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14 For the love of Christ constrains us; because we judge thus, that one died for all, therefore all died. 15 He died for all, that those who live should no longer live to themselves, but to him who for their sakes died and rose again. 16 Therefore we know no one after the flesh from now on. Even though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now we know him so no more. 17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old things have passed away. Behold,[a] all things have become new. 18 But all things are of God, who reconciled us to himself through Jesus Christ, and gave to us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself, not reckoning to them their trespasses, and having committed to us the word of reconciliation.

20 We are therefore ambassadors on behalf of Christ, as though God were entreating by us: we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 21 For him who knew no sin he made to be sin on our behalf; so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Working together, we entreat also that you do not receive the grace of God in vain, for he says,

“At an acceptable time I listened to you.
In a day of salvation I helped you.”Isaiah 49:8

Behold, now is the acceptable time. Behold, now is the day of salvation.

Footnotes

  1. 5:17 “Behold”, from “ἰδοὺ”, means look at, take notice, observe, see, or gaze at. It is often used as an interjection.

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