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

14 For gar the ho love agapē of ho Christ Christos controls synechō us hēmeis, since we have concluded krinō this houtos: that hoti one heis has died apothnēskō for hyper all pas; therefore ara · ho all pas have died apothnēskō. 15 And kai he died apothnēskō for hyper all pas so that hina those ho who are living zaō might zaō no longer mēketi live zaō for themselves heautou but alla for the ho one who died apothnēskō for hyper them autos and kai was raised egeirō. 16 So hōste from apo now nyn on we hēmeis · ho regard oida no one oudeis according kata to the flesh sarx. Even kai though ei we once regarded ginōskō Christ Christos according kata to the flesh sarx, yet alla now nyn we regard ginōskō him in that way no longer ouketi. 17 Therefore hōste if ei anyone tis is in en Christ Christos, there is a new kainos creation ktisis; what ho is old archaios has passed parerchomai away ; behold idou, what is new kainos has come ginomai! 18 · ho And de all pas this is from ek · ho God theos, who ho has reconciled katallassō us hēmeis to himself heautou through dia Christ Christos and kai given didōmi us hēmeis the ho ministry diakonia of ho reconciliation katallagē; 19 that is hōs, God theos was eimi in en Christ Christos reconciling katallassō the world kosmos to himself heautou, not counting logizomai their autos trespasses paraptōma against them autos. · ho And kai he has entrusted tithēmi us hēmeis with en the ho message logos of ho reconciliation katallagē. 20 Therefore oun we are ambassadors presbeuō for hyper Christ Christos, as hōs though · ho God theos were making parakaleō his appeal through dia us hēmeis. We implore deomai you on behalf of hyper Christ Christos, “ Be reconciled katallassō to ho God theos.” 21 He made poieō him ho who knew ginōskō no sin hamartia to be a sin-offering hamartia for hyper us hēmeis, so that hina in en him autos we hēmeis might become ginomai the righteousness dikaiosynē of God theos.

Thus de as coworkers synergeō with him, · kai we urge parakaleō you hymeis not to receive dechomai the ho grace charis of ho God theos in eis vain kenos. For gar he says legō, “ In the time kairos of my favor dektos I heard epakouō you sy, · kai in en the day hēmera of salvation sōtēria I helped boētheō you sy.” Behold idou, now nyn is the acceptable euprosdektos time kairos; behold idou, now nyn is the day hēmera of salvation sōtēria!