天上的房屋
1我们知道，我们的身体好比是地上的帐篷，如果毁坏了，我们就从上帝那里得到一个住处，不是人手造的，而是天上永恒的“房屋”。 2我们在这地上的“帐篷”里叹息，渴望早日迁进那天上的“房屋”，好像更换衣服一样。 3我们一旦穿上新衣，就不会赤身露体了。 4我们在这“帐篷”里劳苦叹息，并非想脱去这地上的身体，而是切望能穿上那天上的新身体，让永恒的生命吞灭必朽的身体。 5是上帝为此目的预备了我们，并赐给了我们圣灵作担保。
6所以，我们总是坦然无惧，尽管知道住在肉身之内便无法与主在一起。 7因为我们行事为人，是凭对上帝的信心，不是凭眼见。 8是的，我们坦然无惧，甚至更乐意离开身体，回到天家与主相聚。 9因此，我们立定心志，无论是住在肉身之内还是离开肉身，都要取悦主。 10因为我们所有的人都要出现在基督的审判台前，好按照各人在肉身之时所行的善恶接受赏罚。
劝人与上帝和好
11我们知道主是当受敬畏的，所以劝人归信祂。我们的内心如何，上帝知道，我盼望你们的良心也知道。 12我们不是称赞自己，而是让你们有机会以我们为荣，叫你们可以反驳那些只贪图外表虚荣、不注重内在实质的人。 13如果我们疯狂，那是为了上帝；如果我们清醒，那是为了你们。 14因为基督的爱激励我们，因为我们确信：基督一人既代替所有的人死了，所有的人就都死了。 15祂为众人死，是要叫那些活着的人不再为自己活，而是要为替他们死而复活的基督活。
16从今以后，我们不再以貌取人了，虽然我们曾这样看待基督，现在却不再这样看待祂了。 17若有人在基督里，他就是新造的人，旧事已过，看啊，一切都更新了。 18这一切都是上帝的作为，祂借着基督使我们与祂和好，又把劝人与祂和好的职分赐给了我们。 19也就是说，上帝在基督里使世人与自己和好，不再追究他们的过犯。祂已托付我们去传扬这和好之道。 20所以我们现在是基督的大使，可以说上帝正借着我们发出呼求。我们替基督恳求你们：要与上帝和好！ 21上帝使无罪的基督担当我们的罪，使我们可以借着基督成为被上帝接纳的义人。
1For 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. 2For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven: 3If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked. 4For 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. 5Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit. 6Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: 7(For we walk by faith, not by sight:) 8We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. 9Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him. 10For 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.
11Knowing 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. 12For 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. 13For whether we be beside ourselves, it is to God: or whether we be sober, it is for your cause. 14For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: 15And 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. 16Wherefore 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. 17Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 18And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; 19To 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. 20Now 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. 21For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
