The Ministry of Reconciliation and the Call to Receive Grace
2 Corinthians 5:11-6:2
2Cor.5.11 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- Ειδοτες: VERB,perf,act,part,nom,pl,m
- ουν: CONJ
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- φοβον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- κυριου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- ανθρωπους: NOUN,acc,pl,m
- πειθομεν: VERB,pres,act,ind,1,pl
- θεω: NOUN,dat,sg,m
- δε: CONJ
- πεφανερωμεθα·ελπιζω: VERB,perf,pass,ind,1,pl + VERB,pres,act,ind,1,sg
- δε: CONJ
- και: CONJ
- εν: PREP
- ταις: ART,dat,pl,f
- συνειδησεσιν: NOUN,dat,pl,f
- υμων: PRON,gen,pl,2
- πεφανερωσθαι: VERB,perf,pass,inf
Parallels
- 2 Corinthians 4:2 (verbal): Paul contrasts honest ministry and openness—'commend ourselves to everyone's conscience in the sight of God'—closely echoing 5:11's concern with being known to God and revealed to consciences.
- 1 Corinthians 4:4-5 (thematic): Paul insists ultimate judgment belongs to the Lord who will expose motives; resonates with 5:11's 'we are made manifest to God' and awaiting revelation before human judgment.
- Romans 2:15 (verbal): Speaks of conscience bearing witness and thoughts accusing or defending—parallels 5:11's hope that Paul's conduct is 'revealed in your consciences.'
- Proverbs 1:7 (verbal): The phrase 'fear of the Lord' is a key covenantal/ moral motif in Proverbs; 5:11 opens with 'knowing the fear of the Lord,' linking Paul to this Old Testament theological category.
Alternative generated candidates
- Therefore, since we know the fear of the Lord, we strive to persuade others. We are known to God—and I hope we are also known in your consciences.
- Therefore, since we know the fear of the Lord, we persuade others; what we are is plain to God, and I hope it is plain also to your consciences.
2Cor.5.12 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ου: PART,neg
- παλιν: ADV
- εαυτους: PRON,acc,pl,m
- συνιστανομεν: VERB,pres,act,ind,1,pl
- υμιν: PRON,dat,pl,2
- αλλα: CONJ
- αφορμην: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- διδοντες: VERB,pres,act,ptc,nom,pl,m
- υμιν: PRON,dat,pl,2
- καυχηματος: NOUN,gen,sg,n
- υπερ: PREP
- ημων: PRON,gen,pl,1
- ινα: CONJ
- εχητε: VERB,pres,act,sub,2,pl
- προς: PREP
- τους: ART,acc,pl,m
- εν: PREP
- προσωπω: NOUN,dat,sg,n
- καυχωμενους: VERB,pres,mid,ptc,acc,pl,m
- και: CONJ
- μη: PART
- εν: PREP
- καρδια: NOUN,nom,sg,f
Parallels
- 2 Cor 3:1 (verbal): Same concern with 'commending ourselves'—Paul anticipates and rejects the need for self-recommendation or letters, a close verbal and rhetorical parallel to 5:12.
- 2 Cor 10:12-18 (thematic): Paul again treats boasting and the critique of those who compare themselves by outward measures; 10:12–18 develops the theme of proper boasting and divine commendation that underlies 5:12.
- 1 Cor 4:6-7 (thematic): Addressing boasting among believers, Paul reminds them that gifts are received, not grounds for self-exaltation—a related argument against boasting in appearance rather than heart.
- Rom 2:17-24 (thematic): Condemns those who 'boast' in God or identity while failing in deeds—parallel concern with boasting in outward status/appearance but lacking inner integrity.
- Matt 23:27-28 (thematic): Jesus' denunciation of outward religiosity that conceals inner corruption ('whitewashed tombs') echoes the contrast in 5:12 between boasting in appearance and not in heart.
Alternative generated candidates
- It is not that we again commend ourselves to you, but that we give you occasion to boast on our behalf, so that you may have something to answer those who boast in outward appearance and not in heart.
