Our Eternal Dwelling
(Romans 8:18–27)

1  Οἴδαμεν (We know) γὰρ (for) ὅτι (that) ἐὰν (if) ἡ (-) ἐπίγειος (earthly) ἡμῶν (of us) οἰκία (house) τοῦ (the) σκήνους (tent) καταλυθῇ (should be torn down), οἰκοδομὴν (a building) ἐκ (from) Θεοῦ (God) ἔχομεν (we have), οἰκίαν (a house) ἀχειροποίητον (not made with hands) αἰώνιον (eternal) ἐν (in) τοῖς (the) οὐρανοῖς (heavens). 2  καὶ (Also) γὰρ (for) ἐν (in) τούτῳ (this) στενάζομεν (we groan), τὸ (the) οἰκητήριον (dwelling) ἡμῶν (of us) τὸ (that is) ἐξ (from) οὐρανοῦ (heaven) ἐπενδύσασθαι (to be clothed with) ἐπιποθοῦντες (longing), 3  εἴ (If) γε (indeed) καὶ (also) ἐνδυσάμενοι (having been clothed) οὐ (not) γυμνοὶ (naked) εὑρεθησόμεθα (we will be found). 4  καὶ (indeed) γὰρ (for) οἱ (-) ὄντες (being) ἐν (in) τῷ (the) σκήνει (tent) στενάζομεν (we groan) βαρούμενοι (being burdened) ἐφ’ (because) ᾧ (that) οὐ (not) θέλομεν (we wish) ἐκδύσασθαι (to be unclothed) ἀλλ’ (but) ἐπενδύσασθαι (to be clothed), ἵνα (so that) καταποθῇ (should be swallowed up) τὸ (the) θνητὸν (mortal) ὑπὸ (by) τῆς (-) ζωῆς (life).

5  ὁ (The One) δὲ (now) κατεργασάμενος (having prepared) ἡμᾶς (us) εἰς (for) αὐτὸ (the very thing) τοῦτο (this) Θεός (is God), ὁ (the One) δοὺς (having given) ἡμῖν (to us) τὸν (the) ἀρραβῶνα (pledge) τοῦ (of the) Πνεύματος (Spirit). 6  Θαρροῦντες (being confident) οὖν (then) πάντοτε (always) καὶ (and) εἰδότες (knowing) ὅτι (that) ἐνδημοῦντες (being at home) ἐν (in) τῷ (the) σώματι (body) ἐκδημοῦμεν (we are away) ἀπὸ (from) τοῦ (the) Κυρίου (Lord)· 7  διὰ (by) πίστεως (faith) γὰρ (for) περιπατοῦμεν (we walk), οὐ (not) διὰ (by) εἴδους (sight)· 8  Θαρροῦμεν (We are confident) δὲ (now) καὶ (and) εὐδοκοῦμεν (we are well pleased) μᾶλλον (rather) ἐκδημῆσαι (to be away) ἐκ (out of) τοῦ (the) σώματος (body) καὶ (and) ἐνδημῆσαι (to be at home) πρὸς (with) τὸν (the) Κύριον (Lord). 9  διὸ (Therefore) καὶ (also) φιλοτιμούμεθα (we strive earnestly), εἴτε (whether) ἐνδημοῦντες (being at home) εἴτε (or) ἐκδημοῦντες (being away), εὐάρεστοι (well-pleasing) αὐτῷ (to Him) εἶναι (to be). 10  τοὺς (-) γὰρ (For) πάντας (all) ἡμᾶς (of us) φανερωθῆναι (to appear) δεῖ (it is necessary) ἔμπροσθεν (before) τοῦ (the) βήματος (judgment seat) τοῦ (-) Χριστοῦ (of Christ), ἵνα (so that) κομίσηται (may receive back) ἕκαστος (each) τὰ (the things done) διὰ (through) τοῦ (the) σώματος (body) πρὸς (according to) ἃ (what) ἔπραξεν (he did), εἴτε (whether) ἀγαθὸν (good) εἴτε (or) φαῦλον (evil).

