2 Corinthians 5:11-21
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
The Ministry of Reconciliation
11 Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we try to persuade people, but we ourselves are well known to God, and I hope that we are also well known to your consciences.(A) 12 We are not commending ourselves to you again but giving you an opportunity to boast about us, so that you may be able to answer those who boast in outward appearance and not in the heart.(B) 13 For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you.(C) 14 For the love of Christ urges us on, because we are convinced that one has died for all; therefore all have died.(D) 15 And he died for all, so that those who live might live no longer for themselves but for the one who for their sake died and was raised.
16 From now on, therefore, we regard no one from a human point of view;[a] even though we once knew Christ from a human point of view,[b] we no longer know him in that way.(E) 17 So if anyone is in Christ, there[c] is a new creation: everything old has passed away; look, new things have come into being![d](F) 18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and has given us the ministry of reconciliation;(G) 19 that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself,[e] not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting the message of reconciliation to us.(H) 20 So we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us; we entreat you on behalf of Christ: be reconciled to God.(I) 21 For our sake God made the one who knew no sin to be sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.(J)
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2 Corinthians 5:11-21
New International Version
The Ministry of Reconciliation
11 Since, then, we know what it is to fear the Lord,(A) we try to persuade others. What we are is plain to God, and I hope it is also plain to your conscience.(B) 12 We are not trying to commend ourselves to you again,(C) but are giving you an opportunity to take pride in us,(D) so that you can answer those who take pride in what is seen rather than in what is in the heart. 13 If we are “out of our mind,”(E) as some say, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. 14 For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died.(F) 15 And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves(G) but for him who died for them(H) and was raised again.
16 So from now on we regard no one from a worldly(I) point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ,(J) the new creation(K) has come:[a] The old has gone, the new is here!(L) 18 All this is from God,(M) who reconciled us to himself through Christ(N) and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them.(O) And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 20 We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors,(P) as though God were making his appeal through us.(Q) We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.(R) 21 God made him who had no sin(S) to be sin[b] for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.(T)
Footnotes
- 2 Corinthians 5:17 Or Christ, that person is a new creation.
- 2 Corinthians 5:21 Or be a sin offering
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