- For we do not again commend ourselves to you, but give you cause to boast on our behalf, so that you may have an answer for those who boast in outward appearance and not in heart.
2Cor.5.13 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ειτε: CONJ
- γαρ: PART
- εξεστημεν: VERB,perf,act,ind,1,pl
- θεω·ειτε: NOUN,dat,sg,m
- σωφρονουμεν: VERB,pres,act,ind,1,pl
- υμιν: PRON,dat,pl,2
Parallels
- Galatians 1:10 (thematic): Contrasts serving/pleasing God with seeking to please people — parallels Paul’s claim that his apparent madness or sobriety is ultimately 'for God' rather than to win human approval.
- 1 Corinthians 4:10 (verbal): Paul says 'we are fools for Christ' (ὑμεῖς... ἡμεῖς δὲ μωροὶ ἐν Χριστῷ), closely echoing 2 Cor 5:13’s language about being regarded as out of one's mind for God's sake.
- Mark 3:21 (allusion): Reports that Jesus’ family thought 'He is out of his mind' (ὄτι ἐξεστήκει) — a similar idiom to 2 Cor 5:13’s 'if we are beside ourselves,' showing the motif of perceived madness attached to prophetic/missionary activity.
- 1 Thessalonians 5:6–8 (thematic): Urges believers to 'be sober' and watchful (νήψατε, σώφρονες), reflecting the contrast in 2 Cor 5:13 between being 'beside ourselves' and being 'sober' in relation to motive and conduct.
Alternative generated candidates
- For whether we are beside ourselves, it is for God; and whether we are sane, it is for you.
- For whether we are beside ourselves, it is for God; or whether we are of sound mind, it is for you.
2Cor.5.14 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- η: ART,nom,sg,f
- γαρ: PART
- αγαπη: NOUN,nom,sg,f
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- Χριστου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- συνεχει: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- ημας: PRON,acc,pl,1
- κριναντας: PART,aor,act,acc,pl,m
- τουτο: PRON,nom,sg,n
- οτι: CONJ
- εις: PREP
- υπερ: PREP
- παντων: ADJ,gen,pl,m
- απεθανεν·αρα: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- οι: ART,nom,pl,m
- παντες: ADJ,nom,pl,m
- απεθανον·: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,pl
Parallels
- Romans 5:8 (thematic): Emphasizes Christ's love manifested in his death for sinners—parallels 2 Cor 5:14's focus on the love of Christ shown in dying for others.
- Romans 5:18-19 (structural): Draws a parallel between the representative effect of one man's act and its universal consequences (condemnation or justification), echoing ‘one died for all’ and the corporate results.
- 1 Corinthians 15:22 (verbal): Uses the language of corporate solidarity ('in Adam all die; in Christ all will be made alive'), resonating with 2 Cor 5:14’s claim that because one died all are counted as having died.
- Galatians 2:20 (verbal): Speaks of believers' identification with Christ's death and cites Christ's love and self-giving ('who loved me and gave himself for me'), closely paralleling the motif of Christ's love and dying on behalf of others.
- John 15:13 (thematic): Defines the highest love as laying down one's life for others, thematically linking to 2 Cor 5:14’s emphasis on Christ’s sacrificial love in dying for all.
Alternative generated candidates
- For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that one died for all, therefore all died.
- For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one died for all, therefore all died.
2Cor.5.15 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- και: CONJ
- υπερ: PREP
- παντων: ADJ,gen,pl,m
- απεθανεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- ινα: CONJ
- οι: ART,nom,pl,m
- ζωντες: PART,pres,act,nom,pl,m
- μηκετι: ADV
- εαυτοις: PRON,dat,pl,m
- ζωσιν: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,pl
- αλλα: CONJ
- τω: ART,dat,sg,m
- υπερ: PREP
- αυτων: PRON,gen,pl,m
- αποθανοντι: VERB,aor,act,ptc,dat,sg,m
- και: CONJ
- εγερθεντι: VERB,aor,pass,ptc,dat,sg,m
Parallels
- Galatians 2:20 (verbal): ‘I have been crucified with Christ… it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me’ closely parallels the language of no longer living for oneself but for Christ who died and was raised.
