Epistula II ad Corinthios, 5

1. Scimus enim quoniam, si terre stris domus nostra huius taber naculi dissolvatur, aedificationem ex Deo habemus domum non manufactam, aeternam in caelis.

1. For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

2. Nam et in hoc ingemiscimus, habitationem nostram, quae de caelo est, superindui cupientes,

2. Here indeed we groan, and long to put on our heavenly dwelling,

3. si tamen et exspoliati, non nudi inveniamur.

3. so that by putting it on we may not be found naked.

4. Nam et, qui sumus in tabernaculo, ingemiscimus gravati, eo quod nolumus exspoliari, sed supervestiri, ut absorbeatur, quod mortale est, a vita.

4. For while we are still in this tent, we sigh with anxiety; not that we would be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life.

5. Qui autem effecit nos in hoc ipsum, Deus, qui dedit nobis arrabonem Spiritus.

5. He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.

6. Audentes igitur semper et scientes quoniam, dum praesentes sumus in corpore, peregrinamur a Domino;

6. So we are always of good courage; we know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord,

7. per fidem enim ambulamus et non per speciem.

7. for we walk by faith, not by sight.

8. Audemus autem et bonam voluntatem habemus magis peregrinari a corpore et praesentes esse ad Dominum.

8. We are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord.

9. Et ideo contendimus sive praesentes sive absentes placere illi.

9. So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him.

10. Omnes enim nos manifestari oportet ante tribunal Christi, ut referat unusquisque pro eis, quae per corpus gessit, sive bonum sive malum.

10. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive good or evil, according to what he has done in the body.

11. Scientes ergo timorem Domini hominibus suademus, Deo autem manifesti sumus; spero autem et in conscientiis vestris manifestos nos esse.

11. Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade men; but what we are is known to God, and I hope it is known also to your conscience.

12. Non iterum nos commendamus vobis, sed occasionem damus vobis gloriandi pro nobis, ut habeatis ad eos, qui in facie gloriantur et non in corde.

12. We are not commending ourselves to you again but giving you cause to be proud of us, so that you may be able to answer those who pride themselves on a man's position and not on his heart.

13. Sive enim mente excedimus, Deo; sive sobrii sumus, vobis.

13. For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you.

14. Caritas enim Christi urget nos, aestimantes, hoc, quoniam, si unus pro omnibus mortuus est, ergo omnes mortui sunt;

14. For the love of Christ controls us, because we are convinced that one has died for all; therefore all have died.

15. et pro omnibus mortuus est, ut et, qui vivunt, iam non sibi vivant, sed ei, qui pro ipsis mortuus est et resurrexit.

15. And he died for all, that those who live might live no longer for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.

16. Itaque nos ex hoc neminem novimus secundum carnem; et si cognovimus secundum carnem Christum, sed nunc iam non novimus.

16. From now on, therefore, we regard no one from a human point of view; even though we once regarded Christ from a human point of view, we regard him thus no longer.

17. Si quis ergo in Christo, nova creatura; vetera transierunt, ecce, facta sunt nova.

17. Therefore, if any one is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away, behold, the new has come.

18. Omnia autem ex Deo, qui reconciliavit nos sibi per Christum et dedit nobis ministerium reconciliationis,

18. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation;

19. quoniam quidem Deus erat in Christo mundum reconcilians sibi, non reputans illis delicta ipsorum; et posuit in nobis verbum reconciliationis.

19. that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.

20. Pro Christo ergo legatione fungimur, tamquam Deo exhortante per nos. Obsecramus pro Christo, reconciliamini Deo.

20. So we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We beseech you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.

21. Eum, qui non noverat peccatum, pro nobis peccatum fecit, ut nos efficeremur iustitia Dei in ipso.

21. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.