5Now he who wrought us out for this very thing is God, who also gave to us the earnest of the Spirit. 6Being therefore always confident, and knowing that while at home in the body we are absent from the Lord, 7(for we walk by faith, not by sight), 8we are confident, and are well pleased rather to be absent from the body, and to be at home with the Lord.
9Wherefore we also strive, that, whether at home or absent, we may be well pleasing to him. 10For we must all be made manifest before the judgment-seat of Christ; that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to the things which he did, whether good or bad.
11Knowing therefore the fear of the Lord, we persuade men; but to God we have been made manifest, and I hope that we have been made manifest also in your consciences. 12For we are not again commending ourselves to you, but giving you occasion of glorying on our behalf, that ye may have somewhat to answer those who glory in appearance and not in heart. 13For whether we were beside ourselves, it was for God; or whether we are of sound mind, it is for you. 14For the love of Christ constrains us; because we thus judged, that if one died for all, then they all died. 15And he died for all, that they who live should live no longer to themselves, but to him who for them died and rose again. 16So that we henceforth know no one according to the flesh; and if also we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we no longer know him. 17So that if any one is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, all things have become new. 18And all things are of God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and gave to us the ministry of reconciliation; 19as that God was in Christ reconciling a world to himself, not reckoning to them their trespasses, and having committed to us the word of reconciliation.
20We are then ambassadors on behalf of Christ[20], as though God were beseeching by us; on behalf of Christ we pray: Be reconciled to God! 21Him who knew not sin he made to be sin for us, that we might become God's righteousness in him.
VI. And, as workers together with him, we also beseech you that ye receive not the grace of God in vain; 2(for he says:
In an accepted time I heard thee,
And in the day of salvation I helped thee;
behold, now is the well accepted time, behold, now is the day of salvation;) 3giving no cause of offense in anything, that the ministry be not blamed; 4but as God's ministers, commending ourselves in everything, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses, 5in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in watchings, in fastings; 6in pureness, in knowledge, in long-suffering, in kindness, in the Holy Spirit, in love unfeigned, 7in the word of truth, in the power of God, by the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left, 8through glory and dishonor, through evil report and good report; as deceivers, and true; 9as unknown, and well known; as dying, and, behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed; 10as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and possessing all things.
11O Corinthians, our mouth is open to you, our heart is enlarged. 12Ye are not straitened in us, but ye are straitened in your own bowels. 13Now as a recompense in the same kind (I speak as to my children), be ye also enlarged.
14Be not yoked unequally with unbelievers; for what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? 15And what concord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? 16And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For ye are a temple of the living God; as God said: I will dwell in them, and walk among them; and I will be their God, and they shall be to me a people.