₆So we are always full of courage. We know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord's home. ₇For our life is a matter of faith, not of sight. ₈We are full of courage and would much prefer to leave our home in the body and be at home with the Lord. ₉More than anything else, however, we want to please him, whether in our home here or there. ₁₀For all of us must appear before Christ, to be judged by him. We will each receive what we deserve, according to everything we have done, good or bad, in our bodily life.

₁₁We know what it means to fear the Lord, and so we try to persuade others. God knows us completely, and I hope that in your hearts you know me as well. ₁₂We are not trying again to recommend ourselves to you; rather, we are trying to give you a good reason to be proud of us, so that you will be able to answer those who boast about people's appearance and not about their character. ₁₃Are we really insane? It is for God's sake. Or are we sane? Then it is for your sake. ₁₄We are ruled by the love of Christ, now that we recognize that one man died for everyone, which means that all share in his death. ₁₅He died for all, so that those who live should no longer live for themselves, but only for him who died and was raised to life for their sake.

₁₆No longer, then, do we judge anyone by human standards. Even if at one time we judged Christ according to human standards, we no longer do so. ₁₇Anyone who is joined to Christ is a new being; the old is gone, the new has come.