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 Either way, Christ’s love controls us.[a] Since we believe that Christ died for all, we also believe that we have all died to our old life.[b] 15 He died for everyone so that those who receive his new life will no longer live for themselves. Instead, they will live for Christ, who died and was raised for them.

16 So we have stopped evaluating others from a human point of view. At one time we thought of Christ merely from a human point of view. How differently we know him now! 17 This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!

18 And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him. 19 For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation. 20 So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!” 21 For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin,[c] so that we could be made right with God through Christ.

As God’s partners,[d] we beg you not to accept this marvelous gift of God’s kindness and then ignore it. For God says,

“At just the right time, I heard you.
    On the day of salvation, I helped you.”[e]

Indeed, the “right time” is now. Today is the day of salvation.

Footnotes

  1. 5:14a Or urges us on.
  2. 5:14b Greek Since one died for all, then all died.
  3. 5:21 Or to become sin itself.
  4. 6:1 Or As we work together.
  5. 6:2 Isa 49:8 (Greek version).