- Romans 14:7-9 (structural): Paul’s argument that ‘none of us lives to himself… whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord’ echoes the same logic that believers now live for Christ rather than themselves.
- Romans 6:8-11 (thematic): The motif of dying with Christ and being alive with him (since he was raised) undergirds 2 Cor 5:15’s linkage of Christ’s death and resurrection to new life for believers.
- 1 Corinthians 15:3-4 (quotation): Paul’s creedal summary that Christ ‘died for our sins… and was raised’ provides the same death-and-resurrection basis for Christian existence asserted in 2 Cor 5:15.
- Titus 2:14 (thematic): ‘He gave himself for us… to purify’ resonates with 2 Cor 5:15’s emphasis that Christ’s self-giving (death) was for others so that they might live for him.
Alternative generated candidates
- And he died for all so that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised.
- And he died for all, so that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.
2Cor.5.16 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- Ωστε: CONJ
- ημεις: PRON,nom,pl,1
- απο: PREP
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- νυν: ADV
- ουδενα: PRON,acc,sg,m
- οιδαμεν: VERB,perf,act,ind,1,pl
- κατα: PREP
- σαρκα·ει: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- και: CONJ
- εγνωκαμεν: VERB,perf,act,ind,1,pl
- κατα: PREP
- σαρκα: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- Χριστον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- αλλα: CONJ
- νυν: ADV
- ουκετι: ADV
- γινωσκομεν: VERB,pres,act,ind,1,pl
Parallels
- Galatians 2:20 (thematic): Paul’s declaration of new identity in Christ (“I have been crucified with Christ… Christ lives in me”) parallels the idea of no longer evaluating or living according to the flesh.
- Philippians 3:7-9 (verbal): Paul’s renunciation of fleshly gains to ‘gain Christ’ and ‘know him’ echoes the language and priority shift in 2 Cor 5:16 about knowing/not knowing according to the flesh.
- 1 Corinthians 2:14-16 (thematic): Contrast between the natural (σάρκινός) person and the spiritual person explains the shift from judging/knowing according to the flesh to a spiritually governed perception.
- Colossians 3:1-3 (thematic): Exhortation to set minds on heavenly realities and the assertion that believers died with Christ supports the move away from assessing persons by fleshly criteria.
- Romans 6:6 (allusion): The statement that the ‘old self’ was crucified with Christ undergirds the transformed standpoint—no longer viewing people (or Christ) ‘according to the flesh.’
Alternative generated candidates
- So from now on we regard no one according to the flesh; even though we once knew Christ according to the flesh, yet now we no longer know him that way.
- So from now on we regard no one according to the flesh; even though we once regarded Christ in that way, we regard him thus no longer.
2Cor.5.17 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ωστε: CONJ
- ει: VERB,pres,act,ind,2,sg
- τις: PRON,nom,sg,?
- εν: PREP
- Χριστω: NOUN,dat,sg,m
- καινη: ADJ,nom,sg,f
- κτισις·τα: NOUN,nom,sg,f
- αρχαια: ADJ,nom,pl,n
- παρηλθεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- ιδου: PART
- γεγονεν: VERB,perf,act,ind,3,sg
- καινα·: ADJ,nom,pl,n
Parallels
- Galatians 6:15 (verbal): Uses the exact concept and phrase of a 'new creation' as the defining mark of true identity in Christ, paralleling 2 Cor 5:17's language and emphasis on transformation over ritual markers.
- Romans 6:4 (thematic): Speaks of baptism into Christ's death so that we 'walk in newness of life,' echoing the motif of dying to the old and rising into a new existence found in 2 Cor 5:17.
