14 For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died.(A) 15 And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves(B) but for him who died for them(C) and was raised again.

16 So from now on we regard no one from a worldly(D) point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ,(E) the new creation(F) has come:[a] The old has gone, the new is here!(G) 18 All this is from God,(H) who reconciled us to himself through Christ(I) 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.(J) And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 20 We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors,(K) as though God were making his appeal through us.(L) We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.(M) 21 God made him who had no sin(N) to be sin[b] for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.(O)

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

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

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

Footnotes

  1. 2 Corinthians 5:17 Or Christ, that person is a new creation.
  2. 2 Corinthians 5:21 Or be a sin offering
  3. 2 Corinthians 6:2 Isaiah 49:8

14 The love of the Messiah[a] controls us, for we are convinced of this: that one person died for all people; therefore, all people have died. 15 He died for all people, so that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for the one who died and rose for them.

16 So then, from now on we do not think of anyone from a human point of view.[b] Even if we did think of the Messiah[c] from a human point of view,[d] we don’t think of him that way anymore. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in the Messiah,[e] he is a new creation. Old things have disappeared, and—look!—all things have become new!

18 All of this comes from God, who has reconciled us to himself through the Messiah[f] and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, 19 for through the Messiah,[g] God was reconciling the world to himself by not counting their sins against them. He has committed his message of reconciliation to us. 20 Therefore, we are the Messiah’s[h] representatives, as though God were pleading through us. We plead on the Messiah’s[i] behalf: “Be reconciled to God!” 21 God[j] made the one who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that God’s righteousness would be produced in us.[k]

Workers with God

Since, then, we are working with God,[l] we plead with you not to accept God’s grace in vain. For he says,

“At the right time I heard you,
and on a day of salvation I helped you.”[m]

Listen, now is really the “right time”! Now is the “day of salvation”!

Footnotes

  1. 2 Corinthians 5:14 Or Christ
  2. 2 Corinthians 5:16 Lit. according to the flesh
  3. 2 Corinthians 5:16 Or Christ
  4. 2 Corinthians 5:16 Lit. according to the flesh
  5. 2 Corinthians 5:17 Or Christ
  6. 2 Corinthians 5:18 Or Christ
  7. 2 Corinthians 5:19 Or Christ
  8. 2 Corinthians 5:20 Or Christ’s
  9. 2 Corinthians 5:20 Or Christ’s
  10. 2 Corinthians 5:21 Lit. He
  11. 2 Corinthians 5:21 Lit. that we might become God’s righteousness in him
  12. 2 Corinthians 6:1 Lit. working together
  13. 2 Corinthians 6:2 Isa 49:8

14 For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:

15 And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.

16 Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more.

17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

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.)