2 Corinthians 5:11-21

Holman Christian Standard Bible

¹¹ Therefore, because we know the fear of the Lord,^(A) we seek to persuade people. We are completely open before God, and I hope we are completely open to your consciences as well. 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 the outward appearance^[a] rather than in the heart. ¹³ For if we are out of our mind,^(B) it is for God; if we have a sound mind,^(C) it is for you. ¹⁴ For Christ’s love compels^[b] us, since we have reached this conclusion: If One died for all,^(D) then 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^[c] anyone in a purely human way.^[d] Even if we have known^[e] Christ in a purely human way,^[f] yet now we no longer know^[g] Him in this way. ¹⁷ Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation;^(H) old things have passed away, and look,^(I) new things^[h] have come.^{(J) 18} Everything is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave 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, certain that God is appealing 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^[i] for us,^(Q) so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.