- Colossians 3:9-10 (verbal): Commands believers to put off the old self and put on the new, 'being renewed in knowledge after the image of its Creator,' closely mirroring 2 Cor 5:17's old/new contrast and renewal language.
- Ephesians 4:22-24 (structural): Parallels the theological and ethical structure of 2 Cor 5:17 by urging believers to put off the former way of life and be renewed—'put on the new self'—grounding moral change in the new identity in Christ.
- Isaiah 43:18-19 (allusion): The prophetic motif 'forget the former things; behold, I am doing a new thing' resonates with Paul's 'the old has passed away; behold, the new has come,' providing an OT background for the language of newness.
Alternative generated candidates
- Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away—behold, all things have become new.
- Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old things have passed away—behold, all things have become new.
2Cor.5.18 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- τα: ART,acc,pl,n
- δε: CONJ
- παντα: ADJ,nom,pl,n
- εκ: PREP
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- θεου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- καταλλαξαντος: VERB,aor,act,part,gen,sg,m
- ημας: PRON,acc,pl,1
- εαυτω: PRON,dat,sg,m
- δια: PREP
- Χριστου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- και: CONJ
- δοντος: VERB,aor,act,part,gen,sg,m
- ημιν: PRON,dat,pl,1
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- διακονιαν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- της: ART,gen,sg,f
- καταλλαγης: NOUN,gen,sg,f
Parallels
- Romans 5:10-11 (verbal): Speaks of being reconciled to God through Christ and receiving reconciliation—language and theological point closely parallel to 2 Cor 5:18.
- Romans 5:1-2 (thematic): Introduces peace with God and access to grace through faith in Christ, providing the theological backdrop for reconciliation in Paul’s thought.
- 2 Corinthians 5:19 (verbal): Immediate continuation of 5:18; explicitly states that God was in Christ reconciling the world and entrusted to us the message/ministry of reconciliation—nearly identical vocabulary and focus.
- 2 Corinthians 5:20 (thematic): Develops the practical implication of the ministry of reconciliation: Paul and coworkers are ambassadors urging people to be reconciled to God.
- Colossians 1:20-22 (verbal): Describes Christ’s reconciling work ‘to reconcile to himself all things’ and the restoration of believers—uses the same reconciliation motif and similar verbs/imagery.
Alternative generated candidates
- And all things are from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave to us the ministry of reconciliation.
- All things are from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation.
2Cor.5.19 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ως: ADV
- οτι: CONJ
- θεος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- ην: VERB,impf,act,ind,3,sg
- εν: PREP
- Χριστω: NOUN,dat,sg,m
- κοσμον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- καταλλασσων: VERB,pres,act,ptc,nom,m,sg
- εαυτω: PRON,dat,sg,m
- μη: PART
- λογιζομενος: VERB,pres,mid,ptc,nom,m,sg
- αυτοις: PRO,dat,pl,3
- τα: ART,acc,pl,n
- παραπτωματα: NOUN,acc,pl,n
- αυτων: PRON,gen,pl,m
- και: CONJ
- θεμενος: VERB,aor,mid,ptc,nom,m,sg
- εν: PREP
- ημιν: PRON,dat,pl,1
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- λογον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- της: ART,gen,sg,f
- καταλλαγης: NOUN,gen,sg,f
Parallels
- 2 Corinthians 5:18 (structural): Immediate context: states that God reconciled us to himself through Christ and entrusted to us the ministry of reconciliation—direct structural and contextual link with v.19.
- Colossians 1:20-22 (verbal): Uses nearly identical language — God 'reconciled all things to himself' through Christ and 'not counting their sins' as he presents believers holy, paralleling the reconciliation and non-imputation motif.
- Romans 5:10-11 (thematic): Speaks of being reconciled to God through Christ’s death and the resulting rejoicing in God—same central theme of reconciliation through Christ.
