2 Corinthians

As unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and, behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed;

By honour and dishonour, by evil report and good report: as deceivers, and yet true;

By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,

By pureness, by knowledge, by long suffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned,

In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings;

But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses,

Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed:

(For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)

We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain.

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.

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.

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.

And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;

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

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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.