciled to God.

He made Him who ^(aj)knew no sin to be ^(ak)sin on our behalf, so that we might become the ^(al)righteousness of God in Him.