- Romans 3:24-26 (thematic): Describes God’s act in Christ as justifying/atoning so that sins are forgiven and God’s righteousness is displayed—relates to the idea that God does not count (imputes not) the trespasses of those reconciled.
Alternative generated candidates
- That is: God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting mens' trespasses against them; and he has entrusted to us the message of reconciliation.
- 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.
2Cor.5.20 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- υπερ: PREP
- Χριστου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- ουν: CONJ
- πρεσβευομεν: VERB,pres,act,ind,1,pl
- ως: ADV
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- θεου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- παρακαλουντος: VERB,pres,act,ptc,gen,sg,m
- δι᾽ημων·δεομεθα: VERB,pres,mid,ind,1,pl
- υπερ: PREP
- Χριστου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- καταλλαγητε: VERB,aor,pass,imp,2,pl
- τω: ART,dat,sg,m
- θεω: NOUN,dat,sg,m
Parallels
- 2 Corinthians 5:18-19 (verbal): Immediate context: explicitly frames Christ's ministry as the 'ministry of reconciliation' and states that God reconciled us through Christ—same language and theological thrust as v.20's appeal to be reconciled to God.
- Romans 5:10-11 (thematic): Develops the theme of reconciliation through Christ's death and presents believers' response in terms of being reconciled and sharing the gospel of reconciliation.
- Colossians 1:20-22 (thematic): Speaks of God reconciling all things to himself through Christ's blood and urges believers to stand reconciled—parallel soteriological language about reconciliation effected by Christ.
- John 20:21 (allusion): Jesus' commissioning formula 'As the Father has sent me, even so I send you' parallels the ambassador/commissioned representative motif in 2 Cor 5:20 (representing Christ/God to others).
- Ephesians 6:20 (verbal): Paul again uses ambassadorial language ('an ambassador in chains' or related wording in some translations) to describe his role in proclaiming the gospel, echoing 2 Cor 5:20's 'we are ambassadors for Christ.'
Alternative generated candidates
- So we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: be reconciled to God.
- Therefore we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making his appeal through us. We entreat you on Christ's behalf: be reconciled to God.
2Cor.5.21 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- μη: PART
- γνοντα: VERB,aor,act,part,acc,sg,m
- αμαρτιαν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- υπερ: PREP
- ημων: PRON,gen,pl,1
- αμαρτιαν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- εποιησεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- ινα: CONJ
- ημεις: PRON,nom,pl,1
- γενωμεθα: VERB,aor,mid/pass,subj,1,pl
- δικαιοσυνη: NOUN,nom,sg,f
- θεου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- εν: PREP
- αυτω: PRON,dat,sg,m
Parallels
- Isaiah 53:6 (allusion): The Suffering Servant passage depicts one who bears the iniquity of many — the background imagery for someone taking on others' sin (vicarious atonement).
- Romans 8:3 (verbal): Paul says God ‘sent his Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin (εἰς ἁμαρτίαν)’ — close verbal and theological parallel to ‘made him to be sin for us.’
- Galatians 3:13 (thematic): ‘Christ redeemed us… became a curse for us’ expresses the substitutionary idea that Christ took the penalty due to us, paralleling 2 Cor 5:21’s substitutionary language.
- 1 Peter 2:24 (verbal): ‘He himself bore our sins… that we might die to sin and live to righteousness’ mirrors both the bearing of sins and the purpose clause (that we might become/live in righteousness) in 2 Cor 5:21.
- Romans 4:25 (thematic): ‘Delivered for our trespasses and raised for our justification’ links Christ’s suffering and divine action to the result of believers’ righteousness/justification, echoing the salvific purpose of Christ’s taking on sin.
