2 Corinthians 5 – NIV & CCBT

New International Version

2 Corinthians 5:1-21

Awaiting the New Body

1For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. 2Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, 3because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. 4For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. 5Now the one who has fashioned us for this very purpose is God, who has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.

6Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. 7For we live by faith, not by sight. 8We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. 9So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it. 10For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.

The Ministry of Reconciliation

11Since, then, we know what it is to fear the Lord, we try to persuade others. What we are is plain to God, and I hope it is also plain to your conscience. 12We are not trying to commend ourselves to you again, but are giving you an opportunity to take pride in us, so that you can answer those who take pride in what is seen rather than in what is in the heart. 13If we are “out of our mind,” as some say, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. 14For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. 15And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.

16So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. 17Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come:5:17 Or Christ, that person is a new creation. The old has gone, the new is here! 18All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 20We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. 21God made him who had no sin to be sin5:21 Or be a sin offering for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Chinese Contemporary Bible (Traditional)

哥林多後書 5:1-21

天上的房屋

1我們知道,我們的身體好比是地上的帳篷,如果毀壞了,我們就從上帝那裡得到一個住處,不是人手造的,而是天上永恆的「房屋」。 2我們在這地上的「帳篷」裡歎息,渴望早日遷進那天上的「房屋」,好像更換衣服一樣。 3我們一旦穿上新衣,就不會赤身露體了。 4我們在這「帳篷」裡勞苦歎息,並非想脫去這地上的身體,而是切望能穿上那天上的新身體,讓永恆的生命吞滅必朽的身體。 5是上帝為此目的預備了我們,並賜給了我們聖靈作擔保。

6所以,我們總是坦然無懼,儘管知道住在肉身之內便無法與主在一起。 7因為我們行事為人,是憑對上帝的信心,不是憑眼見。 8是的,我們坦然無懼,甚至更樂意離開身體,回到天家與主相聚。 9因此,我們立定心志,無論是住在肉身之內還是離開肉身,都要取悅主。 10因為我們所有的人都要出現在基督的審判台前,好按照各人在肉身之時所行的善惡接受賞罰。

勸人與上帝和好

11我們知道主是當受敬畏的,所以勸人歸信祂。我們的內心如何,上帝知道,我盼望你們的良心也知道。 12我們不是稱讚自己,而是讓你們有機會以我們為榮,叫你們可以反駁那些只貪圖外表虛榮、不注重內在實質的人。 13如果我們瘋狂,那是為了上帝;如果我們清醒,那是為了你們。 14因為基督的愛激勵我們,因為我們確信:基督一人既代替所有的人死了,所有的人就都死了。 15祂為眾人死,是要叫那些活著的人不再為自己活,而是要為替他們死而復活的基督活。

16從今以後,我們不再以貌取人了,雖然我們曾這樣看待基督,現在卻不再這樣看待祂了。 17若有人在基督裡,他就是新造的人,舊事已過,看啊,一切都更新了。 18這一切都是上帝的作為,祂藉著基督使我們與祂和好,又把勸人與祂和好的職分賜給了我們。 19也就是說,上帝在基督裡使世人與自己和好,不再追究他們的過犯。祂已託付我們去傳揚這和好之道。 20所以我們現在是基督的大使,可以說上帝正藉著我們發出呼求。我們替基督懇求你們:要與上帝和好! 21上帝使無罪的基督擔當我們的罪,使我們可以藉著基督成為被上帝接納的義人。