²⁸ In relation to the gospel they are ^(A)enemies on your account, but in relation to God’s choice they are beloved ^(B)on account of the fathers;

¹⁸ Now ^(A)all these things are from God, ^(B)who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ^(C)ministry of reconciliation, ¹⁹ namely, that ^(D)God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, ^(E)not counting their wrongdoings against them, and ^[a]He has ^[b]committed to us the word of reconciliation.

²⁰ Therefore, we are ^(F)ambassadors for Christ, ^(G)as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be ^(H)reconciled to God. ²¹ He made Him who ^(I)knew no sin to be ^[c](J)sin in our behalf, so that we might become the ^(K)righteousness of God in Him.

³ Among them ^[a]we too all ^(A)previously lived in ^(B)the lusts of our flesh, ^[b]indulging the desires of the flesh and of the ^[c]mind, and were ^(C)by nature ^(D)children of wrath, ^(E)just as the rest.

²¹ And although you were ^(A)previously alienated and hostile in attitude, engaged in evil deeds, ²² yet He has now ^(B)reconciled you in His ^(C)body of flesh through death, in order to ^(D)present you before Him ^(E)holy and blameless and beyond reproach— ²³ if indeed you continue in ^[a]the faith firmly ^(F)established and steadfast, and not shifting from the ^(G)hope of the gospel that you have heard, which was proclaimed ^(H)in all creation under heaven, ^(I)and of which I, Paul, ^[b]was made a ^[c](J)minister.