1 O ur body is like a house we live in here on earth. When it is destroyed, we know that God has another body for us in heaven. The new one will not be made by human hands as a house is made. This body will last forever.

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 R ight now we cry inside ourselves because we wish we could have our new body which we will have in heaven.

For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven:

3 W e will not be without a body. We will live in a new body.

If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked.

4 W hile we are in this body, we cry inside ourselves because things are hard for us. It is not that we want to die. Instead, we want to live in our new bodies. We want this dying body to be changed into a living body that lasts forever.

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 I t is God Who has made us ready for this change. He has given us His Spirit to show us what He has for us.

Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit.

6 W e are sure of this. We know that while we are at home in this body we are not with the Lord.

Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord:

7 O ur life is lived by faith. We do not live by what we see in front of us.

(For we walk by faith, not by sight:)

8 W e are sure we will be glad to be free of these bodies. It will be good to be at home with the Lord.

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

9 S o if we stay here on earth or go home to Him, we always want to please Him.

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

10 F or all of us must stand before Christ when He says who is guilty or not guilty. Each one will receive pay for what he has done. He will be paid for the good or the bad done while he lived in this body.

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 B ecause of this, we know the fear of God. So we try to get men to put their trust in Christ. God knows us. I hope that your hearts know me well also.

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 W e do not want to sound as if we think we are so important. Instead, we are making it easy for you to be proud of us. In that way, you will be able to tell them about us. They always talk about the way people look, but do not care about their hearts.

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 A re we crazy to talk like this? It is all because of what God has done. If we are using our minds well, it is for you.

For whether we be beside ourselves, it is to God: or whether we be sober, it is for your cause.

14 F or the love of Christ puts us into action. We are sure that Christ died for everyone. So, because of that, everyone has a part in His death.

For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:

15 C hrist died for everyone so that they would live for Him. They should not live to please themselves but for Christ Who died on a cross and was raised from the dead for them.

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 S o from now on, we do not think about what people are like by looking at them. We even thought about Christ that way one time. But we do not think of Him that way anymore.

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 F or if a man belongs to Christ, he is a new person. The old life is gone. New life has begun.

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

18 A ll this comes from God. He is the One Who brought us to Himself when we hated Him. He did this through Christ. Then He gave us the work of bringing others to Him.

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 G od was in Christ. He was working through Christ to bring the whole world back to Himself. God no longer held men’s sins against them. And He gave us the work of telling and showing men this.

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 W e are Christ’s missionaries. God is speaking to you through us. We are speaking for Christ and we ask you from our hearts to turn from your sins and come to God.

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 C hrist never sinned but God put our sin on Him. Then we are made right with God because of what Christ has done for us.

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.