2CO 5:11-21

Ambassadors for Christ

11Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade people, but to God we are fully known. And we hope we are also fully known in your consciences. [5:12] We are not commending ourselves to you again but giving you an opportunity to boast about us, so that you may have an answer for those who boast in outward appearances and not in the heart. [5:13] For if we are out of our minds, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. [5:14] For the love of Christ compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. [5:15] And he died for all, so that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who died and was raised for them. [5:16] So from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we no longer regard him in that way. [5:17] Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: the old has passed away; behold, the new has come. [5:18] All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation. [5:19] That is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. [5:20] Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ: be reconciled to God. [5:21] For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

In the world it was spoken into

In the Greco-Roman world, the role of an ambassador carried significant weight. Ambassadors were trusted representatives of a ruler or state, tasked with negotiating peace, alliances, or reconciliation between parties. Paul’s use of this metaphor would have resonated deeply with his Corinthian audience, who were familiar with Roman diplomatic practices. The (fear/awe) of the Lord Paul mentions aligns with the reverence expected toward divine authority, a concept shared by both Jewish and Greco-Roman audiences. The idea of being (out of one’s mind) for God contrasts with Stoic ideals of rationality, emphasizing a divine compulsion that transcends human logic. The term (reconciliation) would evoke the Roman practice of restoring relationships between estranged parties, often through a mediator. Paul frames this reconciliation as God’s initiative, shifting the focus from human effort to divine action. The Corinthians, living in a city marked by social divisions and patronage systems, would have understood this language as a call to embody a new kind of community, one rooted in divine reconciliation rather than human status.

›See the receipts

How other translations render this

2CO 5:11

KJV: Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences.
BSB: Therefore, since we know what it means to fear the Lord, we try to persuade men. What we are is clear to God, and I hope it is clear to your conscience as well.
Koinōnos: Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade people, but to God we are fully known. And we hope we are also fully known in your consciences.

2CO 5:12

KJV: For we commend not ourselves again unto you, but give you occasion to glory on our behalf, that ye may have somewhat to answer them which glory in appearance, and not in heart.
BSB: We are not commending ourselves to you again. Instead, we are giving you an occasion to be proud of us, so that you can answer those who take pride in appearances rather than in the heart.
Koinōnos: We are not commending ourselves to you again but giving you an opportunity to boast about us, so that you may have an answer for those who boast in outward appearances and not in the heart.

2CO 5:13

KJV: For whether we be beside ourselves, it is to God: or whether we be sober, it is for your cause.
BSB: If we are out of our mind, it is for God; if we are of sound mind, it is for you.
Koinōnos: For if we are out of our minds, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you.

2CO 5:14

KJV: For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:
BSB: For Christʼs love compels us, because we are convinced that One died for all, therefore all died.
Koinōnos: For the love of Christ compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died.

2CO 5:15

KJV: And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.
BSB: And He died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died for them and was raised again.
Koinōnos: And he died for all, so that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who died and was raised for them.

2CO 5:16

KJV: Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more.
BSB: So from now on we regard no one according to the flesh. Although we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer.
Koinōnos: So from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we no longer regard him in that way.

2CO 5:17

KJV: Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
BSB: Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away. Behold, the new has come!
Koinōnos: Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: the old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

2CO 5:18

KJV: And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;
BSB: All this is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation:
Koinōnos: All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation.

2CO 5:19

KJV: 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.
BSB: that God was reconciling the world to Himself in Christ, not counting menʼs trespasses against them. And He has committed to us the message of reconciliation.
Koinōnos: That is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.

2CO 5:20

KJV: 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.
BSB: Therefore we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making His appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ: Be reconciled to God.
Koinōnos: Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ: be reconciled to God.

2CO 5:21

KJV: 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.
BSB: God made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.
Koinōnos: For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.

Translator's notes

2CO 5:11

fear:The word translated 'fear' here often referred to a sense of panic or flight, suggesting a strong, visceral reaction rather than just a mild apprehension.

2CO 5:13

we are crazy,:The phrase translated 'we are crazy' comes from a word meaning to be driven out of one's senses or to be utterly changed, implying a state of mental derangement or extreme astonishment.

2CO 5:14

compels:The word translated 'compels' suggests being held or constrained by something, indicating a strong, internal pressure or a powerful grip that leaves little room for choice.

2CO 5:18

having reconciled:The word translated 'having reconciled' originally referred to changing or exchanging, particularly money, and in this context, it implies a fundamental change in relationship, often from hostility to peace.