14 For the love of Christ compels us, since we have reached this conclusion, that one died for all,(A) and therefore all died. 15 And he died for all(B) so that those who live should no longer live for themselves,(C) but for the one(D) 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;(E) the old has passed away, and see,(F) the new has[c] come!(G) 18 Everything is from God, who has reconciled us to himself through Christ and has given us the ministry of reconciliation.(H) 19 That is, in Christ, God was reconciling the world(I) to himself,(J) not counting their trespasses against them, and he has committed the message of reconciliation to us.

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

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

At an acceptable time I listened to you,
and in the day of salvation I helped you.[e](O)

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

Footnotes

  1. 5:16 Lit anyone according to the flesh
  2. 5:16 Lit Christ according to the flesh
  3. 5:17 Other mss read look, all new things have
  4. 5:21 Or be a sin offering
  5. 6:2 Is 49:8

14 For the love of Christ controls us, because we[a] have concluded this: that one died for all; as a result all died. 15 And he died for all, in order that those who live should no longer live for themselves, but for the one who died for them and was raised.

16 So then, from now on we know no one from a human point of view[b], if indeed we have known Christ from a human point of view[c], but now we know him this way no longer. 17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old things have passed away; behold, new things have come. 18 And all these things are from God, who has reconciled us to himself through Christ, and who has given us the ministry of reconciliation, 19 namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. 20 Therefore we are ambassadors on behalf of Christ, as if[d] God were imploring you through us. We beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 21 He made the one who did not know sin to be sin on our behalf, in order that we could become the righteousness of God in him.

Afflictions of God’s Servants

Now because we[e] are fellow workers, we also urge you not to receive the grace of God in vain. For he says,

“At the acceptable time I heard you,
and in the day of salvation I helped you.”[f]

Behold, now is the acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation!

Footnotes

  1. 2 Corinthians 5:14 Here “because” is supplied as a component of the participle (“have concluded”) which is understood as causal
  2. 2 Corinthians 5:16 Literally “according to the flesh”
  3. 2 Corinthians 5:16 Literally “according to the flesh”
  4. 2 Corinthians 5:20 Here “if” is supplied as a component of the participle (“were imploring”) which is understood as conditional
  5. 2 Corinthians 6:1 Here “because” is supplied as a component of the participle (“are fellow workers”) which is understood as causal
  6. 2 Corinthians 6:2 A quotation from Isa 49:8