¹¹ Therefore, since we know the fear of the Lord,^(A) we try to persuade people. What we are is plain to God, and I hope it is also plain to your consciences. ¹² We are not commending ourselves to you again, but giving you an opportunity to be proud of us, so that you may have a reply for those who take pride in outward appearance rather than in the heart. ¹³ For if we are out of our mind,^(B) it is for God; if we are in our right mind,^(C) it is for you. ¹⁴ For the love of Christ compels us, since we have reached this conclusion, that one died for all,^(D) and therefore all died. ¹⁵ And he died for all^(E) so that those who live should no longer live for themselves,^(F) but for the one^(G) who died for them and was raised.

The Ministry of Reconciliation

¹⁶ From now on, then, we do not know anyone from a worldly perspective.^[a] Even if we have known Christ from a worldly perspective,^[b] yet now we no longer know him in this way. ¹⁷ Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation;^(H) the old has passed away, and see,^(I) the new has^[c] come!^{(J) 18} Everything is from God, who has reconciled us to himself through Christ and has given us the ministry of reconciliation.^{(K) 19} That is, in Christ, God was reconciling the world^(L) to himself,^(M) not counting their trespasses against them, and he has committed the message of reconciliation to us.

²⁰ Therefore, we are ambassadors^(N) for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us. We plead on Christ’s behalf,^(O) “Be reconciled to God.” ²¹ He made the one who did not know sin^(P) to be sin^[d] for us,^(Q) so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

6 Working together with him, we also appeal to you, “Don’t receive the grace of God in vain.” ² For he says:

See, now is the acceptable time; now is the day of salvation!^(B)