18 All this is from God,(A) who reconciled us to himself through Christ(B) 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.(C) And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 20 We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors,(D) as though God were making his appeal through us.(E) We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.(F) 21 God made him who had no sin(G) to be sin[a] for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.(H)

As God’s co-workers(I) we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain.(J) For he says,

“In the time of my favor I heard you,
    and in the day of salvation I helped you.”[b](K)

I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.

Footnotes

  1. 2 Corinthians 5:21 Or be a sin offering
  2. 2 Corinthians 6:2 Isaiah 49:8

18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;

19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.

20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.

21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain.

(For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)

18 Now all things are of God, (A)who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, 19 that is, that (B)God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not [a]imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.

20 Now then, we are (C)ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God. 21 For (D)He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become (E)the righteousness of God in Him.

Marks of the Ministry

We then, as (F)workers together with Him also (G)plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain. For He says:

(H)“In an acceptable time I have heard you,
And in the day of salvation I have helped you.”

Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.

Footnotes

  1. 2 Corinthians 5:19 reckoning