Alternative generated candidates
- For our sake he made the one who knew no sin to be sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
- For our sake he made the one who knew no sin to be sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
2Cor.6.1 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- Συνεργουντες: VERB,pres,act,part,nom,pl,m
- δε: CONJ
- και: CONJ
- παρακαλουμεν: VERB,pres,act,ind,1,pl
- μη: PART
- εις: PREP
- κενον: ADJ,acc,sg,m
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- χαριν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- θεου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- δεξασθαι: VERB,aor,mid,inf
- υμας·: PRON,acc,pl,2
Parallels
- 1 Corinthians 3:9 (verbal): Uses the same term συνεργοί (co-workers) for Paul and others as fellow workers with God, echoing the identity claimed in 2 Cor 6:1.
- Romans 16:3 (verbal): Priscilla and Aquila are called συνεργοί (my fellow workers), another Pauline use of the co‑worker motif.
- Galatians 2:21 (thematic): Paul insists he does not nullify the grace of God (οὐκ ἀθετῶ τὴν χάριν τοῦ θεοῦ), closely related to the injunction not to receive God’s grace in vain.
- 2 Corinthians 6:2 (structural): Immediate context and continuation of the exhortation (’behold, now is the acceptable time...’), reinforcing the plea not to treat God’s grace as ineffectual.
- Ephesians 4:1 (thematic): Paul’s urgent appeal to live worthy of the calling parallels the exhortatory tone and ethical consequence of receiving God’s grace appropriately.
Alternative generated candidates
- As co-workers we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain.
- As God's fellow workers we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain.
2Cor.6.2 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- λεγει: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- γαρ·Καιρω: CONJ
- δεκτω: ADJ,nom,sg,m
- επηκουσα: VERB,aor,pass,ind,3,sg
- σου: PRON,gen,sg,2
- και: CONJ
- εν: PREP
- ημερα: NOUN,dat,sg,f
- σωτηριας: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- εβοηθησα: VERB,aor,act,ind,1,sg
- σοι·ιδου: PRON,dat,sg,2
- νυν: ADV
- καιρος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- ευπροσδεκτος: ADJ,nom,sg,m
- ιδου: PART
- νυν: ADV
- ημερα: NOUN,dat,sg,f
- σωτηριας·: NOUN,gen,sg,f
Parallels
- Isaiah 49:8 (quotation): Paul is directly quoting Isaiah (LXX) — 'in an acceptable time I have heard you; and in a day of salvation I helped you' is the source of the phrase 'behold, now is the acceptable time... behold, now is the day of salvation.'
- Isaiah 61:2 / Luke 4:18-19 (allusion): Isaiah's 'acceptable year of the Lord' (quoted by Jesus in Luke 4) shares the same eschatological framework of an appointed, favorable time for God's saving action — conceptually parallel to 'acceptable time' and 'day of salvation.'
- Romans 13:11 (thematic): Paul elsewhere appeals to present urgency about salvation ('salvation is nearer to us now than when we believed'), echoing 2 Cor 6:2's emphasis on the immediacy of the time to respond.
- Hebrews 4:7 (cf. Psalm 95:7-8) (thematic): The call to respond 'today' to God's voice ('Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts') parallels 2 Cor 6:2's insistence that now is the favorable/day of salvation — a shared motif of present‑time opportunity.
Alternative generated candidates
- For he says, "At the acceptable time I listened to you, and on the day of salvation I helped you." Behold, now is the acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.
- For he says, “In a favorable time I listened to you, and on a day of salvation I helped you.” Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.
Therefore, since we know the fear of the Lord, we persuade others; for we are known to God, and I hope we are also known in your consciences.
Not that we again commend ourselves to you, but we give you an occasion to boast on our behalf, so that you may have something to answer those who boast in outward appearance and not in heart.
For whether we are out of our minds, it is for God; or whether we are sane, it is for you.
For the love of Christ compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all; therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died and rose again for them.
Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh; even if we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, yet now we regard him thus no longer.
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away—behold, all things have become new.
All things are from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation.
That is, God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.
Therefore we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were appealing through us; we implore you on Christ’s behalf: be reconciled to God.
For he made him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
As we work together, then, we entreat you not to receive the grace of God in vain.
For he says, “In a favorable time I heard you, and in a day of salvation I helped you.” Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.