14 For the love of Christ (A)controls us, because we have concluded this: that (B)one has died for all, therefore all have died; 15 and he died for all, (C)that those who live might no longer live for themselves but (D)for him who for their sake died and was raised.

16 From now on, therefore, (E)we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is (F)in Christ, he is (G)a new creation.[a] (H)The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 18 All this is from God, (I)who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us (J)the ministry of reconciliation; 19 that is, in Christ God was reconciling[b] the world to himself, (K)not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us (L)the message of reconciliation. 20 Therefore, (M)we are ambassadors for Christ, (N)God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 21 (O)For our sake he made him to be sin (P)who knew no sin, so that in him we might become (Q)the righteousness of God.

(R)Working together with him, then, (S)we appeal to you (T)not to receive the grace of God in vain. For he says,

(U)“In a favorable time I listened to you,
    and in a day of salvation I have helped you.”

Behold, (V)now is the (W)favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.

Footnotes

  1. 2 Corinthians 5:17 Or creature
  2. 2 Corinthians 5:19 Or God was in Christ, reconciling

14 For the love of Christ (A)controls us, having concluded this, that (B)one died for all, therefore all died; 15 and He died for all, so that those who live would no longer (C)live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose on their behalf.

16 Therefore from now on we recognize no one [a](D)by the flesh; even though we have known Christ by the flesh, yet now we know Him in this way no longer. 17 Therefore if anyone is (E)in Christ, this person is (F)a new [b]creation; (G)the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. 18 Now (H)all these things are from God, (I)who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the (J)ministry of reconciliation, 19 namely, that (K)God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, (L)not counting their wrongdoings against them, and [c]He has [d]committed to us the word of reconciliation.

20 Therefore, we are (M)ambassadors for Christ, (N)as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be (O)reconciled to God. 21 He made Him who (P)knew no sin to be [e](Q)sin in our behalf, so that we might become the (R)righteousness of God in Him.

Their Ministry Commended

And (S)working together with Him, (T)we also urge you not to receive (U)the grace of God in vain— for He says,

(V)At a favorable time I listened to you,
And on a day of salvation I helped you.”

Behold, now is “a favorable time,” behold, now is “a day of salvation”—

Footnotes

  1. 2 Corinthians 5:16 I.e., by what one is in the flesh
  2. 2 Corinthians 5:17 Or creature
  3. 2 Corinthians 5:19 Lit having
  4. 2 Corinthians 5:19 Lit placed in us
  5. 2 Corinthians 5:21 Or a sin offering