2 Corinthians 5:1-15 ▼

1 For I know, that if my body, which is but a tent for my sojourning upon earth, were dissolved, I have what is not fram'd by human art, but by the divine architect, a mansion eternal in the heavens.

2 while I am thus incas'd, I groan with desire to have that celestial vehicle superinduc'd:

3 tho' should I be divested of this body, I shall not even then be destitute of one.

4 we that are in this tabernacle do groan under the burden of it: not that we desire to be divested of it, but we desire to have our celestial body, that this mortal state may vanish into immortality.

5 now he that hath prepared us for this very state, is God, who hath given us the spirit as a pledge of it.

6 therefore being always certainly assur'd that whilst I sojourn in this body, I am absent from the Lord,

7 (for I regulate my conduct by my future expectations, not by visible enjoyments:

8 ) in this assurance, I say, I think it best to be quit of this body, and be present with the Lord.

9 wherefore I studiously endeavour, whether staying in it, or departing out of it, to be acceptable to him.

10 for we must all appear before the tribunal of Christ; that every one may receive the retribution, according as his actions in the body were either good or evil.

11 Shall I then, who know this terrible judgment of the Lord, endeavour to appease men? as for God, I am approved by him, and I trust also you are convinced of my being so approved.

12 and this I say, not to commend myself again unto you, but to give you an occasion of glorying on my account, that you may confront those who make a false show of glorying.

13 for if I glory even to transport, my glorying is in God: if I am moderate, my glorying is for your service.

14 to this I am urg'd by the love I bear to Christ, persuaded as I am, that if one died for all, then were all in a dying state: and that he died for all,

15 that they who are in a state of life should not live at their own discretion, but to the service of him who died for them, and rose again.