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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 urges us on, because we are convinced that one has died for all; therefore all have died.(A) 15 And he died for all, so that those who live might live no longer for themselves but for the one who for their sake died and was raised.

16 From now on, therefore, we regard no one from a human point of view;[a] even though we once knew Christ from a human point of view,[b] we no longer know him in that way.(B) 17 So if anyone is in Christ, there[c] is a new creation: everything old has passed away; look, new things have come into being![d](C) 18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and has given us the ministry of reconciliation;(D) 19 that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself,[e] not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting the message of reconciliation to us.(E) 20 So we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us; we entreat you on behalf of Christ: be reconciled to God.(F) 21 For our sake God made the one who knew no sin to be sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.(G)

As we work together with him,[f] we entreat you also not to accept the grace of God in vain.(H) For he says,

“At an acceptable time I have listened to you,
    and on a day of salvation I have helped you.”

Look, now is the acceptable time; look, now is the day of salvation!(I)

Footnotes

  1. 5.16 Gk according to the flesh
  2. 5.16 Gk according to the flesh
  3. 5.17 Or that person
  4. 5.17 Other ancient authorities read everything has become new
  5. 5.19 Or God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself
  6. 6.1 Gk As we work together