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2 Corinthians 5:18-21
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
2 Corinthians 5:18-21
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
18 [a]And all this is from God, who has reconciled us to himself through Christ and given us the ministry of reconciliation, 19 namely, God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting their trespasses against them and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.(A) 20 So we are ambassadors for Christ, as if God were appealing through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.(B) 21 [b]For our sake he made him to be sin who did not know sin,(C) so that we might become the righteousness of God in him.
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- 5:18–21 Paul attempts to explain the meaning of God’s action by a variety of different categories; his attention keeps moving rapidly back and forth from God’s act to his own ministry as well. Who has reconciled us to himself: i.e., he has brought all into oneness. Not counting their trespasses: the reconciliation is described as an act of justification (cf. “righteousness,” 2 Cor 5:21); this contrasts with the covenant that condemned (2 Cor 3:8). The ministry of reconciliation: Paul’s role in the wider picture is described: entrusted with the message of reconciliation (2 Cor 5:19), he is Christ’s ambassador, through whom God appeals (2 Cor 5:20a). In v 20b Paul acts in the capacity just described.
- 5:21 This is a statement of God’s purpose, expressed paradoxically in terms of sharing and exchange of attributes. As Christ became our righteousness (1 Cor 1:30), we become God’s righteousness (cf. 2 Cor 5:14–15).
2 Corinthians 5:18-21
New International Version
2 Corinthians 5:18-21
New International Version
18 All this is from God,(A) who reconciled us to himself through Christ(B) and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them.(C) And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 20 We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors,(D) as though God were making his appeal through us.(E) We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.(F) 21 God made him who had no sin(G) to be sin[a] for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.(H)
Footnotes
- 2 Corinthians 5:21 Or be a sin offering
2 Corinthians 5:18-21
King James Version
2 Corinthians 5:18-21
King James Version
18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;
19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.
21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
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New American Bible (Revised Edition) (NABRE)
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