Ambassadors for Christ

11  Εἰδότες (Knowing) οὖν (therefore) τὸν (the) φόβον (fear) τοῦ (of the) Κυρίου (Lord) ἀνθρώπους (men) πείθομεν (we persuade), Θεῷ (to God) δὲ (and) πεφανερώμεθα (we have been made manifest)· ἐλπίζω (I hope) δὲ (now) καὶ (also) ἐν (in) ταῖς (the) συνειδήσεσιν (consciences) ὑμῶν (of you⁺) πεφανερῶσθαι (to have been made manifest). 12  οὐ (Not) πάλιν (again) ἑαυτοὺς (ourselves) συνιστάνομεν (we commend) ὑμῖν (to you⁺), ἀλλὰ (but) ἀφορμὴν (occasion) διδόντες (are giving) ὑμῖν (to you⁺) καυχήματος (of boasting) ὑπὲρ (on behalf of) ἡμῶν (us), ἵνα (so that) ἔχητε (you⁺ may have something) πρὸς (toward) τοὺς (those) ἐν (in) προσώπῳ (appearance) καυχωμένους (boasting) καὶ (and) μὴ (not) ἐν (in) καρδίᾳ (heart).

13  Εἴτε (If) γὰρ (for) ἐξέστημεν (we were beside ourselves), Θεῷ (it is to God)· εἴτε (or if) σωφρονοῦμεν (we are sound-minded), ὑμῖν (it is for you⁺). 14  ἡ (The) γὰρ (for) ἀγάπη (love) τοῦ (-) Χριστοῦ (of Christ) συνέχει (compels) ἡμᾶς (us), κρίναντας (having judged) τοῦτο (this), ὅτι (that) εἷς (One) ὑπὲρ (for) πάντων (all) ἀπέθανεν (died)· ἄρα (therefore) οἱ (-) πάντες (all) ἀπέθανον (died)· 15  καὶ (And) ὑπὲρ (for) πάντων (all) ἀπέθανεν (He died) ἵνα (that) οἱ (those) ζῶντες (living) μηκέτι (no longer) ἑαυτοῖς (to themselves) ζῶσιν (should live) ἀλλὰ (but) τῷ (to the One) ὑπὲρ (for) αὐτῶν (them) ἀποθανόντι (having died) καὶ (and) ἐγερθέντι (having been raised again).

16  Ὥστε (Therefore) ἡμεῖς (we) ἀπὸ (from) τοῦ (-) νῦν (now) οὐδένα (no one) οἴδαμεν (know) κατὰ (according to) σάρκα (the flesh)· εἰ (Though) καὶ (even) ἐγνώκαμεν (we have known) κατὰ (according to) σάρκα (the flesh) Χριστόν (Christ), ἀλλὰ (yet) νῦν (now) οὐκέτι (no longer) γινώσκομεν (we know Him thus). 17  ὥστε (Therefore) εἴ (if) τις (anyone) ἐν (is in) Χριστῷ (Christ), καινὴ (he is a new) κτίσις (creation)· τὰ (The) ἀρχαῖα (old things) παρῆλθεν (passed away), ἰδοὺ (behold) γέγονεν (have come into being) καινά (the new things).

18  Τὰ (-) δὲ (And) πάντα (all things) ἐκ (are of) τοῦ (-) Θεοῦ (God) τοῦ (the One) καταλλάξαντος (having reconciled) ἡμᾶς (us) ἑαυτῷ (to Himself) διὰ (through) Χριστοῦ (Christ) καὶ (and) δόντος (having given) ἡμῖν (to us) τὴν (the) διακονίαν (ministry) τῆς (-) καταλλαγῆς (of reconciliation), 19  ὡς (how) ὅτι (that) Θεὸς (God) ἦν (was) ἐν (in) Χριστῷ (Christ) κόσμον (the world) καταλλάσσων (reconciling) ἑαυτῷ (to Himself), μὴ (not) λογιζόμενος (reckoning) αὐτοῖς (to them) τὰ (the) παραπτώματα (trespasses) αὐτῶν (of them), καὶ (and) θέμενος (having put) ἐν (into) ἡμῖν (us) τὸν (the) λόγον (word) τῆς (-) καταλλαγῆς (of reconciliation).

20  Ὑπὲρ (For) Χριστοῦ (Christ) οὖν (therefore) πρεσβεύομεν (we are ambassadors) ὡς (as though) τοῦ (-) Θεοῦ (God) παρακαλοῦντος (is appealing) δι’ (through) ἡμῶν (us)· δεόμεθα (We implore) ὑπὲρ (on behalf) Χριστοῦ (of Christ), καταλλάγητε (Be reconciled) τῷ (-) Θεῷ (to God). 21  τὸν (The One) μὴ (not) γνόντα (having known) ἁμαρτίαν (sin) ὑπὲρ (for) ἡμῶν (us) ἁμαρτίαν (sin) ἐποίησεν (He made), ἵνα (so that) ἡμεῖς (we) γενώμεθα (might become) δικαιοσύνη (the righteousness) Θεοῦ (of God) ἐν (in) αὐτῷ (Him).