2 Corinthians 5:17-21
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
17 (A)So whoever is in Christ is a new creation: the old things have passed away; behold, new things have come. 18 [a]And all this is from God, who has reconciled us to himself through Christ and given us the ministry of reconciliation, 19 namely, God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting their trespasses against them and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.(B) 20 So we are ambassadors for Christ, as if God were appealing through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.(C) 21 [b]For our sake he made him to be sin who did not know sin,(D) so that we might become the righteousness of God in him.
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- 5:18–21 Paul attempts to explain the meaning of God’s action by a variety of different categories; his attention keeps moving rapidly back and forth from God’s act to his own ministry as well. Who has reconciled us to himself: i.e., he has brought all into oneness. Not counting their trespasses: the reconciliation is described as an act of justification (cf. “righteousness,” 2 Cor 5:21); this contrasts with the covenant that condemned (2 Cor 3:8). The ministry of reconciliation: Paul’s role in the wider picture is described: entrusted with the message of reconciliation (2 Cor 5:19), he is Christ’s ambassador, through whom God appeals (2 Cor 5:20a). In v 20b Paul acts in the capacity just described.
- 5:21 This is a statement of God’s purpose, expressed paradoxically in terms of sharing and exchange of attributes. As Christ became our righteousness (1 Cor 1:30), we become God’s righteousness (cf. 2 Cor 5:14–15).
2 Corinthians 5:17-21
New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition
17 So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new! 18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself,[a] not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting the message of reconciliation to us. 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. 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.
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- 2 Corinthians 5:19 Or God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself
2 Corinthians 5:17-21
Good News Translation
17 Anyone who is joined to Christ is a new being; the old is gone, the new has come. 18 All this is done by God, who through Christ changed us from enemies into his friends and gave us the task of making others his friends also. 19 Our message is that God was making all human beings his friends through Christ.[a] God did not keep an account of their sins, and he has given us the message which tells how he makes them his friends.
20 Here we are, then, speaking for Christ, as though God himself were making his appeal through us. We plead on Christ's behalf: let God change you from enemies into his friends! 21 Christ was without sin, but for our sake God made him share our sin in order that in union with him we might share the righteousness of God.
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- 2 Corinthians 5:19 God was making all human beings his friends through Christ; or God was in Christ making all human beings his friends.
2 Corinthians 5:17-21
New American Standard Bible
17 Therefore if anyone is (A)in Christ, this person is (B)a new [a]creation; (C)the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. 18 Now (D)all these things are from God, (E)who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the (F)ministry of reconciliation, 19 namely, that (G)God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, (H)not counting their wrongdoings against them, and [b]He has [c]committed to us the word of reconciliation.
20 Therefore, we are (I)ambassadors for Christ, (J)as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be (K)reconciled to God. 21 He made Him who (L)knew no sin to be [d](M)sin in our behalf, so that we might become the (N)righteousness of God in Him.
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- 2 Corinthians 5:17 Or creature
- 2 Corinthians 5:19 Lit having
- 2 Corinthians 5:19 Lit placed in us
- 2 Corinthians 5:21 Or a sin offering
2 Corinthians 5:17-21
New International Version
17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ,(A) the new creation(B) has come:[a] The old has gone, the new is here!(C) 18 All this is from God,(D) who reconciled us to himself through Christ(E) 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.(F) And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 20 We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors,(G) as though God were making his appeal through us.(H) We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.(I) 21 God made him who had no sin(J) to be sin[b] for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.(K)
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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